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In this two-part series I’m going to be teaching you two simple strategies that can help you eat healthier without completely changing your diet. Healthful foods do amazing things in our bodies – like lowering cholesterol, blood pressure and cancer risk, to name a few. So,...

In the fire service, a job that is often overlooked and under-appreciated is the fire inspection. Some departments are fortunate to have dedicated staff for this endeavor. Other departments combine staff and field personnel to make this happen. Regardless of the staffing...

In the last article we discussed some ways of getting around the slam lock. Today we will continue with it, as well as discuss the techniques to get through doors with the key-in-the-knob lock. #4 – Weed Eater String Another great trick for overcoming the slam lock was...

Forcible entry can take on many roles. Occasionally, we may encounter locked doors on alarms that aren’t of a high priority. By accessing any area without creating much damage to EMS alarms, automatic alarms or any alarm, we behave more professionally. Two possible locks...

Delegation I’m a big fan of delegating tasks to team members. Delegation helps people develop their skills and helps teams achieve a higher level of success. The Delegation Boomerang Those of you who have heard me speak would be familiar with the phrase, “Dividing tasks...

Herman Edwards, a former NFL coach stated “the only way a team can survive is you have to do it together.” The point in this statement is without teamwork, the team will not survive. In business, this means a failure to make profits or produce a quality product. In...

The subject of diversity in the fire service is likely to bring a strong response depending on your perspective. It is still a topic that is difficult to discuss openly. However, it is my hope that we will do so. In doing so, we will embrace our brotherhood (notice the “her” in...

Writing department guidelines we will hold our members accountable to and expect them to follow is not an easy task and sometimes requires a little bit of trial and error to get it right. It’s a challenging, labor intensive, and mind numbing job that in today’s fire service is a...

One of the most important tasks a fire officer, or typically the company officer, must complete after an incident is to submit a complete and accurate incident report. There are a number of reasons why it is important for company officers to be diligent in the completion of...

I remember when I first tried to get promoted to company officer in 2011. I studied hard. I knew the material. I knew how to study. At least, I thought I did. Needless to say, I didn’t get promoted. I remember the disappointment. I remember the embarrassment of failing. So from...