The fire service has a long standing tradition of placing importance on punctuality and timeliness, therefore we tend to try and do things in as expedient a manner as possible. I wholeheartedly support doing things as quickly as we can, but not at the expense of accurate service delivery. Lately I have taken note of too many instances where folks were too focused on being quick and failed to pay attention to the details of the task they were trying to perform. I accept part of the blame for this as I am one that preaches being quick and may have not emphasized quick, yet accurate, as much as I should have. However, recognizing the concern is the first step to resolving it.
In my opinion, the best way to become good at this job is through continuous and proper training and by actually doing the job in the correct manner. Mastering the basics provides a solid foundation and allows members to become more efficient in carrying out tasks by applying the principles of the basics. Once a member has mastered the basics, speed and efficiency will blend with accuracy while performing tasks.
I'm not much of a baseball fan, but since it's America's past time, I will use a baseball analogy. A MLB team isn't going to draft a pitcher who can throw 105 MPH but couldn't hit the broad side of a barn and likewise they aren't going to draft a pitcher who can only throw 40 MPH and puts it in the catcher's mitt every pitch. However, an MLB team would be eager to draft a pitcher that can throw 105 MPH and put it in the catcher's mitt every pitch. With that said, I want an Engine Company showing up on the fireground that gets out the door quickly, goes to the right address, lays a supply line, conducts a good size up, stretches the proper handline to the right location, and has the right PPE on. If any piece of that equation is missing, I believe they are operating subpar.
Simply showing up quickly or running down the street faster than the next guy only takes you so far. You have got to put it all together if you want to operate in an efficient AND effective manner. So how do we make this happen?
First, as stated above, through continuous and proper training. Developing good habits and muscle memory can easily be achieved through training. The training environment also provides a place to work through mistakes and figure out what works and what doesn't. Along with muscle memory, members need to develop what I call "mental memory". Mental memory will allow members to effectively carry out recognition primed decision making. RPDM, as many folks are aware, is the process we often use to make decisions on emergency incidents. Reviewing incidents, videos, and drills will help build the "mental memory" which will combine with the "muscle memory" for, hopefully, positive results.
Second, performing our job in the correct manner everytime we go out the door. Going through all the proper motions on an incident, regardless if it appears to be a working incident, will improve proficiency. This goes for every member responding to emergencies from the probationary member to the chief. Organizing and tracking units on a command board or piece of paper, whichever is your flavor, during the gas leak or good intent box alarm will probably make the chief more efficient AND effective at running command during the 3 alarm garden apartment fire. Likewise, getting out the door quickly and wearing the proper PPE on every call will make a firefighter more efficient AND effective.
Well that's enough of me rambling on for this morning. Hopefully this note makes you think and examine how you're conducting business and what you can do to better your practices.
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