First Responders

What is your take on tattoos in the fire service?

Tattoos in the Fire Service: A Personal and Powerful Form of Expression

So what do I think of tattoos in the fire service while I have a few tattoos? And I think for the majority of it I think it's it's not a lack of professionalism. I think it's really a lot of people put a lot of thought into what they put on their bodies and for me a lot of it is my history. My story is so that I can remember. And also it's kind of putting it into permanent form of this. Something that I want to remember and this is something I want to be able to utilize to help other people remember. Maybe they're, they're struggling moments or their perseverance moments and I think, you know, it's it's a very personal thing. It's a very powerful thing to some people, so that's my take.

I think that tattoos in the fire service are not unprofessional and they are a way for firefighters to remember their story and to use it to help others.

https://assets.anyquestion.com/raw/upload/ht7qrhr1z7fskewegdil.vtt

Regarding tattoos in the fire service, I have a few tattoos myself. I believe that for the most part, tattoos do not indicate a lack of professionalism. Many individuals put a lot of thought into the tattoos they choose, and for me, they represent my personal history and stories that I want to remember. They serve as a permanent reminder of important moments and can also be a way to help others remember their own struggles or moments of perseverance. Tattoos are a personal and powerful form of expression for many people, and that's my take on it.

What strategies do you use to ensure that your Fire Department stays up to date with the latest technologies and best practices?

Fire Department's Key to Staying Current: Basics, Experience & Industry Resources

This is something in the fire service that we always have, as we always have the latest and greatest and best practices. And a lot of times, it's great to understand the basics. And that's what we always say, is understand the basics first, because you never know when the latest greatest or the technology is going to fail. And you have to go back to the roots of what your training was. And we always maintain, I mean, there's a fire engineering Firehouse magazines that really keep us up-to-date the UL testing. Is also another thing that helps us to understand the materials that are being used in buildings, but a lot of times it comes from experiences that comes from the situations that people get into and they tell their story afterwards of how they utilize certain equipment, how do they utilize certain Personnel to be able to make it work? And I think that's how we stay up-to-date on most of the new technologies needed and the best practices.

Firefighters stay up-to-date on the latest technologies and best practices by understanding the basics, reading Firehouse Magazine, staying aware of UL testing, and learning from experiences.

https://assets.anyquestion.com/raw/upload/h4glb9lgn8jzw9hjfb75.vtt

In the fire service, we prioritize staying up to date with the latest technologies and best practices. While it's important to embrace new advancements, we also emphasize understanding the basics. This is because technology can sometimes fail, and we need to rely on our foundational training in those situations.

To ensure we stay current, we rely on resources such as fire engineering and Firehouse magazines, which provide valuable insights and updates. We also pay attention to UL testing, which helps us understand the materials used in buildings and their potential impact on firefighting.

However, a significant source of knowledge comes from the experiences of our fellow firefighters. Learning from their stories and how they effectively utilized equipment and personnel in different situations helps us stay informed about new technologies and best practices.

By combining these resources and experiences, we strive to keep our fire department up to date with the latest technologies and ensure we are implementing the best practices in our operations.

What’s the difference between a fire engine and a fire truck?

Demystifying Fire Engines vs. Fire Trucks: Key Differences Uncovered

This is a great question and my son would know exactly what the answer is because a fire engine and a fire truck. So a fire truck is the one that does the ventilation and as the ladders on it as the aerial ladder, it is the truck crew in essence, they will do search and rescue within buildings. Will do the ventilation on the buildings? They are the ones that do elevator rescues. They are also the ones that have the tools that you call the jaws of life that are Cutters and spread. Has for any kind of car accidents extrication, 's and then you have the fire engine. The fire engine is your source for water. It is your source with the hoses on it. They are the ones that are going to be putting out the fire from the interior from the exterior. If you're doing a defensive but they're the ones that are going to be running the show for any of your water supply and your fire attack. Some actually, some of our ladder trucks in the city actually have water on them as well as hoses for Or attack, but a lot of cities in the country. Actually run it. As a truck company is a truck company and you do ventilation you do search, you do extrication, and that is your job, and you're really good at it. So that's the difference between a fire engine and a fire truck.

A fire engine is the vehicle used for water supply and fire attacks, while a fire truck is the one used for ventilation, search and rescue, elevator rescues, and extrication.

https://assets.anyquestion.com/raw/upload/tcv0qfaygku5fh3pa7rk.vtt

The difference between a fire engine and a fire truck lies in their respective roles and functions. A fire truck is equipped with ladders and an aerial ladder for ventilation purposes. The crew on the fire truck is responsible for search and rescue operations within buildings, performing ventilation on structures, and conducting elevator rescues. They also carry tools like the jaws of life for extricating individuals from car accidents.

On the other hand, a fire engine serves as the primary source of water and is equipped with hoses. It is responsible for extinguishing fires, both from the interior and exterior. The fire engine plays a crucial role in water supply and fire attack operations. While some ladder trucks may also carry water and hoses, many cities designate them primarily as truck companies focused on ventilation, search, and extrication tasks.

In summary, a fire truck specializes in ventilation, search and rescue, and extrication, while a fire engine is primarily responsible for water supply and fire attack operations.

How do you eat when your on shift as a firefighter?

Firehouse Feasts: Meals on Shifts with Firefighters

Yeah, we actually pretty good here at the firehouse. There's some good chefs. There's some really really bad chefs like myself. I'm great at opening boxes and jars and cans, but yeah. Every single day we have, we make lunch, we make dinner and a lot of times people will eat leftovers from the day before for breakfast, we always have lunch and dinner together at the fire table and yeah, we pretty good and we enjoy it we get to make our own Own menus and when somebody is on overtime, we get to have a little more food that day.

At the firehouse, we have good chefs who make lunch and dinner for everyone. We get to have leftovers for breakfast and make our own menus when someone is on overtime.

https://assets.anyquestion.com/raw/upload/blkncyab7ldnhyyfq7qk.vtt

When it comes to eating while on shift as a firefighter, we're fortunate to have a good setup at the firehouse. We have some talented chefs among us, although I must admit that I'm not one of them. I excel at opening boxes, jars, and cans instead. 

Every day, we prepare lunch and dinner together. Sometimes, people even have leftovers from the previous day for breakfast. We gather around the fire table to enjoy our meals as a team. We have the freedom to create our own menus and when someone is on overtime, we often have a little extra food that day.

Overall, we're well taken care of in terms of meals during our shifts at the firehouse.

How do you "wipe your work boots off" before you get home?

Unlocking the Secret: How to Leave Work Behind

I know it's odd, but I'm gonna answer my own question. The way that I wipe my boots off before I get home, and what I mean by wipe your boots off is all the challenges, struggles, everything that went through that day that I don't want to bring into the house or bring in with my attitude. I usually listen to music, and if I'm not ready by the time I get into the garage, I'll sit in there for a little bit and really try to focus my mind. If I need to take a rest, I take a rest when I get home. If I need to do something like work out, I do that first. My focus needs to be on getting my head right and my body right so that I can be engaged in the house, so I can be engaged in my own life. So making sure to have that habit, whether it's talking to yourself through it, whether it's having a mantra, make sure that you have that before you step into the house.

To wipe my boots off before I get home, I listen to music and take a break if needed. I also focus on getting my head and body right so I can be engaged in my own life when I get home.

https://assets.anyquestion.com/raw/upload/titeun1xwkrszdxiivx0.vtt

To wipe off my work boots before I get home, which symbolizes leaving behind the challenges and struggles of the day, I have a personal routine. I often listen to music during my commute, and if I still feel mentally occupied when I arrive in the garage, I take a few moments to focus my mind. If I need rest or exercise, I prioritize those activities as soon as I get home. It's crucial for me to have a clear head and be physically engaged so that I can fully be present in the house and in my personal life. Whether it involves self-talk or having a mantra, establishing this habit of mentally preparing before entering the house is essential.

Discovering the Versatile Jaws of Life: Tools that Save Lives!

So when somebody talks about the jaws of life, a lot of times I think it's one tool, but actually it's a multitude of tools that we have here. This is our spreader. That's one of the tools that we call the jaws of life. Here's the other thing that's called a cutter. And this is our ram. So all of these tools in unison will be utilized to be able to extricate somebody from a car, whether it's taking the door off the hinges or cutting bolts on the car. Another thing that we also use is a sawzall, which is very beneficial. Now there's many different types of these. We have the Hurst tools, there's TNT, there's Homatra, but these are the main three components, the spreaders, the cutters, and the ram.

The jaws of life refers to a set of tools used by rescue workers to extricate people from cars. It consists of spreaders, cutters, and a ram. Additionally, a Sawzall can be used for more intricate work.

https://assets.anyquestion.com/raw/upload/oqpqbvvaqcd4rair6ddn.vtt

The term jaws of life is often used to refer to a collection of tools rather than a single tool. These tools include a spreader, a cutter, and a ram. They are used together to extricate individuals from vehicles during rescue operations. The spreader is responsible for spreading or opening parts of the vehicle, while the cutter is used to cut through materials like bolts. The ram is another tool that aids in the extraction process. Additionally, a sawzall may also be utilized. Various brands such as Hurst, TNT, and Homatra offer these tools, but the main components are the spreaders, cutters, and ram.

Robert Verhelst answers your First Responders questions. See all the advice Robert Verhelst has and get answers to your own First Responders questions.

Follow me on AnyQuestion

Fireman Rob is known as a dynamic storyteller with an inspirational voice, on the courage to lead your life with a resilient mindset. He helps people become greater assets to themselves and others, with the ability to lead with courage, passion and mental strength. 

Fireman Rob delivers powerful impact to audiences through his stories and catalysts that have been Forged In The Fires of his life. From numerous years in the fire service to surviving on Discovery Channel’s show “Ultimate Ninja Challenge” to performing search & recovery after the September 11th attacks. His message resonates with everyone and has proven results. 

From surviving post-traumatic stress disorder to breaking a Guinness World Record to being a dad, he lives his message and delivers the fire to the audience.

ACCOLADES •  2012 Ironman Performance of the Year •  2012 HITS Triathlon Athlete of the Year •  2014 In Business Magazine “25 Most Influential People in Greater Madison” •  2015 Jefferson Award 