• Home
  • About FFTB
    • The Mission
    • Start Here
    • Disclaimer
  • The Team
    • Contributors
    • Photo Contributors
    • Guest Contributors
    • The Original Crew
  • Contact
facebook
twitter
youtube
google_plus
email
  • Start Here
  • PODCAST
    • About The Podcast
    • Podcast Episode Pages
    • Podcast on iTunes
    • Podcast Official Sponsors
    • Podcast Sponsorship
  • 5 Min Clinics
    • 5 Minute Engine Co Clinic
    • 5 Minute Truck Co Clinic
    • 5 Minute Officer Clinic
    • 5 Minute Clinic Series
  • Product Reviews
  • Articles
    • Eng Co
    • Truck Co
    • Co Officer
    • Safety & FF Rescue
    • General
      • Social Media/ Public Relations
      • FF Communications
      • Art & Science of Firefighting
      • Life Skills
      • Hazardous Materials
      • Rescue Operations
      • Special Operations
        • Marine Operations
        • Airport Fire & Rescue Operations
  • Health & Fitness
  • FF Mindset
BREAKING NEWS
3 Rule Outs of the Medical Patient
“TOP 10” Fire Station Functional Fitness Training Equipment – Part 2
“TOP 10” Fire Station Functional Fitness Training Equipment – Part 1
Keys to Conducting Comprehensive Feedback to Firefighters
3 Keys to Truck Check Success
The 3 Best Types of Workouts for Firefighters – Part 3
PWR Training Sandbag – Product Review
The 3 Best Types of Workouts for Firefighters – Part 2
3 Ways Firefighters can Reduce the Chance of a Back Injury
The 3 Best Types of Workouts for Firefighters – Part 1
Practice How You Play
How to Execute the Proper Kettlebell Swing
What Every Firefighter Needs to Know About NFPA 1583
5 Exercises to Improve Grip Strength for Firefighters
6 Ways Firefighters can Use Exercise Progressions and Regressions
3 Workout Tips for the Volunteer Firefighter
074 – Introduction to Firefighter Functional Fitness
Firefighter Functional Fitness – 7 Tips for Planning Weekly Workouts
The 3 Cornerstones of Firefighter Fitness Success
8 Must-Do Exercises for Serious Firefighter Functional Fitness

The Marriage MAYDAY – Part 1: “Knowing When To Call For Help”

Posted On 23 Feb 2014
By : Andy Starnes
Comments: 5
Tag: Bringing Back Brotherhood, life skills

In the fire service, we are well trained on the subject of Rapid Intervention and MAYDAY scenarios. We train on possible downed firefighter situations and how to extricate ourselves or our brothers.

For the non-fire service reader let’s give a brief summation of a May Day scenario.

A reported house on fire is dispatched and as the fire department arrives they receive a report of a resident who is trapped in their bedroom.  The first due engine establishes command and after performing a 360 takes his/her crew in for the rescue.  Other companies are arriving as the first Battalion Chief assumes command.  The firefighters become trapped as they were searching for the resident and are pinned down by a roof collapse. The downed firefighters are able to transmit a MAYDAY, a call for help, in which this information is received: “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, we are trapped in the Alpha/Bravo corner of the residence, this is engine 99, we were performing a primary approximately 50’ in, and we will need RIT with a way to cut us out.”  This is called a LUNAR: location, unit & name, assignment, & the resources needed to affect the rescue. When this happens, a Rapid Intervention Team is deployed (RIT). This is a well-trained crew who is situationally aware of the incident. They have conducted a 360, thrown ground ladders for additional points of egress, controlled utilities, and have been attentive to the fire ground radio traffic.  They immediately go in to affect a rescue on those in need. At this point the Incident Commander orders additional resources, continues to fight the fire, and insures fire ground accountability.

What Does This All Have To Do With Marriage?

Nine out of twelve firefighter marriages end in divorce.

That’s right 9 out of 12!

As a profession, we are higher than the national average (which is 54%).  Firefighters face an enormous amount of stress and it often carries over into their personal lives.

What can we do about this problem? Let’s look at from a firefighter’s viewpoint:

Scene Size-Up

As a firefighter, the process of size-up is a continuous one that begins before the rig ever leaves the station. At a fire scene, the Incident Commander (IC) is constantly evaluating the conditions and whether the situation is improving.

In marriage, we should be constantly assessing our relationship. As a husband, I should be continuously studying and learning about my wife. Initially our passions, or fire if you will, are great for each other.

Why do we treat our spouse’s differently after we are married? We shouldn’t stop dating each other after we are married. It is merely the beginning of a lifelong journey.

As we go through life, the conflicts and commitments tend to cause us to focus less on each other and more on the immediate needs/concerns/or problems of life. Couples slowly begin to drift apart due to a lack of attention and care.

A relationship takes a great deal of work and dedication. The couple must be holding on to each other during the hard times or they will drift apart.

Part 1 of 5

About the Author
Andy is 2nd generation firefighter and a Career Captain with over 24 years of experience in the fire service. He is passionate about teaching, encouraging and supporting up and coming firefighters with biblically principled messages on where to draw our strength from and why living a God centered life is extremely rewarding. Andy believes to be a great firefighter & leader, we need to be more than one dimensional. Andy is a Level II instructor with an associates degree of Applied Science in Fire Protection Technology. He is very knowledgeable on modern fire behavior and also serves as a member of Kill the Flashover Project and the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.
  • google-share
Previous Story

Too Heavy A Burden…

Next Story

The Marriage MAYDAY: Part 2 – “The Working Fire”

Related Posts

0

070 – New Year – New Opportunity

Posted On 19 Jan 2016
, By David J Soler
068 - Firefighter Preplan Introduction Frontpage Thumbnail
2

068 – Firefighter Preplan Introduction

Posted On 03 Nov 2015
, By David J Soler
faith
2

Don’t Own The Tragedy

Posted On 20 Apr 2014
, By Andy Starnes
faith
0

A Personal After Action Report-After the Fire

Posted On 13 Apr 2014
, By Andy Starnes
faith
2

Bringing Back Brotherhood

Posted On 06 Apr 2014
, By Andy Starnes
1

The Demon Of Firefighter Pride

Posted On 30 Mar 2014
, By Andy Starnes

5 Comments

  1. gary bull February 24, 2014 at 11:23 am

    Very needed article, Andy. Thanks for sharing this and the rest of the series. I would also suggest the movie “Fireproof” and the accompanying resources to help build, maintain, or rescue a marriage.

  2. Stacy H February 27, 2014 at 10:44 am

    Great article! When will the other 4 parts be avaliable?

  3. Rich Gardiner February 28, 2014 at 5:40 am

    Hi there Stacy! Look for part 2 this coming Sunday.

  4. Pingback: The Marriage MAYDAY: Part 3- Calling The MAYDAY | FireFighterToolBox

  5. Jody Garcia April 13, 2014 at 1:12 pm

    Very good and needed article I read. Hit it on the spot

Search Site

Archives

DOWNLOAD FREE REPORT

Popular Posts

FirefighterToolbox Podcast

FireFighterToolbox Podcast (Internet Radio Interview Show)

48 Comments

Top 6 Reasons To Use A 2-1/2" Handline

29 Comments

The Role Of The Second Due Engine - Part 2

18 Comments
Copyright 2013-2017 FirefighterToolbox.com All Rights Reserved.