Things All Rookies Should Know

Someone once said that a smart person has knowledge,and a truly smart person realizes they know nothing at all. A truly wise person shares knowledge. Everyone learns through sharing of knowledge and experience. No one benefits more from this sharing than the "rookie." Following are some guidelines that I have learned from working with some extraordinary firefighters. I share these in the hopes of helping rookies establish themselves as competent and confident members of our profession.

These guidelines can also serve as a refresher for those of us who have more years under our belts.

Never disrespect firefighting by not caring. Lead by example. Arrive at the station ready to fight fires. Talk to people.

Preparation for that big fire begins when you walk through the door. Familiarize yourself with the apparatus every time you come in the firehouse, before that first fire call. Check to see what has changed since you were last here. Even a rookie can lead by example. Do your job well, every time, and that can rub off on the other members of your crew. Soon they may be trying to reach the standard that you, the rookie, have set. 

It is an honor to be a firefighter. Not everyone has what it takes to be a firefighter. If you want to be a firefighter then BE a firefighter. To become complacent is to dishonor those who have gone before us. This just is not just "kicking down doors and throwing water". Embrace training as a means to maintain the necessary level of proficiency. Truly loving firefighting means loving every aspect of it and therefore deserving to be called a firefighter. This is the greatest distinction there is; treat it as such.

Get a report on what has happened lately. If they had a fire, find out everything about it, including what went right and what went wrong. You can learn a lot from both. Did they have any other interesting calls? Was there any equipment moved, replaced, or sent in for repair? Don’t be the one who frantically looks for something you need that is out being repaired. Also, share your information with the people that arrive after you. Give them the same courtesy that was extended to you.

Introduce yourself to everyone you meet. Find out who the senior firefighter is.

The senior firefighter or station officer will be your greatest asset. Ask them all of those questions related to your first day in the station. Which bunk can I use? What housework do I do? Where can I find a mop? These types of questions should be asked of the senior member present. If no one steps up as the senior firefighter, any of the other firefighters should help.

Find out your riding position and responsibilities. Check your equipment. Wear your safety gear. If you have any questions, ASK THEM. Don’t get caught up in the rumor mill. Don’t be in a hurry to gain acceptance. Be a team player. Have fun. Have pride. Don’t think "been there, done that." Never stop learning. Respect your elders. Leave work at work. Remember where you came from.

As your experience grows and you are no longer the rookie, be available to the one who is. Everything you have learned, you have been taught. Do not be stingy with that knowledge. Those "rookies" shaking in their boots on Day One deserve the same respect and tutelage that you received. If hazing and condescension were your tutors, then break that chain. Be a true firefighter, and help out the rookie even if you weren’t helped. Individually we can get better, but only as a whole can we become great.  And conversely leave your home life at home. Your crew does not deserve your wrath because you and a family member had a fight. And on the other side, try not to take fire department problems home. Your family does not deserve grief because you pulled the wrong line at a fire.  There is an extensive amount of information held in the minds of the senior members of our department. To gain this information you must be willing to make the first move. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask the senior firefighters about how they fought fires in their rookie days. Ask the firefighters who are about to retire how they would have fought the last fire you were on. Would they have done anything different then? Don’t let that knowledge retire with them. You will be glad when you are finished with probation. You can stop the reading and studying, right? Wrong. The day you stop reading about our job is the day you retire. There is a limitless supply of information out there. "Practice makes perfect" works for reading as well as hands on.  You are only as good as your next call. Don’t be overconfident. Whether you were a hero or a goat will not help you on the next emergency. What will help is the experience and knowledge that you gained and the lessons that you learned. Be proud of where you ride. You have chosen this company for a reason. You may not always agree with decisions that are being made above you, but do not let that diminish your love for the job and Allentown Road. Along with company pride comes personal pride. As a rookie, you should be looking forward to the time when you will have a chance to become an officer. Work at being the best firefighter, on the best crew, at the best firehouse. Pride will push you to better yourself for the good of your crew. Company pride is the sincerest form of personal pride. As stated in Rule #1, this is the greatest profession in the world. Being enthusiastic about being a firefighter can be contagious. Have fun cleaning toilets as well as fighting fire. Develop a sense of humor; survival in the firehouse depends on it. Enjoying even the smallest aspects of this job is what leads to becoming not just a firefighter, but a great firefighter. Remember, when things go bad, all you have is your crew. Crew continuity is built at the firehouse, as well as on the fire scene. If asked, join your crew for other non-firefighting activities. Attend functions such as parties, outings etc., with your crew. A good crew is built off duty as well as on. Your actions will be closely scrutinized; they must speak for themselves. Pulling a pre-connect correctly is more important to your crew than the fact you think you know it all. The kitchen table is a great place for knowledge swapping. It is also where rumors are created, sustained, and traded. As a rookie, don’t take part in the rumor mill. You never know who you may offend. What you say can be incorrectly repeated and used to hurt you. If it is fire talk, sit there and absorb. If it is rumor talk, walk away. Pride has no business impeding knowledge. Not asking something for fear of looking stupid will only get you in trouble. The bottom line is, you need to know what you are doing even at the expense of looking cool. Contrary to what you might think, you are not indestructible. You have been given protective clothing to ensure that you go home in one piece with all your fingers and toes intact and no burns. This clothing cannot protect you if it stays on the hook in the apparatus room. Wear your hood; pull down your ear flaps; button your collar; wear your gloves. Learn to put on your gear fast! Let me say that again... Learn to put on your gear fast! Give yourself every chance of getting back home in the same shape as when you left. This rule can never be overstated. Failing to be prepared is preparing to fail. Check your PPE and the SCBAs. Check every nozzle. Check the rest of the equipment on the engine/ambulance to make sure it is where it was before. If you are there for the first time, check to see where everything is. Knowledge of what is in those cabinets means you have one less thing to worry about when the big one hits.

Welcome to Allentown Road VFD!

Companies 32/47