Comments on The Kitchen Table: True Strength

While I was an active firefighter, I always had a ...

2008-11-08T07:21:00.000-08:00

While I was an active firefighter, I always had a specific picture in my mind of when I would be willing to toss everything aside and enter a structure against all common sense and against all odds. THAT is a moment that many who have come before us have had, have made their decision and unfortunately, have died while in the line of duty. To affect a positive outcome to any incident is the sole purpose in mind. It is not to die!

But, THAT is the romanticism of the job that captures the imagination of America. That is the stuff that movies are made of. A firefighter dying in the line of duty receives considerable attention, while daily acts of “heroism” can go pretty much unnoticed. “Notice” isn’t why men and women do the job. The point of that comment is that no one seems to notice until someone dies.
They don’t realize that these true acts of heroism only accounts for about 10 percent of the LODDs in this country. As the author points out so accurately, not getting to the scene, not wearing seatbelts and not taking care of our health is accounting for approximately 65 percent of our nation’s firefighter fatalities annually.

You do not have to hold rank to “lead”. You do not have to be in a decision-making role to change a culture. You have to be willing to step up and step out and commit to making positive changes not only for yourself, but for others.

Set an example. Be a role model. Drink more juice. Eat less gravy. Fasten your seatbelt EVERY TIME. And make better decisions. It will add to a long career.

Excellent blog.

True Strength always will belong as Teddy Roosevel...

2008-11-05T20:02:00.000-08:00

True Strength always will belong as Teddy Roosevel said "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of good deeds could have done better.... The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
Sums up what the author wanted to say about courage and the type of jobs firefighters do...just my p.o.v. thanks teddy!!

Good points, well made. In my opinion, too many le...

2008-11-05T15:25:00.000-08:00

Good points, well made. In my opinion, too many let the hero tag joe public gives and let it go their head. just concentrate on being a true professional and the rest should fall into place.