Category

The times in my life where I have been at my lowest have been when I have taken ownership of tragic events. An example of this would be the loss of a friend due to suicide. I experienced feelings of “If I had only…” and then began to blame myself. The harsh reality of life is...

Every firefighter needs to know what is evolving around us so we can make proper decisions to positively influence the outcome of any situation. Some say that situational awareness is only for the fire ground or the incident scene. I believe situational awareness begins when we...

Growing Future Leaders Now that we have progressed into being respected leaders in our organization, we must look to leave a legacy behind. After reading this series, you have all learned that I am a big fan of John C. Maxwell. One of my favorite quotes from Maxwell is “you’ve...

Mostly thought of as a piece of equipment that the truck company utilizes, “The Can” is a formidable piece of equipment in the hands of a well-trained firefighter. Every engine I have ever come across has one tucked away in a cabinet somewhere.  Sadly, it rarely comes...

Yoga/Stretching Mat Over the past few weeks I’ve discussed why calorie/activity trackers, foam rollers and resistance tubes are excellent tools for firefighters. Today’s important health tool is a yoga or stretching mat. Although stretching is imperative for firefighters to avoid...

The ordinary “door chock” is an essential tool that should be carried by all firefighters regardless of whether they respond as an engine or truck company. They are often overlooked as a great tool, probably because they are so simple, but as we will examine here in...

I have found that the courage to face adversity and opposition is one of the most difficult types of courage to cultivate. Why is this so? As firefighters we risk our lives daily in numerous ways yet when it comes to having the courage to speak up for our beliefs we often become...

The halligan is one of the most utilized pieces of equipment in the fire service. Since its creation, the halligan has shown itself to be the “Go To” tool. There are 4 simple modifications that will enhance your halligan. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes...

As a boy I didn’t pay much attention to making my bed.  When I rolled out I might make a feeble attempt to straighten it up a bit, but too often I’d just amble away without giving it a thought.  My mindset was, “Who’s going to see it anyway?  No one comes to my room.  I’m just...

Own It – No Excuse Recently I learned a great lesson on bad decision making. Even though my decision had good intentions; I did not follow through with what I said I did. I could sit here and give excuses or play the blame game, but I won’t. I will OWN IT. By doing this I...