The Difference Between "I Can't" and "I Won't"

Reblogged from LeadToday: You have within you enormous potential for success and happiness. There is likely nothing but you keeping you from achieving it. The question isn't whether you can succeed, the question is whether you will choose to succeed. Your success really begins with an understanding of the difference between “I Can’t” and “I [...]



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#AtoZChallenge: #Firefighter #Safety - X is for Xylene

Originally I was going to research and write this blogpost on the effects of Xylene when it comes to firefighting. But, now that it has come time to get this post out (or get myself behind on my posts once again, I find that I don't have the time (at this late hour) to go through the process of researching and trying to write something up.  So instead I have found a couple of  websites for you:

Xylene:

Wikipedia: Xylene

Xylene: Incident Management

Duram Products / Xylene

There is, of course, much more info to be found.

The most important thing with any chemical fire is to know what you are dealing with.  In fact, with any fire you should be aware of any potential chemicals that could come into play.  In fact, with any fire you should be aware of he potential for chemicals (even minor ones)  

Remember Know any Chemicals involved (sorry not an X one for tonight) and STAYSAFE

#AtoZChallenge: #Firefighter #Safety - W is for Why?

Was going to write this earlier this morning (actually should've been done yesterday), but I had to get family up & dressed for burn buster blast event today (I want to say put on my local Fire Department mainly).  Get this one and "X" and I'm caught up.

Before I start I want to include a video playlist I came across on youtube featuring Randy Mantooth (from the show Emergency!) speaking on "Remembering Why" in relation to EMS.

There are going to be days when you start to ask yourself "What the (bleep) am I doing here?"  It is times like those that you need to look back and remember WHY you chose this career to, re-afirm/confirm those reasons.

I think pretty much every firefighter/paramedic I've talked to has all said (when asked why they decided on this career path) because they wanted to, because they wanted to make a difference in peoples lives, to do something meaningful.  I've never (that I recall) heard anyone answer that they got into Fire/EMS/Police because they were forced to or had no choice.  Always, it's been something that was in their family, in their blood.  It is something that stays with you and never leaves - you know what they say, "Once a Firefighter, Always A firefighter"  It's not something you just up and walk away from one day (unless forced by events beyond your control).  Sometimes you just need to remember WHY and focus on that.

Remember WHY and STAYSAFE!!!  

Some blogs to check out!
  Our 24 year Age Gap
  Firehouse Zen
  A Day in The Life of an Ambulance Driver
  Firefighter/Paramedic Stories

#AtoZChallenge: #Firefighter #Safety - V is for Vacation!

Going to be a crazy day. Trying to pound out 4 post as I have managed (once again) to get myself behind schedule and need to get U-X done by the end of today. Plus, I'm heading out in a couple hours for the local "Burn Buster Blast" even taking place today.  

When I started this whole challenge I only knew that I was going to start of with letter A being about Awareness. Beyond that, I really had no idea what I was going to do for each letter - just that it was going to be (as best as I could do with my limited knowledge) about Firefighter Safety. My hope all along has been that my short posts would serve as reminders of things that you (firefighters) should already know.

Now I've gotten to V and it's been a toss-up between the idea of "Vacation" which is what popped into my mind and "Ventilate", an idea that was given to me by FirehouseZen. Both are important to the safety of firefighters. Ventilate is quite a bit more obvious. You all know that you need to be careful when going to ventilate. Ventilation is an important aspect in firefighting, but it is important to be sure you are doing it safely. But I'm not going to go into Ventilation. Instead, I'm going to look at VACATION - Yes, Vacation....

I don't need to tell you that being a firefighter can be hard, exhausting work - If I do, then your in the wrong profession - that burn-out is a very real concern & problem. At the same time, being a firefighter is something that gets under your skin and into your blood (how do I know this? - I listen and I learn, but I digress). So how does Vacation come into play here? Taking a break and being well rested and refreshed is just as important to the safety of a firefighter as being Aware, staying Focused, and making sure you Understand the situation. A vacation need not be extravagant or expensive, it's about relaxing, having fun, and enjoying life and coming back well rested and ready to go fight fires.

Remember go on VACATION and STAYSAFE!!

#AtoZChallenge: #Firefighter #Safety - U is for Understand

Alas, Once again I've ended up behind schedule. Need to get through 4 posts today (U-X) - I'm gonna need all the luck I can get.

When on-scene it is important to Understand the whole situation before jumping in and to maintain that understanding throughout.  Know What's going on, What/Who is involved, and What all the dangers (real & potential) are.  Make sure you know what's going on.  Do your own "size-up" even if IC has already done one.  Don't rely on the size-up done by anyone else.

Make sure that you are staying Aware and that you have a full understanding of the situation at all times.  This means not getting hyper-focused to the point of losing track of Communications and keeping your head in the game.

Remember Make sure you UNDERSTAND the whole situation and STAYSAFE!!

Here's some blogs I came across:
  Time for a cath up
  One Day At a Time
  Life in a Small Town

#AtoZChallenge: #Firefighter #Safety - T is for TeamWork

I actually wrote this last night and posted the one to my WordPress blog, but it got too late for me to get it up here on my blogger.... Will be working on letter U today as well (still need to decide what word I want to concentrate on --- Toss up between Understanding or Unified Command.

Fighting fires takes TeamWork.  Well maybe not some small kitchen fire type one, but larger fires (like the kind a firefighter would be called on) - Those take teamwork.  You must be able to depend on your crew.  You must work together as a team and trust that each member is doing there job.  No one person is more or less important.  Every person has a job to do and each person does their job to the absolute best of their ability (no, better).

The most important parts of Teamwork are Communication (One of my choices for the lettter C - but Caution won out) and Harmony.  To work together you must communicate your needs to others of your team. and you must work together in harmony to get the job done efficiently and safely.  I cannot stress enough the importance of Teamwork.  Right up there with Safety and Awareness.

Remember  TEAMWORK is important and STAYSAFE!!

And for 5 new blogs that I found (not necessarily firefighter related)
  Babblin Grammy
  Ramblings of a Homeschooled Escapee
  Procrastinating Mommy
  My Mind
  Trish Nugent, Writer

#AtoZChallenge: #Firefighter #Safety - C is for Caution

Well This is embarrassing....  I can't seem to find my post for letter C....  It's on my WordPress blog, but not here (at least not that I'm seeing) so I'm posting it now...

Still Playing Catch up - Hopefully today (just need to get 3 done - C, D, & E.....

Whatever the situation is that you are approaching, always use Caution.  Don't take anything for granted and Don't expect anything to be a certain way.  Take a moment to be look at the scene before you go rnning in gung ho.  Stop and assess the situation.  Take in the big picture.  It's not so easy to do so when you are in the thick of it.  Know where all the dangers are and what level of danger that danger represents to you.   Keep in mind that things may not always be as they first appear.   Sometimes the things that seem to not be reason for concern could end up being the biggest dangers.  Keep those eyes and ears open and Be AWARE and be Cautious (but not so much so that you don't do your job)

Remember Always use CAUTION and Stay SAFE

And for this blogposts 5 new blogs I'm following:
  While the Coffee Brews
  Cheryl's Random Thoughts

Sorry a bit short on this one today...  Have to pick up son for a Dental appointment (extraction = poor guy).  Get to D a bit later today.