“280″ What Does it Mean?

I burrowed this from one of Our24YearAgeGap‘s posts because I thought it was something that should be shared. ******************************************************** People complain all the time that Fire/EMS makes too much and do too little but when they need us they complain we took too long. WTF?! Did you know that 85% of people in my career [...]



via WordPress http://jottingsandwritings.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/280-what-does-it-mean/

"280" What Does it Mean?

I burrowed this from one of Our24YearAgeGap's posts because I thought it was something that should be shared.

 

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People complain all the time that Fire/EMS makes too much and do too little but when they need us they complain we took too long. WTF?! Did you know that 85% of people in my career (nation wide) can not afford to live off just one income? Bet you didn’t. That’s why everyone in my career works 2 or more jobs! Meaning they can’t get off work when they need help, nor can they afford the help they need. I’m an example. I’m one statistic, but I won’t become another…not yet anyway.

Do you know what the number above means? Do you know what it stands for? No? Well read below and find out.  

In 2010, while educating firefighters across the United States, I began to notice through stories and reports about the number of firefighters who had taken their lives. I began to collect reports through a confidential reporting system in late 2010 through Counseling Services for FIre Fighters. After much research and effort, I realized this was a much larger issue than I thought, and expanded by starting Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance. I am now collecting this data through FBHA also. This confidential report can be found on the list at the left “ff suicide report” or at www.csff.info under the tab “FF Suicide Report”. The number on the box above are members who were active or retired firefighters who suffered deaths by their own choice. It should not be conceived as one of weakness but one where they might not have believed they had any other options to relieve their pain. FBHA is dedicated to collecting the most accurate numbers regarding FF suicides and then updates this number as information is confirmed. It is also FBHA’s objective to educate all of our brothers and sisters on suicide prevention through our workshop titled “Saving Those Who Save Others” in hopes to limit this number.  

Regards, B/C Jeff Dill Founder of CSFF & FBHA

Note: Number is from information received from suicides ranging from the years 1880-2012. The total is comprised of 269 FF and 11 EMT/P.

Think about that. Just let that sink in when you think about voting for a tax cut for firefighter/paramedics. And that is JUST firefighter/paramedics. What about the police officers? Or that military?? Those numbers are alarming as well. Some things in this country need to change…congress needs to be put on minimum wage in their comfortable little office and give their pay to the people that work every day for their life, health, and safety.

Random Topic Writing Challenge - Social Media

Okay so the word chosen from list today turns out to be Social-Media and we are starting the 5 minute timer.... Now!! What can I say about Social-Media? Well, for starters let's look at the word "Social Media" that implies - Social - correct?! And to be social implies a relationship - correct?! (Read: It's a Relationship Stupid by Robert Caruso from BundlePost). I recently posted on twitter (as well as on my FB page) my disgruntlement of receiving MTs & DMs with nothing more than a website (often using a short URL that tells me absolutely nothing about what said site is about. There's no lead up, no relationship no nothing just Whamm Bamm ------> unknown website ------> Thank You Ma'am (and even that last part is often left out). As you may guess my instantaneous (and often automatic) response to this is Report -----> Block. Don't even take time to view the website.... If you want me to take a look at something #1 establish a relationship with me and #2) give a reason = tell me what site is about and why I ought to take my time peruse said site. I may only be a lowly housewife who spends most all her time tweeting, FBing and blogging but still my time is important to me and I don't want to waste it.

#SituationalAwareness Around #FireStations Important for both sides.

 I drive by this station fairly frequently and every time I do I have to feel sorry for the firefighters there. I think this has to be (I say this tongue-in-cheek as I have not seen every single station) the worse station to have to try to get out of among the Fort Worth Fire Departments. The picture doesn't really show it but coming from the direction opposite the way camera is facing there is a curve (as well as a slight downgrade. Just past the view of the camera is a major intersection. In fact, on one occasion I almost witnessed an accident when one came to abrupt stop for red light (just outside station) and the guy behind slams on brakes, narrowly missing the guy in front. Second guy then proceeds to give first guy dirty look as if to say "Why are you stopping" Let's see... the red light should have been obvious but just in case you were stupid enough to miss that.... HOW ABOUT THE LARGE FIRE ENGINE COMING OUT OF STATION (idiot)... I believe there was another time where one of the engines leaving the station for a call narrowly missed a car that had decided not to heed the warnings of the red light and emerging Fire Truck.

The sad thing is firefighters all over put there lives at risk just trying to get out of the station. I don't have data but no doubt numerous accidents occur right in front of the station which causes delay in getting help to those who need it as now another unit has to be dispatched to the call (As I understand, anytime I rig is involved in even a minor fender bender they are taken off whatever call they were headed to).

There is a reason for those traffic lights outside of the stations... When they turn red it means there's a very good chance a firetruck is about to be heading out on a call. But, you shouldn't just rely on those lights - Sometimes they don't come on at all as was the case that I witnessed once at a Fire Station in Beaverton, OR.

Here's the scenario.... Smaller (rescue) truck pulls out to edge of apron (driveway in front of bay doors) with lights and sirens going. Light isn't working and DOES NOT change to red, therefore traffic just keeps right on going ignoring lights & sirens. Big Daddy (Ladder) truck pulls out to edge of apron.... *EvilGrin* from driver as he blasts air horn... Cars were screeching, no doubt standing on their brakes, trying to stop. Okay some of you will probably think that isn't funny and that the driver shouldn't have done that (perhaps not) but the point is those drivers should have been aware of situation around them. The Rescue truck had sounded it's horn several times in an attempt to get out safely.

The flip side to all this is that Drivers of EVs (Emergency Vehicles) must also, always, be aware of the situation around them right from the get go - this means as soon as you pull out of the station bays (in fact even before - as you step into your rig). It would be nice if there was a guarantee that everyone out there is paying attention and giving proper right-of-way to Emergency Vehicles, but the fact of the matter is many don't. It is up to you to do your part in being aware and watching out for the other person who may (very likely) not be paying a bit of attention to the fact that you are trying to get on your way to a call. (I'll give you a few moments of foot-stomping frustration).

The point to all my rambling is that when it comes to driving around Fire Stations (both the main-stream driver & EV driver) - Situational Awareness is important.  Let's all do our part to ensure that the Emergency Vehicle in question gets to the scene safely - with all it's crew.

Blog Hop Photo Prompt Reveal - Home-Made Business

 

Beverly watched from her kitchen window as her son, Jason, headed towards the path that he always gook when waking the families only dog. They had had two dogs but the other had died recently due to Iron Poisoning. Beverly couldn't believe how fast her boy was growing up. He was small for his age, but was big enough now to walk the dog to a nearby park on his own. In the small town in which they lived, where everyone new everyone, Beverly felt comfortable in allowing her son to go there on his own. Normally, Bench (whom Jason had named because he had found him, as a small pup, huddled under a bench one full-moon night) would be allowed off his leash to run once at the park. Bench was very well behaved and always came back with just the slightest whistle. But Beverly had given Jason the rule that unless she (or his father) was with him, Jason was to keep Bench on his leash at all times. As far as Beverly knew Jason had always followed this rule. Beverly continued to watch. Soon dog and boy were out of sight. Beverly went back to making another batch of honey-bread. She had been making bread most all morning to fill orders she had gotten both from local town folks as well as some from neighboring towns. Beverly made her special bread using homemade honey from the families very own bees. She remembered being a bit fearful of dealing with bees at first and had let her husband Brian take care of the bees. Beverly was still a little nervous about getting honey from the combs and preferred to let her husband gather the honey. But she had found that, if needed to, she could do the job. Many of Beverly's neighbors and friends had raved about her Honey-Bread saying that she could easily sell the loaves they were that good. Beverly wasn't so sure at first, but figured she had nothing to loose in giving it a go. The first dozen loaves she had made had sold quickly and there had been orders for even more. Beverly began to think that just maybe something would come out of her love for baking. She knew that the family didn't really need the extra money from selling the loaves as they got by just fine on Brian's income, and even had a little left over at the end of the month for a "fun fund". But they didn't have extra money to put aside for Brian to go to college and she figured the extra money from selling the bread could go into a University Fund for Brian to use for just that when he got older.

Another thought on #SocialMedia Posting

This is something I am constantly struggling with when it comes to posting on the various Social Media Platforms — What to post? How to post (as in how do you write your post)? When to post? How often to post? so on and so forth. Perhaps it is just who i am (aka my [...]



via WordPress http://jottingsandwritings.wordpress.com/2012/11/28/another-thought-on-socialmedia-posting/

Another thought on #SocialMedia Posting

This is something I am constantly struggling with when it comes to posting on the various Social Media Platforms --- What to post? How to post (as in how do you write your post)? When to post? How often to post? so on and so forth.

Perhaps it is just who i am (aka my personality), but I am forever second guessing myself as to whether or not I am posting the right kinds of things. Sure I post what I'm gonna post, but then later I wonder are the things I'm posting "biting me in the butt" so to speak? And then there is the question of when do I post? Sure there's programs/applications out there to help analyze the best time of day and you can even opt set up automatic postings to go out at those times.... Except that it only lets you do so many days at a time and to set up scheduled posts on something like hootsuite you have to buy the pro-version.

Personally, I feel like a dismal failure when it comes to Social Media. I've only got a handful of followers on any one platform (and some of those are actually duplicates among different platforms). Any one of my posts only gets maybe a couple likes/shares (at best) on any given platform (again see note about duplicates/duplicity). Kind of makes me wonder Why the hell I even bother.... I mean who the heck is gonna see this stuff anyway - Right?