Stop The Epidemic!

I have tossed the idea around for a while about doing a post on this topic, as I’m sure there are some folks who will take exception with it.  However, I feel the message needs to be communicated for the betterment of the fire service.  You see, there is an epidemic that seems to becoming widespread throughout the fire service: the acceptance of mediocrity and subpar performance.  This epidemic undermines many core values the fire service has been built upon, compromises the fire service’s effectiveness, and is dangerous.  It’s dangerous to firefighters and citizens, alike.  However, it’s not too late to stop this epidemic and steer the fire service back on course.  Failure to do so will result in further compromise to the 21^st century fire service’s effectiveness.

So when did this epidemic begin?  I’m not really sure when it began nor is it really all that important to know when it began.  However, it is important to realize that it exists and will continue to exist until the fire service takes a stand to stop it in its’ tracks.  Too many folks have gotten on board with the mindset of: as long as nobody from the fire service gets hurt, the operation was a success.  One hundred things could have gone wrong, but as long as no fire service members were hurt then we did something right. Yes, you did one thing right but you also did one hundred things wrong.  I’ll go out on a limb and say an operation where this takes place is far from one I’d consider a success.  Every operation we do should be reviewed to determine what actions worked out well and what actions could be done differently to improve our operations.  With that said, in almost every instance, some actions could be done differently improve operations.

Why does this epidemic continue to occur?  It continues to occur because the fire service allows it to.  It’s easier for many folks to turn a blind eye to subpar performance than it is to address, and correct, it.  Often, it’s because folks don’t want to hurt somebody’s feeling by bringing these concerns to light.  Here’s a news flash to the folks who subscribe to this mindset: fires don’t care about our feelings, class C soil doesn’t care about our feelings, methyl ethyl bad stuff doesn’t care about our feelings, and water that has turned a street into a raging river doesn’t care about our feelings.  I’m not advocating hurting feelings, however I am advocating the fact that we have to outperform the elements we face in the course of our duties if we want to perform effectively.  Failure to outperform these elements compromises our effectiveness, our safety, and the safety of those we serve.  Accepting mediocrity and subpar performance will not help us in any way, shape, or form in our quest to outperform the elements and challenges we face.

Many folks in today’s fire service like to throw around the phrase “Everyone Goes Home”.  Often the folks who throw this phrase around are the same folks accepting mediocrity and subpar performance.  Accepting mediocrity and subpar performance is actually contradictory to the very phrase these folks throw around because it seems like the right thing to say.  The fireground and emergency scenes are actually more dangerous when folks are performing in a mediocre manner.  In order to operate as safely as possible, while remaining effective, the fire service needs folks who perform in a superior manner, not in a mediocre manner.  Do you want to operate on the fireground that has a RIT staffed with folks who perform in a mediocre manner? Probably not.  I want to operate on the fireground that has a RIT staffed with folks who take pride in doing the job well and operating in a superior manner.  Your families and the people who care about you probably also want that, as that gives us a much better chance at coming home at the end of the shift versus the result of operating amongst mediocrity and subpar performance.

While it may be easier to turn a blind eye to subpar performance, it’s not the right thing to do.  Part of being a firefighter is doing the right thing.  Acknowledge and correct subpar or mediocre performance, but do not accept it!  Company officers, challenge yourselves and your people daily.  Strive to always perform as efficiently and effectively as possible.  As Captain Dan McMaster, of the Alexandria Fire Department, stated at AFTD ’12, “operational concerns and deficiencies need to be corrected through training, not discipline”.  Get your folks out to the apparatus bay and in your response district to train.  You may think you’re being nice by sparing one’s feelings and not acknowledging subpar performance, however you are doing an injustice to your people, yourself, and the citizens by accepting mediocrity or subpar performance.  The 21^st century fire service’s effectiveness is dependant upon folks striving for superior performance, not mediocre or subpar performance.