I guess its all in how you frame your reference as to what is acceptable versus what is “excellent”.  It certainly sounds as if that culture is evolving into a better place with Chief Carr at the helm.  But across the entire fire service, while exposed to so many ideas, we continue visit the same problems within our own organizations that other organizations have been experiencing for years.

Professionalism or progressiveness isn’t defined by experiencing the same problems over and over again. Being effective doesn’t include repeating mistakes that others have made, got the t-shirt for, and moved on from. If learning isn’t occurring from all of the rhetoric, then what use is it?  When your organization is experiencing such dysfunction that it is obvious even to the newest recruit, then how clueless are you to insist that everything is coming up roses?

The sad part is that this lesson has to come on the backs of dedicated firefighters and the deaths of our brothers.  While it appears our friends in Charleston are moving forward, we continue to read story after story around the rest of the nation of lessons that continue to be learned the hard way.  After all, how many unbelted firefighter LODDs need we read about before deciding once and for all that using our seatbelt is a smart idea?

Instead of reading the news and saying, “Wow, that’s incredible”, perhaps we should be saying, “Wow, how do I make sure that doesn’t happen here?”  Be an agent of productive and progressive change.  Set the positive example and show others what the real definition of progressive and professional is and be a real leader.

In my search for a safety message for my crew this morning, I found plenty to discuss, all at Firehouse.com, all of them posted within the last few days.

What are our choices today in getting injured or killed? Let’s look and see; would it be the continued reluctance of some in our profession to use their seat belts?  Or would it be the problems associated with maintaining a safe perimeter while working in traffic?  Of course, you could work at this department where staying out of the emergency room seems to be a serious challenge.

Other than the seat belt issue (which I can’t understand how a firefighter on this planet hasn’t had this beat into them by now), there is likely more to the story and I certainly don’t insinuate that anyone screwed up without having the facts.  But what I am pointing out is, it doesn’t just always happen “somewhere else”.

What things do you see around your department that can get you injured or killed?  In this New Year, I challenge you to look at the possibilities and make the right choices, that is, the choice to be safe.

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