What strategies do you use to ensure that your Fire Department stays up to date with the latest technologies and 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. Transcript: "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."
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What strategies do you use to ensure that your Fire Department stays up to date with the latest technologies and 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.
What do you want people considering a career as a first responder to know?
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.
What are some exercises you do to stay functionally fit for your job?
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.
What aspects of personal wellness do you wish you had more training/information on as a first responder?
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.
Any tips for a recent college graduate looking to improve their tactical and strategic decision-making?
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.
What suggestions would you give about learning about the job before applying?
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.