First Responders

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.

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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 do you want people considering a career as a first responder to know?

Key Takeaway: The Importance of Having a Strong Why in a First Responder Career

So what do I want people to consider when looking into a career as a first responder? I think one of the biggest things that you want to look into is your why. I mean because you're going to be challenged, you're going to have good days and bad days, but you're also going to have to be able to take the challenge of being able to go home after hard shifts and being able to continue to advance your skills and just deal with situations that maybe you weren't really prepared for. But as long as you have that understanding of why you're here, I think that there's a great chance of success. There's a great chance that you can have a long career as a first responder. And the biggest thing too is to understand when you've had enough and be honest with yourself. I think the first responder career is an amazing, amazing thing that I will never ever be able to emulate and having a why is so important.

When considering a career as a first responder, it is important to understand your why and be honest with yourself about when you need a break. Having a strong sense of purpose will help guide you through the highs and lows of the job and ensure that you have a long successful career.

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When considering a career as a first responder, there are a few important things to keep in mind. First and foremost, understand your why. This career will present challenges, both good and bad days. You must be prepared to handle difficult situations and continue advancing your skills even after tough shifts. Having a clear understanding of why you chose this path will greatly contribute to your success and longevity as a first responder.

Additionally, it's crucial to recognize when you've reached your limit and be honest with yourself. The first responder career is truly remarkable, and it's important to acknowledge the incredible work they do. Having a strong sense of purpose is essential in this field.

What are some exercises you do to stay functionally fit for your job?

Maximize productivity with functional fitness throughout the day

This is a good one because staying functionally fit is different than being like a body builder or an elite swimmer or cyclist. So functionally fit, a lot of times they say 30 minutes a day, make sure you get some cardio, make sure you get some strength every single day. So the things that I like to do are if I'm sitting at my desk or I'm at the firehouse is try to do a clock workout. And it doesn't always work obviously because we're on calls or it's a long day, whatever it is. But get into the weight room and at least get your cardio in in the morning or in the evening, 30 minutes, do it on the bike, go on the treadmill, whatever it is, get something in. But then the strength workout, if you can splice it out through the day, do 15, 20 reps, maybe every hour of three different exercises, that's what I think is always good. You know, whether it's pushup, whether it's body weight pushups, core workout, whatever it is, or if you want to do dumbbells like curls or press. I think just being able to get in there and do three sets of three exercises, 10 reps each every hour is always a good thing.

Staying functionally fit requires 30 minutes of cardio per day, as well as strength training. This can be done by doing a Clockwork routine or 15-20 reps of 3 different exercises every hour.

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Staying functionally fit for my job involves incorporating both cardio and strength exercises into my routine. I aim for at least 30 minutes of cardio each day, whether it's on a bike or treadmill. For strength workouts, I try to do a clock workout where I perform 15-20 reps of three different exercises every hour. This could include bodyweight exercises like push-ups or core workouts, or using dumbbells for curls or presses. Splicing these exercises throughout the day allows me to stay active and maintain functional fitness.

What aspects of personal wellness do you wish you had more training/information on as a first responder?

First responders seek diverse solutions for personal wellness

I think one of the biggest things on personal wellness that I think would be beneficial and I know we have training on mental health, we have training on physical health, we have training on nutrition, but I think one of the biggest things is people come in with their ideas and I think the biggest thing that we need to have for personal wellness training and information is a toolbox of materials. Multiple things that can come in and help multiple different people because not everything's gonna work for one person or another person so making sure that there's many different variants of it I think that is so fundamentally important for both physical and mental strength and training is that you have to have those variants you have to have those multiple ways of doing things to be able to have somebody in this dynamic career field as first responders to be able to actually find what works best for them. That's the biggest thing that I wish for more in training is more of a dynamic approach than in essence a stagnant.

I think one of the most important things for personal Wellness training is to have a toolbox of materials that can be used to help multiple different people. Not everything works for everyone, so having multiple variants of materials is key for both physical and mental strength in order to be successful in a dynamic career field, such as First Responders.

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When it comes to personal wellness as a first responder, I believe having a diverse range of training and information is crucial. While there are already trainings on mental health, physical health, and nutrition, I think it would be beneficial to have a toolbox of resources that offer multiple approaches. Each individual is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. Therefore, having various options and strategies available is important for both physical and mental strength. In this dynamic career field, it's essential for first responders to be able to find what works best for them. A more dynamic approach to training, rather than a static one, would be greatly beneficial in addressing personal wellness needs.

Any tips for a recent college graduate looking to improve their tactical and strategic decision-making?

Unlocking Success: Embrace Tactical and Strategic Decision-Making

So any tips for recent college grads looking to improve their tactical and strategic decision-making? Well I think I think the biggest thing is you have to start to make those decisions. The tactical decisions are those everyday ones. Right now you only have a limited amount of experiential knowledge and I think that isn't a limiting factor. It's the limiting factor is when you don't want to make those decisions because of the chance that they might be failures. That the chance that it might be painful. So making sure that you understand the concept that tactical decisions are ones that you're going to create over time. And so those are ones that you have to habitually do. Working out, getting up early, jotting down in a journal. Those strategic decisions are going to be those longer goals. Right now you may not know what your longer goals are and you may have to live off of those strategic or the tactical decisions in the moment. And really start to discover who you are to make those bigger strategic goals for yourself. And your decision-making process is all linked to your experiential knowledge. So I would just say get out there, make the decisions, don't worry about the outcomes, and then adapt as you go through life.

Start making decisions, even if they are small. Habitual decision-making will help you develop experiential knowledge which will help you make better strategic decisions in the future. Don't be afraid to make mistakes and learn from them.

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Tips for recent college graduates looking to improve their tactical and strategic decision-making? The key is to start making decisions. Tactical decisions are the everyday ones that require experiential knowledge. Don't let fear of failure or discomfort hold you back from making these decisions. Understand that tactical decisions are developed over time through habitual actions like working out, journaling, or getting up early. Strategic decisions, on the other hand, involve longer-term goals that may not be clear right now. Use your tactical decisions in the moment to discover who you are and form bigger strategic goals for yourself. Your decision-making process is tied to your experiential knowledge, so it's important to get out there, make decisions, and not worry too much about the outcomes. Adapt as you navigate through life.

What suggestions would you give about learning about the job before applying?

Unlocking the Secrets: Learning about the Job Before Applying

Yeah, this is a great question about what suggestions do you have about learning about the job before applying? I think there's so many opportunities. I have a young son and there's so many opportunities to be able to find out more about the fire service, police service, EMS, dispatch, whichever you want to do within your first responder community. There's so many opportunities to be able to take certification courses or find small trainings or have individual, go to individual sessions of speakers. And also at the same time, we always have open doors. We're very welcoming to individuals who come to the firehouse and want to learn more about it or are applying for the job and want to learn more, hey, what's the daily routine like? What is it like at your station? Then they go to other stations. So I think reaching out is one of the biggest things before you apply for a job to understand the little intricacies because obviously you're always going to know the bigger things, the salary, the time that you work, all those things. But it's always so important to find out the little intricacies and even maybe taking a certification course to find out if all of the tasks that you're going to be asked to perform are things that you want to do on a routine basis.

My suggestion for learning about the job before applying is to reach out and ask questions. You can go to fire stations, attend certifications courses, or find small trainings to learn more. This will give you a better understanding of what the daily routine is like, as well as any other little intricacies that may be involved with the job.

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Learning about a job before applying is crucial, and there are several suggestions I have in this regard. First, take advantage of the numerous opportunities available to gain insights into the field you're interested in. For example, if you're considering a career in the first responder community, such as the fire service, police service, EMS, or dispatch, there are certification courses and small trainings you can attend. These can provide valuable knowledge and exposure to the job.

Additionally, seek out individual sessions with speakers who have experience in the field. They can offer unique perspectives and insights. Another great option is to reach out to professionals in the industry. Many firehouses and other organizations are welcoming to individuals who want to learn more. You can visit the firehouse, ask questions, and get a sense of the daily routine and station life. Consider visiting multiple stations to gather a broader understanding.

Reaching out and actively seeking information is key before applying for a job. While you may already know the basics like salary and work hours, it's important to uncover the little intricacies of the job. Taking a certification course related to the field can also provide a hands-on experience and help you determine if the tasks involved align with your interests and preferences.

By proactively learning about the job before applying, you can gain valuable insights and ensure that it is the right fit for you.

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

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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 