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FDIC 2013, Stair Climb, & An Award For First Due Tackle

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Photo by Second Due Tackle photographer Kevin Gadd

Well, the annual pilgrimage to Indianapolis has come and gone, but not without many great memories and a recharged battery.  FDIC is truly an awesome event for learning, networking, and brotherhood.  If you haven’t made the trip, we all hope to see you there one of these years.    If you missed the post about Thursday’s journeys, CLICK HERE.

Also, on Thursday many Brothers attended the National Fallen Fire Firefighters dinner and auction.  A must attend event if you have never made it.  On our walk to the dinner, Veteran Firefighter Kevin Gadd brainstormed another website.  He said its going to be called Second Due Tackle and all posts will be re-shared from this page the next day.  We all got a laugh out of his idea, but in all seriousness, Kevin has contributed lots to the site, taken lots of pictures, carried a few bags, and taught during some of our classes.

“LIKE” FIRST DUE TACKLE ON FACEBOOK

NFFF Dinner and Auction

Stair Climb

We were checked in and waiting for the start of the stair climb ceremony when Smitty from Boron Extrication had a very special encounter.  Be sure to “LIKE” BORON EXTRICATION to read about the story soon.

The climb itself was very motivational.  The atmosphere, the 400+ on the stairs, and the constant words of encouragement we heard from one firefighter to another.  Below is a short video (about a minute) with several clips during the climb.

YouTube Preview Image

With Brother Snyder and Brotherton from Sandusky (OH) FD and Brother Bronner from Perkins Twp (OH) FD after the climb.

FireRescue / FirefighterNation Award

We hit the road for home after the stair climb because firehouse duty was on the calendar for Saturday morning.  We missed the FireRescue meet-up, but were notified the next morning of being recognized for one of the 2013 Fire Service Writers Awards.   Shannon Pieper, Editorial Director, wrote that “the fire service has long depended on the generosity of its members in sharing their knowledge to teach the next generation.”

FireRescue / FirefighterNation Awards

Whether you get an idea on the FDT page, contribute to the conversation via social media, share your ideas for all to see, or pass your knowledge on to the young guys – THANK YOU.

Don’t let your education journey stop, stay disciplined, and pass it on!

Posted by on April 28, 2013 • Filed under: All, Command & Leadership, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighter Training, Leadership, Line of Duty, News, Training & Development, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Light Box Instructions – Where’s The Training?

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By: Paul Hasenmeier

Last night I was sent the picture below.  Let me first say that this particular light is not on a fire apparatus.  We had a little bit of discussion about the labeling on Facebook and figured the topic was worth sharing.  Here’s what the label says if you can’t read it in the picture:  #1 Push black release on bottom  #2 Pull upward on flashlight.  Check out the picture and think for a moment about training.  Then scroll down for a few more thoughts.

FIRST DUE TACKLE ON FACEBOOK

On first glance I’m sure most of you are saying WTF or how does someone not know how to take this light box off the charger.  Let’s stop and think for a minute…Did you know how to take it off before you walked into the firehouse the first time?  Someone probably showed you or you took a few minutes to figure it out.

The discouraging part of the labeling on this particular light is that it tells the user how to remove the light.  At first glance, I would say that training is lacking if we have to provide directions on how to remove it.  Was the label added because it has been ripped off the wall more than once.  If so, where is the training?

Robert Reid gave an example about teaching recruit school.  He was asked to show a spanner wrench and was actually taken back for a second because he thought “you want to fight fire and you don’t know what a spanner wrench is?”  He quickly remembered that he always didn’t know what a spanner wrench was.  Similar thoughts for most of us I’m sure.

Frank Villarreal actually used this example last night after seeing the post on FB and asked some of the new recruits on his department to go get one of the light boxes of the rig.  Five minutes later they came back and said they didn’t know how to unhook it.  They then had a impromptu light box training for the new recruits.  Well done Frank.

This just happens to be a prime example of what we need to do as trainers in the fire service.  We have to step back from time to time and remember to show the basic operations of some of what we now think are the simplest of tasks.  It’s our job to show them the way.  We have to be great at the little things, so the big things are more manageable and then we have no hesitation getting in, getting out, and going home.

Read more about Training Your Replacements and follow of Twitter @TYReplacements

Pass it on!

 

Posted by on November 27, 2012 • Filed under: All, Command & Leadership, Company Drills, Firefighter Training, Instructorship, Leadership, Training, Training & Development • Tagged: , , , , , , ,
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