Loose Topics

STANDING TOGETHER FOR SAFETY...

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Fri, 09 May 2014 14:57:00 +0000

In this time of uncertainty and with the specter of terrorism ever present, it is hard to believe that any responsible public official would oppose safe and adequate fire fighter staffing.

But the fact is that efforts to expand fire department staffing are rebuffed every day in city councils throughout this country.

The fact is that too many politicians are simply willing to ignore the truth and continue to play a dangerous game of firehouse roulette with public safety and the lives of professional fire fighter and their citizens.

Staffing remains a central issue for our union. Two-thirds of our fire departments are understaffed, and an even larger number cannot meet the requirements of NFPA 1710, including our own.

At a time when fire and EMS calls are at an all-time high, our fire fighters are being asked to do more with less.

Despite the increasing demands on the time, services, and skills of our fire fighters, there are many fire departments in this nation that have fewer personnel today than they had two decades ago. Meanwhile, the populations and risk hazards of their jurisdictions have grown dramatically. For example in 1967 the CCFD had 17 fire apparatus and a daily staffing level of those apparatus of 75. In 2014 the CCFD has 22 fire apparatus and daily staffing level of 70 for those units...

We cannot let cities and their misinformed leaders stifle our calls for safe fire fighter staffing. This is not only for the protection of those fire fighters, but also for the protection of the citizens the city leaders swore to serve.

We can’t let city managers, mayors, city councils, county commissions, fire chiefs, or fire district boards intimidate our local union leaders into silence on such a critical life and death issue.

The facts are clear. Short staffing continues to kill and seriously injure our fire fighters and it results in many additional civilian deaths. So why in God’s name do public officials turn their backs on this critical life and death issue? How can they do so in good conscience?

The short staffing does not just include personnel, but it includes fire stations and equipment. In 2008 the citizens of this city and the city itself saw a need to add Fire Station 18 due to the increased call volume and the inability for the Fire Dept. to respond to that growing area in a timely manner. This station was put onto a Bond Election ballot and voted on and approved by the citizens. Now the city is attempting to tell it's citizens this station is no longer needed at this time. How?

The only things that have changed since 2008 is an increase to call volume, increase in residential and commercial structures, an increase in population etc. So with all of those increases, how is it the city finds this fire station, which would increase the safety of the citizens, not needed?

We understand that staffing costs money and that many communities are facing fiscal problems in these tough economic times. But that is no reason for local elected officials to ignore the need to increase staffing or to deny that staffing problems exist in their departments. They are doing a disservice to the citizens they represent - and to all of you who protect those citizens.

But we also understand that when you let problems accumulate over 30 years, like streets and public safety the price to just to get things back up to par seems great. And the only ones that suffer are the citizens through decreased public safety and increased taxes or fees.

If the mismanagement would not have occurred for so long the price would not be so high. But is this the fault of the citizens? Is this the fault of the fire fighters? The answer is no..

These city officials should work with our local unions to find reasonable, acceptable, and effective solutions to their staffing problems. They should not continue to attempt to cut budgets, reduce staffing of personnel, equipment, and stations.

WHY SOME THINGS ARE BETTER LEFT IN MY HEAD....

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 21:22:00 +0000

*THIS POST CONTAINS GRAPHIC LANGUAGE*

WHILE AT WORK YESTERDAY MY PARTNER TURNS TO ME AND ASKS "WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THESE GUYS CLAIMING PTSD?"

MY RESPONSE WAS WHO AM I TO JUDGE THEM AND WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH, HELL I THINK WE ALL SUFFER FROM SOME FORM OF PTSD. DON'T BELIEVE ME, ALLOW ME TO SHARE THIS EXAMPLE WITH YOU AND THEN YOU TELL ME IF THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU...

ABOUT A YEAR AGO MY WIFE HAD DRAGGED ME OUT TO A GET TOGETHER WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. SINCE MOST OF MY FRIENDS ARE IN THE FD, THESE WOULD BE MORE LIKE ACQUAINTANCES THEN ANYTHING ELSE.

SO THERE I AM HOLDING MY BEER MINDING MY OWN BUSINESS, JUST THE WAY I LIKE IT WHEN I GO TO THESE TYPE OF THINGS. AND THEN I CAN SEE IT COMING...

HERE COMES THE GUY THAT I HAVE MAYBE MET ONE TIME IN PASSING, MAYBE I HAVE EVEN SHAKEN HIS HAND. I SURE IN THE HELL DO NOT REMEMBER HIS NAME. I DO KNOW HE LIKES TO WALK AROUND AND REMIND EVERYONE OF HOW MUCH MONEY HE MAKES AS HE SITS IN HIS OFFICE...

HE FINALLY MAKES HIS WAY TO ME AND SAYS, YOUR THE FIREMAN RIGHT? I SAY YEP THAT'S ME...HE SAYS WOW THAT MUST BE NICE, YOU GUYS DRINK COFFEE AND PLAY VIDEO GAMES ALL DAY HUH? AS I NOW TAKE A LARGE SWIG OF BEER TO HELP BRING MY PULSE RATE DOWN, THIS FUCK IS GOING TO GO THERE...

I EXPLAIN THAT IT IS NOT EXACTLY THAT WAY, BUT THAT THERE IS SOME DOWN TIME WHILE ON DUTY. THIS ARROGANT PRICK SIPS HIS HIGH CLASS WHATEVER THE FUCK DRINK IT IS AND SAYS, I HEAR YOU FIREFIGHTERS ARE NEVER REALLY AT WORK WITH ALL THE TIME OFF YOU GET.

OK NOW THE BEER I HAD WAS GONE, BUT LUCKILY I WAS SITUATED CLOSE TO MY COOLER. I GRABBED ANOTHER BEER AND IN VAIN TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT WE ACTUALLY PUT IN MORE HOURS PER WEEK THAN MOST. THIS DIPSHIT JUST STOOD THERE AND STARED AND SAID "SURE". I HAD THAT FEELING THAT THE NEXT LINE OF QUESTIONS FROM THIS FUCKING TARD WHERE GONNA BE THE ONES I HATE THE MOST!

HAVE YOU MADE A BIG FIRE? WHAT IS THE WORST THING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN? THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS I HATE THE MOST BECAUSE THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THE PEOPLE ASKING DON'T REALLY WANT TO KNOW. I TELL HIM MAN YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT MY EYES OF SEEN. WITH HIS EVER SO SURE RESPONSE OF "COME ON MAN I CAN HANDLE IT I HAVE SEEN CHICAGO FIRE"...NO YOU CANT YOU PIECE OF SHIT AND THAT SHIT YOU SEE ON TV IS NOTHING IN COMPARISON TO LIVING IT FIRST HAND. BUT YOU KNOW I AM GOING TO OBLIGE THIS DOUCHE BAG BECAUSE I HAVE NOW HIT MY BOILING POINT...

SURE I HAVE MADE FIRES. EVERY FIRE I HAVE MADE HAS DESTROYED SOMETHING. EVEN THE SMALLEST OF FIRES CAN CREATE LARGE AMOUNTS OF DAMAGE. WHEN SOMEONES PROPERTY AND BELONGINGS ARE LOST FOREVER BECAUSE OF A FIRE, THE SIZE OF IT DOESN'T MATTER YOU ASS...

HAVE I BEEN IN HOT FIRES, SURE. I HAVE BEEN IN FIRES SO HOT PARTS OF MY GEAR MELTS, SO HOT THAT THE AIR FROM MY SCBA SEEMS LIKE STEAM COMING OUT. I HAVE BEEN IN FIRES WHERE MY CREW HAS RUN OUT OF WATER, STANDING BY AS A GAS LINE FED FIRE GROWS IN SIZE WAITING FOR WATER. I HAVE BEEN TO FIRES WHERE THE FLOOR ABOVE HAS COME CRASHING DOWN AND A PORCELAIN TUB NEARLY CRUSHED ME. I HAVE BEEN IN FIRES WHERE PEOPLE ARE PULLED FROM A BURNING STRUCTURE, THERE SCREAMS FROM THEIR BURNS ARE DEAFENING AND NEVER FORGETTING. I HAVE BEEN IN FIRES WHERE PEOPLE DID NOT MAKE IT. WHERE FAMILIES GO CRAZY BECAUSE THEY JUST LOST THEIR LOVED ONE AND THEY DON'T THINK YOU ARE DOING ENOUGH...

THE WORST THINGS I HAVE SEEN, REALLY? YOU SHOULD BE ASKING ME WHAT ARE THE WORST THINGS I SEE. BECAUSE THESE ARE THINGS THAT STAY STUCK IN YOUR HEAD. WHEN YOU DRIVE AROUND TOWN YOU FIND YOURSELF SAYING OH YEA REMEMBER THAT CRASH THERE, REMEMBER ROLL OVER THERE, ETC. THESE ARE NOT THINGS WE CAN JUST FORGET AT THE END OF SHIFTS...

I HAVE PICKED UP PIECES OF A BODY OFF THE HIGHWAY. WHEN I SAY PIECES I MEAN LARGE AND SMALL. PARTS OF THE BODY LAID ON THE EAST BOUND SIDE AND PARTS ON THE WEST BOUND SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS SO BAD THAT I COULD HAVE TAKEN A A&P TEST RIGHT THERE IN THE ROAD. I HAD TO ROLL OVER WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE UPPER BODY, REMOVE THE HELMET AND SEE THOSE EYES. THOSE EYES YOU NEVER FORGET, THEY ARE NOT LIKE EYES FROM SOMEONE THAT PASSES NATURALLY OVERNIGHT. OH NO THOSE ARE TRAGIC AND SCARED EYES, EYES FULL OF OH SHIT I FUCKED UP AND I AM NOT READY TO GO! THOSE EYES I CAN STILL SEE RIGHT NOW...

HOW ABOUT THE TIME A VEHICLE JUMPED OFF THE ROAD TO DRIVE RIGHT THROUGH A BRICK APARTMENT. AS I MAKE ENTRY INTO THIS VEHICLE THAT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS NOW BEEN COMPACTED, I FIND 2 PASSENGERS. ONE THAT IS MISSING PART OF SKULL, YET STILL TALKING TO ME AS IF NOTHING IS WRONG AND ANOTHER THAT IS LIFELESS AND MUTILATED. THE ONE WITH THE SKULL INJURY KEEPS ASKING ABOUT HIS COMPANION AND IF SHE IS ALRIGHT. WE SAY WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN AND THAT WE NEED TO HELP HIM AS WELL. DEEP DOWN MOST KNOW THIS IS BULLSHIT BECAUSE HIS COMPANION IS DEAD NOT MUCH WE CAN DO WHEN THERE ARE OBVIOUS SIGNS OF DEATH. THE SIGHT OF SOMEONE SITTING THERE TALKING TO MISSING HALF THEIR HEAD IS SOMETHING YOU DO NOT LET GO, IT GET BURNS INTO YOUR EYE LIDS TO BE SEEN WHENEVER YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES...

HOW ABOUT THE GUN SHOT WOUND TO HEAD THAT REMOVES MOST OF THE PERSONS JAW BUT DOES NOT KILL THEM. HOW ABOUT THE LIFELESS INFANT LAYING IN THE BED AFTER BEING SMOTHERED BY ITS PARENTS. HOW ABOUT THE WOUND THAT IS SO INFECTED WHEN YOU GO TO CHECK IT YOU FIND MAGGOTS INSIDE THE WOUND AS WELL AS UNDER THE SKIN, AND THESE WERE NOT THE MEDICAL KIND. HOW ABOUT THE DELIVERING OF A LIFELESS BABY IN TOILET BECAUSE THE PERSON DID KNOW THEY WERE PREGNANT....THESE THINGS ARE INSIDE OUR HEADS SHARING SPACE AND BUMPING AROUND WITH EVERY OTHER MEMORY WE HAVE, AND THERE IS NO WAY TO REMOVE THEM...

SO YEA WE DON'T JUST SIT AROUND AND DRINK COFFEE AND PLAY VIDEO GAMES YOU ASSHOLE, WE PREPARE OURSELVES FOR THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW WE ARE GOING TO FACE AND SEE. THINGS THAT WILL KEEP US UP FOR NIGHTS AT A TIME...THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT WE PUT IN MORE HOURS PER WEEK THAT MOST...AND YOU GOT YOUR ANSWER TO YOUR STUPID FUCKING QUESTION AS TO IF I HAVE BEEN TO ANY BIG FIRES AND WHAT IS THE WORST I HAVE SEEN...

WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE SEE, NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH. BUT WE DO BECAUSE WE CHOOSE TO, BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS TO RUN TO THE DANGER WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS RUNNING AWAY, SOMEONE HAS TO GO IN AND HELP THE SICK AND WOUNDED WHILE OTHERS HIDE IN THE SHADOWS. WE DO THIS KNOWING THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES. WE KNOW THERE WILL BE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, WE KNOW THAT THE DIVORCE RATE IN OUR PROFESSION IS HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE WAY MORE LIKELY TO COME DOWN WITH SOME FORM OF CANCER, WE KNOW THAT WE MAY NOT RETURN HOME TO OUR FAMILIES, BUT THE LAST THING I NEED IS SOME SUIT WEARING POMPOUS FUCK TELLING ME I DON'T WORK ENOUGH AND WHEN I DO WORK ALL I DO IS PLAY VIDEO GAMES. I OFFERED HIM THIS, PLEASE COME SIGN A WAIVER AND DO A RIDE ALONG WITH ME ON A MEDIC UNIT SO THAT YOU CAN SEE FIRST HAND WHAT WE DO (EMS WISE) AND WHAT WE SEE....

What we see our hearts will never forgive, what we do no one will ever understand, burned into our eyes are the evils of this society, though we ask for forgiveness we understand that we must carry the consequences of their sins, this is the CALLING we have chosen!

I STARTED THIS POST TALKING ABOUT PTSD AND THIS IS WHERE I WILL TIE IT ALL TOGETHER. AFTER THAT INCIDENT AND THE WAY I REACTED AND THE ANGER AND RAGE I HAD INSIDE I ASKED MYSELF, ARE YOU DEALING WITH EVERYTHING OK?

MOST OF US WILL SAY YEA SURE I AM FINE NO BIG DEAL. I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I HAVE HAD TO SIT AND TALK TO PEOPLE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS DURING MY CAREER. IT HELPS...

BUT MY POINT IS THIS...*PTSD is a subject we don't like to talk about. Suicide among Fire/Police/EMS is a much bigger problem than anyone cares to mention. It is truly the industry's dirty little secret. They are both very real issues and they are right in our face.

SO MAYBE WE ALL ARE SUFFERING FROM A LITTLE PTSD AND JUST MAYBE SOME THINGS ARE BETTER LEFT IN MY HEAD....

WHAT THEY DO....

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 22:32:00 +0000

I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THE PHOTOS. AFTER TAKING A LOOK, I WILL EXPLAIN WHAT THIS POST IS ABOUT....

TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE IN THOSE PHOTOS? MOST RESPONSES WILL BE SOMETHING LIKE; FIRE, FIREFIGHTERS, FIRE HOSE, WATER ETC.

THOSE ARE ALL NORMAL RESPONSES AND VERY CORRECT. BUT LET'S TAKE A CLOSE LOOK...

WHEN YOU THINK OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT YOU PROBABLY THINK OF FIRE ENGINES/TRUCKS, FIREFIGHTERS, HOSES AND LADDERS. YOU PROBABLY ALSO THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS RESPONDING TO HOUSES ON FIRE OR BUSINESSES THAT ARE BURNING.

BUT WHAT MOST PEOPLE FORGET AND UNFORTUNATELY PEOPLE THAT MAKE VERY IMPORTANT DECISIONS ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, LIKE BUDGETS AND STAFFING LEVELS, FORGET IS THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO EVERY EMERGENCY.

DOES ANYONE SEE A HOUSE BURNING? A BUSINESS ON FIRE? NO...BUT WE DO SEE A FIRE MOST LIKELY CAUSED FROM A GAS MAIN BEING BATTLED. IS THIS A EVERY DAY INCIDENT? NO IT IS NOT...BUT OUR DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND DID A EXCELLENT JOB!

THE POINT OF THIS POST IS THAT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO EVERY EMERGENCY, INCLUDING HOUSE AND BUSINESS FIRES, BUT ALSO TO GAS LINE FIRES, HAZ-MAT EMERGENCIES, RESCUE EMERGENCIES (ON LAND AND WATER), AIRPORT EMERGENCIES, EXPLOSIONS, TO NAME JUST A FEW....

WHAT YOU DON'T SEE, BUT WAS THERE WAS AN AMBULANCE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS WITH AN AMBULANCE TO EVERY FIRE WITH AT LEAST ONE AMBULANCE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS AND THE FIREFIGHTERS.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ALSO RESPONDS TO MEDICAL EMERGENCIES RANGING FROM CPR IN PROGRESS TO THE WEEK OLD STUBBED TOE. NO MATTER THE EMERGENCY THEY RESPOND...

ON TOP OF RESPONDING TO EVERY EMERGENCY THAT GOES THROUGH THE 911 SYSTEM, THESE MEN AND WOMEN MUST TRAIN AND STUDY LIKE THEIR LIVES DEPEND ON IT. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS NOT ONLY DO THEIR LIVES DEPEND ON, SO DOES YOURS!

THEY STUDY STREETS, THEY CHECK HYDRANTS, THEY TEST FIRE HOSE, THEY KEEP UP THE MAINTENANCE ON THEIR EQUIPMENT, THEY GIVE TOURS OF STATIONS, THEY GO OUT AND GIVE PRESENTATIONS...

THE DAYS OF THINKING THAT YOUR FIREFIGHTERS SIT AROUND AND DRINK COFFEE AND EAT ICE CREAM ALL DAY ARE LONG GONE..

AND SO SHOULD THE ATTITUDE OF THEY CAN DO MORE WITH LESS! MOST FIRE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FACING THAT EXACT ATTITUDE FROM THEIR CITY LEADERS, AND THIS CITY IS NO DIFFERENT.

THERE IS GOING TO COME A TIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE WHERE YOUR VOICE CAN HELP OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE IT IS YOURS, ATTEMPT TO GET WHERE THEY NEED TO BE...

THIS CITY IS GROWING AT A RATE THAT IS UNPRECEDENTED AND THERE IS NO DENYING THAT. CONSTRUCTION IS AT A ALL TIME HIGH, OUR NEW WATER PARK ON THE ISLAND WILL SOON BE BUILT AND OPERATIONAL, THE NEW SHORELINE WHATEVER WILL BE COMPLETE SOON DRAWING IN EVEN MORE TOURISTS...

THE QUESTION IS, IS OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE SO THAT IT CAN RESPOND WITH ENOUGH PERSONNEL TO HANDLE EVERY EMERGENCY SAFELY AND PROMPTLY THAT THIS CITY WILL HAVE??

GO BY ANY FIRE STATION AND TAKE THE TIME TO SIT WITH THESE MEN AND WOMEN AND ASK THEM THAT SAME QUESTION, SEE IF THEIR ANSWER IS THE SAME AS YOURS. IF IT DIFFERS, ASK WHY? BECOME INFORMED AND INVOLVED, AFTER ALL IT IS OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT...

BECAUSE WHAT THEY DO IS PROBABLY NOT WHAT YOU THINK THEY DO...

KNOWING YOUR ROLE...A MUST READ FOR ALL PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTERS

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 17:06:00 +0000

So you just completed and graduated from your fire academy. You are about to report to your shift for the first time and meet the firefighters that you will be working with, possibly for the next 15 to 20 years.

Excitement is running through your body, but as you sit and think, there is so much you still don't know. Your anxiety level rises, nerves kick in, butterflies began to flutter in your stomach. Don't worry, all of that is natural and is something every other probationary firefighter has gone through.

Now the profession of firefighting is difficult in general, but the probationary period of a firefighter is usually the most difficult part of their career. IT SHOULD BE THAT WAY. The probationary period, which could last anywhere from 12 to 24 months, is the period when a good, solid fire department will challenge you. This time of "probation" should not be taken lightly, it is the time when your actions or non-actions are watched with a very close eye. Termination during this period is a great possibility, due to the probation period and you being "at will" during this time frame. It can take a firefighter their whole career to establish a good reputation, it can take a firefighter only one shift to establish a bad reputation. So again, what you do or don't do really makes a difference during your probationary period.

You may be wondering why after spending over a year in the academy everyone is watching everything you do under a microscope? There are multiple answers for doing so and believe it or not most of the reasons have nothing to do with "hazing" or just being an ass. These firefighters, that you will be riding with want to ensure that the probie has retained the information he/she was taught. They also want to try and help bring that probationary firefighter to the next level - the street smart level of being a firefighter. A probationary firefighter will learn that text book firefighting (including EMS) and real life firefighting are two different things.

No one has the right or the authority to harass or intimidate you as a probationary firefighter. BUT the other members of your crew and department have the right to push you to see exactly what you are made of and how you handle situations. If you think about it, they are actually obligated to push and test you, since it is their life you may be saving one day.

As a probationary firefighter you will be evaluated (on everything from pulling hose to washing dishes), you will be pushed (emotionally and physically), and you will be judged (on your abilities and attitude) by your crew and other firefighters. Through all of that if a probationary firefighter were to actually pay attention they will realize they are being educated and prepared to become a functioning member of the crew.

Over the last few years, we have noticed that fire academy's are producing more and more INO firefighters. These firefighters, that are still on probation, no matter what they are told or who it is being told by, they already know. These are firefighters that probably do very well in the academy, they retain what they "read" very well. Yet when it comes to actually applying that knowledge on the streets they fumble. The moment a veteran or experienced firefighter tries to show them how things might be done easier or correctly the INO firefighter responds with I KNOW. Hence the name INO firefighter.

A probationary firefighter will know how to tie a figure 8 knot, what to pump to 200' of 1 3/4 pre-connect hose line, how to raise a ladder using the proper angle raise. BUT are these firefighters taught to show up at least 30 minutes prior to the start of their shift, to use liquid disinfectant to clean the latrines because it will take 2 shifts for the dry powder to wash down the drain, to be the last one to sit and the first one up when eating chow, to not be in the dorm area sleeping or watching television prior to 8 o'clock. The list goes on and on.

These are things that are not taught in academy and usually learned the hard way by probationary firefighters. We here are going to list a few things that may help a probationary firefighter get through that period a little easier, if they are followed.

* ARRIVE EARLY - Arrive at work at least 30 minutes before your shift begins. This gives you plenty of time to familiarize yourself with your apparatus and equipment. This also allows the crew you are relieving to go home a few minutes early. THIS TIP SHOULD BE FOLLOWED THROUGHOUT YOUR ENTIRE CAREER.

* BE SOCIAL - This means introduce yourself to everyone you meet. Look them straight in the eyes and use a firm handshake when introducing yourself. Make sure you always start with the Station Officer.

* BE PRODUCTIVE - This means that you do not wait for someone to tell you what needs to be done. You just do everything and someone will tell you to stop if need be. If the phone rings you answer it, if someone knocks on the door you open it, after chow you wash the dishes, sweep and mop. What ever you do, do not ever just watch others doing something.

* 1ST TO RISE AND LAST TO SLEEP - Being the last to bed gives you the opportunity to make sure the station in tidy and secure. This will ensure less work in the morning as well. This is also a great time to catch up on some studies or maps. Make sure you are the first crew member up in the morning and make sure the coffee is brewed, even if you do not drink it. This will build a lot of respect from the other crew members.

* LEAVE YOU EGO IN THE CAR - Do not think "Been There and Done That" or "Yea I Know That". Celebrations in the fire service are very short lived. You are only as good as your last call, so do not be overconfident or cocky. Remember you will never know it all and there is always something to learn from someone.

* RESPECT YOUR SENIORS - In the fire service there is an extensive amount of experience and information held in the minds of senior firefighters. To them you are just the kid that just got out of the academy and they will remind you of that as often as they can. It is always good to share your opinion with them but don't forget that these firefighters have paid their dues and may not see change at this point in the career as important as you do. Make sure to respect that fact.

* PAY IT FORWARD - This is probably the most important tip of all. As time goes by you will move from probationary firefighter to experienced firefighter. There will come a time when you will be the senior firefighter or even Station Officer. So do not forget how it felt to be in those probationary firefighting boots. The firefighters of tomorrow deserve the same respect and tutelege that you received. Take that probie under your wing as someone did for you. Help them reach that level of street smart firefighting that you are at now. The fire service is one full of traditions. One of the best traditions it has is the training of young probationary firefighters by senior firefighters. These guys do not get FTO pay, they were not told they have to do anything for the new guys. They do it because someone did it for them, passing down the tradition.

Being a probationary firefighter is not an easy time period. Then again firefighting in general is not easy. Remember this: YOU ARE A PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTER AND THE MEANS SOMEONE ELSE IS NOT. REMEMBER THAT YOU BEAT OUT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FOR THAT POSITION. REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WISHING THEY WERE IN YOUR SPOT AS A PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTER. SO AS HARD AS IT MAY BE, REMEMBER IT IS ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER PROFESSIONS IN THE WORLD. ENJOY IT, GET THROUGH IT, AND PASS IT ON.

UNFINISHED TASKS....

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:07:00 +0000

A bit long but worth the read....

After almost a decade of grinding, we are making progress. After years of some of the worse staffing shortages, we are making progress.

Together, department and union, we made this progress. It was not always smooth and easy but progress has been made. We did not do this separately, we cannot do this separately. We are clearing the way to become one of the best departments around!

But there are still unfinished tasks. Tasks that if not completed, will send us back to the days of low morale and high turnover. These tasks must be done jointly, by labor and management working together to accomplish these tasks.

It is our unfinished task to restore the trust of our members. To make sure our union and its leaders represent the majority and not just the vocal minority. To make sure our union is up to date with all issues by making scheduled visits to it's members.

It is our unfinished task to restore our relationship with admin and city leaders. The power of this union lies in the influence we are able to create. With disenchanted relationships people will shake our hands and then turn around and vote against us. We have seen this too many times!

It is our unfinished task to promote our department as a whole. We must get involved with PSAs, schools (from elementary to high school), businesses, and we must educate them. We must become involved in even more charity work and we must promote the Corpus Christi Fire Department when doing so. When the citizens see us out in public they see Corpus Christi Firefighters, not local members, So let's promote what they see!

It is our unfinished task to protect our contract and everything in it. Our contract is our Holy Grail, if it is violated we will bring thunder and lightning down to protect it and its members. With that being said, if someone is wrong we will tell them they are wrong. Personal accountability starts at the top and we must push for consistency across the board!

Members do not expect our union to solve every problem. They do not expect us to agree on every issue. BUT they do expect for us to have their best interest at heart. They do expect us to be able to compromise when possible and it is the best for the whole. They understand that the Fire Service is changing right now in front of our eyes and we must change with it. We ALL must understand that the responsibility of improving this union and this department remains a unfinished task OF US ALL!

Make sure you go vote and help complete these unfinished tasks. GET INFORMED, GET INVOLVED, AND SPEAK UP! WE ARE LISTENING...

LET'S DO SOMETHING...

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 21:42:00 +0000

I AM MOTIVATED BY PASSION. I DO NOT ANGER EASILY. I HAVE AN OPEN MIND AND TRY TO FIND THE MIDDLE GROUND WHEN POSSIBLE. I HAVE PRINCIPLES AND A MORAL CODES THAT I LIVE BY.

SURE, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED AND EXHAUSTED FROM TRYING TO JUMP THROUGH THE HOOPS THEY SET FORTH FOR US. BUT I ALWAYS CONTINUED TO DO SOMETHING....

MY GREATEST FRUSTRATION IS WATCHING TALENTED, MOTIVATED, AND EXPERIENCED MEN AND WOMEN SQUANDER IT AWAY BY DOING NOTHING. SO LET'S DO SOMETHING...

I DO NOT HAVE THE KEYS TO SUCCESS - BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE QUICKEST ROUTES TO FAILURE ARE TO TRY AND PLEASE EVERYONE OR EVEN WORSE, DO NOTHING. DOING THIS IS DETRIMENTAL TO OUR CAUSE...WHICH IS TO IMPROVE OUR WORKING CONDITIONS AND LIFT MORAL TO ITS HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVEL!

I BELIEVE IN OUR UNION. I BELIEVE OUR UNION IS THE AVENUE WE SHOULD USE TO IMPROVE THIS GREAT DEPARTMENT. THESE ARE NOT TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES, BUT RATHER TWO PIECES OF THE WHOLE.

BUT IN ORDER TO DO THIS WE MUST PLAY TO OUR STRENGTHS. AND OUR STRENGTH LIES IN MEMBERSHIP. WE NEED TO HAVE 100% PARTICIPATION. FROM MEETINGS TO COMMITTEES EVERYONE SINGLE PERSON SHOULD WANT TO HELP IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHY SOME HAVE LEFT US? WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BRING THEM BACK. BECAUSE OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR NUMBERS!

WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR 15 MINUTES OF FAME HERE, BUT WE ARE SEARCHING FOR THAT SUSTAINED EFFORT TOWARDS EXCELLENCE. THIS IS NOT JUST MY RESPONSIBILITY OR THE RESPONSIBILITY OF COMMITTEES. THIS RESPONSIBILITY FALLS ON THE SHOULDERS OF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU AS WELL. THIS I CALL PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY. WE WILL MAKE MISTAKES ALONG THE WAY, SURE. I HAVE MADE MANY AND ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THOSE ARE MY MISTAKES AND I HAVE LEARNED FROM THEM.

BUT IF WE ARE TO GET TO THAT POINT OF SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE, WE FIRST MUST CREATE A CULTURE OF BELIEF. BELIEF FROM OUR MEMBERS IN THAT THEIR LEADERS ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE MAJORITY AND NOT THE VOCAL MINORITY. BELIEF THAT WE WORK TOGETHER TO ATTAIN OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. BELIEF THAT THIS DEPARTMENT IS NOT DIVIDED AND WILL BE A STRONG UNIFIED POWER!

WE THAT ARE TASKED WITH LEADERSHIP MUST REALIZE THAT OUR STRENGTH COMES FROM OUR MEMBERS. IT IS THE MEMBERSHIP THAT MAKES THIS ORGANIZATION WHAT IT IS!

WE ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS OUR LAST PERFORMANCE AND MOST PEOPLE HAVE SHORT MEMORIES ANYWAYS. NOW THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE SEEKING TO IMPROVE THEIR STANDING WITHIN A ORGANIZATION AND THEY WILL DO ALMOST ANYTHING, INCLUDING WALKING ON OTHERS TO DO SO. I AM NOT ONE OF THOSE...

I UNDERSTAND THAT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUSTAIN SUCCESS KEEP THE GROUP UNITED IN THEIR CAUSE, ACKNOWLEDGE ACCOMPLISHMENTS BY OTHERS, AND RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS STRONG LEADERSHIP AND CHEMISTRY AMONG THE MEMBERS THAT PROVIDES US WITH THE POWER WE SEEK...

A HOUSE DIVIDED CANNOT STAND!!!

WE MUST UNITE OUR HOUSE AGAIN!

AS LEADERS WE MUST KNOW WHEN TO FIGHT AND WHEN NOT TO FIGHT. TRYING TO PROVE ONE IS RIGHT JUST TO PROVE THE OTHER IS WRONG IS A VERY BAD REASON TO CONTINUE A FIGHT. IT LOSES CREDIBILITY AND LESSENS OUR TRUE ISSUES.

THE BEST REASON TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT IS OUR MEMBERS, OUR PRINCIPLES, OUR BELIEFS AND OUR CONTRACT!

IF WE UNITE AS ONE, IF WE CREATE THAT CULTURE OF BELIEF, IF WE RESTORE THAT LEVEL OF TRUST - OUR DEPARTMENT AND IT'S WORKING CONDITIONS INCLUDING MORAL WILL IMPROVE THROUGH THE ROOF!

LET'S DO SOMETHING....

IN HONOR OF 9-11-2001.....

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 12:30:00 +0000

As September 11 rolls around again, it is only right that we remember the events that took place that fateful day. We were attacked. People try to use all kinds of fancy words to hide this fact, but the simple truth is we were violently attacked that day. It doesn't matter that the people responsible were on a religious mission, in uniform, or were part of an army. They attacked the great county that is America and killed thousands of innocent Americans in the process.

It has been 11 years since that terrible day, and the pictures and stories of the people and the loss still evoke so much emotion in all of us. The world actually stood still that morning while we all watched in horror. September 11, 2001 will forever be remembered for the rest of our lives.

The images from that day will be forever burned into our brains. It comes as no surprise that so much attention is focused on the emotions that people feel. The absolute devastation that we all felt that day help create the greatest sense of unity the country has ever seen. We were one people, one nation, violently attacked, yet determined to stand together and heal together.

In honoring the 11 year anniversary of the 9-11-2001 attacks we must remember and reflect upon the unity that this great country embraced after those attacks. It may feel sometimes that those feelings are far removed from the people of this nation, but aren't we still the same people of the same great country? Let us not lose the unity and love for our fellow American, for if so the lives that were lost in those attacks would be in vain.

We must never forget the attacks and horror from 9-11-2001, but we must also embrace the unity this country had on 9-12-2001. It should not take a national tragedy for us to unite as a nation and believe in one another.

Remember the pain, the sadness and even the anger that day caused, then use those emotions to renew your spirit in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL. Accept the fact that although we appear broken and sometimes divided and that times are hard for so many people right now, if we stand together, arm in arm, America is still the land of the free. The greatest country on Earth.

That day so many more things could have happened. Our economy could have collapsed, it didn't. Gas prices could have sky rocketed, but they didn't. The stock market could have crashed, it did not. Conditions were so right for this country to be devastated both emotionally and economically, but we weren't. This is what the attackers wanted, it didn't happen. What they didn't plan on was the American people joining together in support of freedom.

In honor of all the victims that were lost or affected that day, we must never forget those events. We must never forget all the major conflicts that we have been and are involved in for our fight for freedom.

We must never have these horrible things happen to us agian. In order to keep them from happening we must try and understand the evil behind the acts. Will we ever really understand such evil? To kill innocent men, women, and children and to celebrate in the streets as if you did something amazing. I can not and will never understand that at all.

It makes no sense at all, but evil rarely does. There are solutions and we must try to find them. You can not solve a problem by ignoring it, that is for sure. We can not work on the solutions until we realize there is a problem. We now know the problem. We can not sit back and hope everything will turn out ok, that would not be honoring those who lost their lives on 9-11-2001. We have enemies. These enemies are enemies of freedom as well. If there is only one thing about America that towers above all and those who gave their lives on 9-11-2001, is the love for freedom. It is not only what we stand for, but what we fight for, and even die for.

IN REMEMBERANCE OF ALL OF THOSE THAT LOST THEIR LIVES ON 9-11-2001 AND IN THE WAR AGIANST TERROR....

INCREASE THE CORPUS CHRISTI FIRE DEPARTMENT'S DAILY STAFFING LEVEL TO 100!!

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 17:45:00 +0000

Petition by iPetitions

STAFFING....IT MATTERS!!

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 20:17:00 +0000

SOONER OR LATER IT IS GONNA CATCH UP WITH THEM...THE APPROACH OF "DOING MORE WITH LESS" IN REGARDS TO PUBLIC SAFETY..."LET'S PLAY THE NUMBERS GAME"...SOMEONE IS GONNA HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE FOR THIS APPROACH AND I WILL HATE TO SEE WHO IT IS...

THE REALLY SAD THING IS THAT IT IS ALMOST BECOMING AN ACCEPTED PRACTICE, AND SOME OF THE BLAME LIES ON US...

AFTER 9/11 A LOT OF PEOPLE FORGOT WHAT WE ARE ASKED TO DO ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS, OUR BOSSES BOSS ASKED THEM TO SAVE MONEY AND TRIM THE BUDGETS...ANYWHERE THEY COULD. EVERYONE HAD TO SHARE IN THE CUTS SO THEY SAID. PUBLIC SAFETY WISE, THIS MEANT STAFFING MORE TIMES THAN NOT.

THEY CAME TO US HAT IN HAND TALKING ABOUT "HARD TIMES" AND THINGS WOULD GET BETTER IN THE FUTURE. THEY NEEDED US TO DO JUST ALITTLE BIT MORE, WITH ALITTLE BIT LESS!! OF COURSE WE STOOD UP WITH OUR CHESTS OUT IF THAT IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, THEN WE WOULD DO IT....WE ARE FIREMEN THAT IS WHAT WE DO!

NOW THE HOLE THAT HAS BEEN DUG HAS ONLY GOTTEN BIGGER AND DEEPER AND I AM NOT SURE IF WE WILL EVER BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF IT...

THIS MEANT THAT CITIES WENT YEARS WITHOUT HIRING, THIS MEANT THAT CITIES WERE REDUCING STAFFING LEVELS ON TRUCKS AND REDUCING STAFFING OVERALL IN DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY. WHAT THIS ALSO MEANS IS THAT THESE CITIES ARE REDUCING FIRE/EMS PROTECTION TO THE CITIZENS....

YOU SEE IT USE TO BE THAT DEPARTMENTS RUNNING 3 PERSON COMPANIES WAS LAUGHED UPONED (THAT IS 1 DRIVER, 1 CAPTAIN, AND 1 FIREFIGHTER). NOW TODAY THAT IS CONSIDERED GOOD STAFFING LEVELS...I KNOW OF DEPARTMENTS RUNNING WITH ONLY 2 FIREFIGHTERS ON ENGINES.

ARE WE LETTING THEM CONVINCE US THAT THESE NUMBERS ARE OK? ARE WE CONTINUING TO ALLOW THEM TO TELL THE CITIZENS WE PROTECT THAT THESE NUMBERS ARE ADEQUATE, WHEN WE ALL KNOW THEY ARE NOT!!!

CITIES ARE GROWING...WATER PARKS ARE OPENING UP, NEW CONSTRUCTION GOES UP EVERYDAY, BUILDINGS ARE BUILT UPWARDS AND NOT OUTWARDS TO SAVE SPACE. THIS LEADS TO MORE AND MORE HIGH RISE STRUCTURES, MORE MULTI-DWELLING STRUCTURES ARE BEING BUILT IN VACATION AREAS...THIS CITY AS WELL AS OTHERS IN GROWING, BUT YET THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH ITS GROWTH.

THERE IS A SAYING OUT THERE THAT "IT ONLY HAPPENS EVERY SO OFTEN" OR "THOSE EVENTS ARE VERY INFREQUENT"...BUT NOWADAYS, DEPARTMENTS HERE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FACING LARGE SCALE EVENTS MORE FREQUENTLY DUE TO CITY AND POPULATION GROWTH...HAVING 2 REGULAR ALARMS AT THE SAME TIME PLACES STRAIN ON EVEN LARGE DEPARTMENTS. HAVING A MULTI CAR ACCIDENT CAN TIE UP OVER ONE-THIRD OF A CITY'S AMBULANCES...

YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF THE "POWERS THAT BE" THOUGHT THEIR RESOURCES WOULD BECOME SO "TAXED" AND STRETCHED SO THIN WHEN THEY APPROVED THESE CUTS AND REDUCTIONS...

MAKES YOU WONDER IF THE MULTI MILLION DOLLAR PARK DOWNTOWN IS MORE IMPORTANT TO THEM THAN PUBLIC SAFETY?

MAKES YOU WONDER IF SPENDING MULTI MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON KEEPING A BUSINESS OPEN IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE FIRE AND EMS PROTECTION THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO PROVIDE THEIR CITIZENS?

AGAIN, I WILL SAY THAT A LOT OF THE BLAME LIES ON US. WHY? BECAUSE NOBODY KNOW WHAT WE DO...

DOES THE GENERAL PUBLIC KNOW WHAT WE SEE AND DO ON A DAILY BASIS? DOES THE GENERAL
PUBLIC EVEN KNOW OUR WORK SCHEDULE?

DO THEY EVEN KNOW WE RUN EMS? HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU HEARD "I CALLED FOR AN AMBULANCE NOT A FIRE TRUCK". DOES THE GENERAL PUBLIC UNDERSTAND THE TYPES OF RESPONSES WE ARE FACED WITH ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS? DO THEY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE LEVELS OF TRAINING YOUR MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE AND MAINTAIN?

DOES THE GENERAL PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES YOUR DEPARTMENT PROVIDES? SMOKE DETECTORS, INSPECTIONS, DEMONSTRATIONS, EDUCATION...

DOES THE GENERAL PUBLIC KNOW YOUR STAFFING LEVELS? DO THEY KNOW WHAT YOUR RESPONSE TIMES EXPECTATIONS ARE? DO THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT RUNNING WITH 3 PEOPLE ON A ENGINE REALLY MEANS? HAS SOMEONE SAT THEM DOWN AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE FIRST UNIT ARRIVES ON SCENE OF A WORKING FIRE?

ONE FIREFIGHTER DRIVING, ONE OFFICER GIVING THE SIZE UP AND ESTABLISHING COMMAND. THAT LEAVES ONE FIREFIGHTER TO PERFORM FIREGROUND TASKS....NOW EXPLAIN THE "2 IN 2OUT" RULE.

HAS ANYONE EXPLAINED THAT THE 2ND ENGINE STOPS AT THE HYDRANT TO ESTABLISH A WATER SUPPLY. ONE FIREFIGHTER GETS OUT TO HOOK UP. ON SCENE THE DRIVER OF THE 2ND UNIT WILL ASSIST CONNECTING TO THE FIRST ENGINE. THAT LEAVES THE OFFICER ALONE. (WE NOW HAVE 2 AVAILABLE FIREFIGHTERS TO FIGHT AN INTERIOR FIRE)

THE LADDER COMPANY NOW ARRIVES AND COMMAND NEEDS A SEARCH DONE. BUT DON'T FORGET ABOUT VENTILATION AND THEY NEED TO GET SOME LADDERS TO THE ROOF. WHICH TASK DO THEY PERFORM FIRST? THE DRIVER OF THE LADDER COMPANY IS NOT FULLY BUNKERED OUT YET. THE OFFICER AND FIREFIGHTER CAN'T SPLIT UP RIGHT...REMEMBER 2 IN 2 OUT, WE WORK IN PAIRS.

NOW THE CHIEF ARRIVES ON SCENE ALONG WITH A MEDIC UNIT (WHICH SOME ONLY CARRY ONE AIR PACK) AND A SAFETY OFFICER. THERE ARE NOW 13 FIREFIGHTERS ON SCENE BUT IN REALITY ONLY 4 AVAILABLE TO GET INSIDE. SEEMS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR A GOOD OUTCOME HUH?

SO AGAIN, I ASK ARE THE CITIZENS EDUCATED AS TO ALL THE SERVICES YOUR DEPARTMENT PROVIDES AND EXACTLY WHAT IT TAKES TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES? HOW DO YOU EDUCATE THEM? IS THE ONLY TIME THE PUBLIC HEARS FROM YOU IS DURING A FUND DRIVE OR ON A CALL?

DON'T LET EVERY TIME THEY HEAR ABOUT YOU OR FROM YOU BE IN A NEGATIVE LIGHT. CREATE A POSITIVE IMAGE OF YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT AND MAKE SURE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE SEE IT.

GO OUT TO SCHOOLS AND INTERACT WITH THE TEACHERS AND CHILDREN. INVITE THE PUBLIC OVER FOR LUNCH AT THE FIRE STATION, GO TO BUSINESSES - NOT TO DO WALK THROUGHS- BUT TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, ADOPT A PARK, INVITE THE RESIDENTS FROM YOUR FIRST DUE OVER TO THE FIRE STATION AND ALLOW THEM TO ASK ANY QUESTION THEY MAY HAVE. INFORM THEM OF WHAT YOU DO AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IT WITH...

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS DEPARTMENT WIDE PERMISSION, THIS IS JUST TAKING PRIDE IN WHAT YOU DO AND EDUCATING THE CITIZENS YOU SWORE TO PROTECT...

BUT IT START WITH YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL!! NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO JUMP ON BOARD AND THAT IS OK. BUT IF YOU DO NOT GET INVOLVED AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, THEN ALL THE COMPLAINTS WILL FALL ON DEAF EARS...

REMEMBER STAFFING MATTERS BUT ONLY TO THOSE THAT ARE EDUCATED ABOUT IT!!!

A ARTICLE THAT MUST BE SHARED...

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:57:00 +0000

NOW MOST OF YOU THAT FOLLOW THIS SITE AND THE POSTS HERE KNOW THAT WE LIKE TO DO THINGS OURSELVES. MOST OF THE WRITINGS YOU SEE ON HERE ON ORIGINAL THOUGHTS OF OUR WRITERS...

BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN THERE IS A ARTICLE OUT THERE, THAT WAS NOT WRITTEN BY US, THAT MUST BE READ, VIEWED, AND SHARED BY AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE IS ONE OF THOSE, SO PLEASE TAKE THE FEW MINUTES TO READ THIS AWESOME ARTICLE AND THEN SHARE IT WITH HAS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN....

This is a letter written by the wife of a Firefighter, asking the simple question, 'What is a Firefighter worth?' This letter is a must read, please take the time to read this letter and share it with everyone you know.

What is a firefighter worth?

There has been so much talk recently about things like
containing costs, lowering taxes, and those who work in public safety being overpaid - particularly firefighters - that it could make your head spin. We've all done the "simple math," crunched the numbers, and it all seems to boil down to a simple question. What are firefighters worth?

I guess that depends. We live in a country that seems to have forgotten what our priorities are. A man can be a skilled athlete who happens to throw and catch a football well, and make millions and millions of dollars to do so. And we as a society are not only OK with that, but we gather in front of our televisions and cheer that man on. Meanwhile, a firefighter kisses his children goodbye before every shift knowing the harsh reality that it very well could be the last time he will see them, and he is fighting tooth and nail for decent health coverage and substantial pay to support those children.

He is the man that you call when your elderly father has a stroke. He is the person that will extract your 16-year-old son from a mangled vehicle on the highway in the middle of the night. He is the person that will be there in a heartbeat when your newborn infant stops breathing. He is the person who is exposed to countless dangerous scenarios and has seen horrific things during his career that would psychologically haunt most of us for the rest of our lives. We trust him to save our homes and belongings in the event of a disastrous fire, and we trust him to keep us breathing and our hearts beating when we face our most critical moments. What is he worth to you?

He sometimes will go days without sleep, and make life altering decisions on every call he shows up to. He has missed family meals, bedtime stories, Christmas mornings, school plays, anniversaries, Thanksgiving dinners, and his own children's birthdays. We all know that life is so very short, and firefighters sacrifice precious time with the most important people in their lives to save the lives of the most important people in yours. And now they have to defend and protect their pensions, well deserved health benefits, and their paychecks. It has been proposed by some that they lose many of their benefits, and work extra shifts that they will not be compensated for. There seems to be a serious misconception that firefighters are in it for the monetary gain, and more and more often have been portrayed in a negative light for actually expecting to be compensated for the sacrifices that they make to do their job. For an individual that has chosen this selfless career, it begs the question: Is it worth it?

Most of us are willing to pay a little extra for something if it is important to us, whether it be the shoes we wear, the doctor we choose to treat us, or even the cup of coffee we drink. It is something that we value, therefore it is worth the cost. Most would agree that our safety and protection is of unmeasurable value. Those of us that are skilled in math may look at the numbers and think that stripping those who serve our public of their way to earn a decent living is an answer to a financial equation. But firefighters and their families are not numbers on a piece of paper. They are human beings that are doing their jobs every day to the best of their ability, and possibly sacrificing their own lives for the life of a stranger. Not many of us in our right mind would do that for free, and no one should have to.

So before making our minds up that firefighters are the financial problem, sit down with a local firefighter and ask him about his job. Ask him about his wife and his sons or daughters, what kind of house he lives in, and what type of car he drives. And then ask yourself, if you were to take on such a career, what would you expect in return?

Tina Clarke
Proud wife of a Cumberland firefighter

ITS A PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT...

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:02:00 +0000

THE PROFESSION WE WORK IN HAS A STEEP LEARNING CURVE AND THE ENVIRONMENT IS DANGEROUS AND UNFORGIVING. WE ARE PAID WELL TO BE THE PROTECTORS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHO SOLVE PROBLEMS BY TAKING ACTION AND MAKING QUICK LIFE OR DEATH DECISIONS.

THERE ARE NOT TOO MANY OF US IN THIS SOCIETY THAT POSSESS THE COURAGE AND INTESTINAL FORTITUDE TO MAKE THAT PUSH DOWN A LONG, HOT, DARK HALLWAY TO PROTECTOR THY NEIGHBOR..

BUT WE DO...

MOST EVERYONE I KNOW CAN PUSH PAPER AROUND EFFECTIVELY. MAKE BIG STACKS OF PAPER INTO LITTLE STACKS OF PAPER, AND BACK TO BIG STACKS. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS, IT DOES NOT PUT OUT FIRES OR SAVE A LIFE DURING CPR...

THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT MOVING PAPER DOES NOT HAVE ITS PLACE IN OUR PROFESSION. THESE PAPERS DELIVER SERVICE IN THE FORM OF SUPPORTING TRAINING, PURCHASING EQUIPMENT, AND PROVIDING STAFFING LEVELS THAT ENABLE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO PERFORM AT ELITE LEVELS WHEN THE TIME COMES...

THE ROLE OF OUR LEADERS IS TO BE TECHNICALLY AND TACTICALLY PROFICIENT AND GIVE THOSE THAT SERVE BELOW THEM THE TOOLS TO DO THEIR JOBS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. IF OUR LEADERS ARE NOT DOING THAT THEN THEY ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOBS, PERIOD...

WE MUST REMEMBER THAT OUR SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS MUST NEVER BE COMPROMISED BY THE NEED TO FURTHER ONES CAREER OR A POLITICAL AGENDA. WE OWE IT TO EACH OTHER TO TAKE A STAND ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER. WE MUST REALIZE THAT NOT EVERY FIGHT MUST BE WON...

WE CANNOT LET LEADERSHIP BECOME NOTHING MORE THEN A JOKE. WHEN IT DOES, THOSE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS HAVE LOST THE PRIVILEGE TO LEAD AND THAT IS VERY HARD TO GET BACK...

LET US ALL REMEMBER WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO...IT ISNT TO BE THE BUSIEST, IT ISNT TO WEAR A COOL UNIFORM, IT ISNT FOR THE HEADLINES AND IT FOR SURE IS NOT FOR THE MONEY...IT IS BECAUSE WE TOOK A OATH TO STAND BETWEEN OUR NEIGHBORS AND UNRESTRAINED FIRE, TO PROTECT THEM AND THEIR PROPERTY AND TO ASSIST THEM IN THEIR TIME OF NEED...

REMEMBER THAT BEING A LEADER IS A PRIVILEGE AND NOT A RIGHT...

A TOPIC RE-VISITED...BROTHERHOOD

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:48:00 +0000

THIS IS A TOPIC I HAVE COVERED MANY TIMES BEFORE, BUT WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON I FELT IT NEEDED TO BE RE-VISITED...

I HAVE SPENT THE LAST FEW WEEKS, HELL MORE LIKE THE LAST FEW MONTHS CONTEMPLATING WHAT THE WORDS BROTHER/SISTER REALLY MEAN. I MEAN ALL USE THEM EVERYDAY AT THE FIRE STATION. THEY ARE THROWN AROUND THE HALL AS IF THEY ARE MERE GREETINGS. BUT WHAT DO THEY AS WELL AS BROTHERHOOD REALLY MEAN?

OVER THE PAST 9 YEARS I HAVE HEARD BROTHER/SISTER, BROTHERHOOD, FAMILY, AND TRADITION USED IN ALMOST EVERY SINGLE WAY. AS OF LATELY THOUGH, I HAVE BEEN ASKING MYSELF IF I/WE ALL UNDERSTAND THOSE WORDS AND THE MEANINGS THEY CARRY...

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE USE THOSE TERMS SO LOOSELY, IT IS NO DIFFERENT THEN SOMEONE USING SLANG LANGUAGE SAYING "WHAT'S UP BRO"...

I SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO SEE IF I COULD FIND THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD BROTHERHOOD. MY SEARCH LED ME TO SEVERAL DEFINITIONS, BUT THERE WAS ONE THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION. "THE BELIEF THAT ALL PEOPLE SHOULD ACT WITH WARMTH AND EQUALITY TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER, REGARDLESS OF DIFFERENCES IN RACE, CREED, NATIONALITY, POLITICAL BELIEFS, ETC."

WOW, THAT PRETTY MUCH HITS THE NAIL ON THE HEAD..BUT I THINK I SHOULD CLARIFY JUST ALITTLE MORE.

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS WE DON'T HAVE TO AGREE ON EVERYTHING. WE DON'T HAVE TO AGREE ON POLITICS, WE WILL NEVER AGREE ON WHAT IS CONSIDERED GOOD CHOW, WE DONT HAVE TO AGREE ON WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO RUN A FIRE STATION..

BUT THERE IS ONE THING THAT WE AS BROTHERS/SISTERS MUST AGREE ON AND THAT IS OUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILIES!!

NEEDING MORE PERSONNEL, NEEDING THE DAILY STAFFING LEVELS INCREASED, NEEDING MORE FIRE STATIONS, NEEDING MORE AMBULANCES, NEEDING MORE FIRE ENGINES/TRUCKS, NEEDING TO KEEP OUR EQUIPMENT AT OPTIMAL OPERATIONAL LEVELS, ARE ALL ISSUES WE ALL MUST AGREE ON AS A BROTHERHOOD.

WE MUST NEVER KNOWINGLY PLACE ONE OF OUR BROTHERS/SISTERS IN HARM OR POTENTIALLY HARMFUL SITUATIONS. THIS IS NOT TO SAY WE ARE NOT TO PERFORM OUR DUTIES, OUR JOB COMES WITH GREAT RISK AND MANY DANGERS AND WE ALL ACCEPT THAT. BUT THE KEY WORD THERE WAS KNOWINGLY.

WE MUST NEVER PUBLICLY SPEAK ILL OF ANOTHER BROTHER/SISTER. IF THERE IS A ISSUE HANDLE IN HOUSE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. I WAS TAUGHT MANY YEARS AGO THAT 99% OF ALL PROBLEMS CAN BE SOLVED IN HOUSE IF THEY ARE BROUGHT UP. BY TAKING ISSUES OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE, IT BREAKS THE BOND OF OUR BROTHERHOOD. BECAUSE ONCE THINGS GO OUTSIDE THE HOUSE WORDS CHANGE AND RUMORS SPREAD LIKE WILD FIRES...IF ISSUES CANNOT BE SOLVED IN HOUSE THEN OF COURSE USE YOUR CHAIN OF COMMAND TO TAKE CARE OF THE SITUATION..

DIVIDE AND CONQUER IS A TACTIC THAT HAS BEEN USED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, AND WHY? BECAUSE IF YOU LET IT, IT WILL WORK.

I WAS ONCE SHOWN A DEMONSTRATION THAT HAS ALWAYS STUCK IN MY MIND ON HOW IF WE STICK TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER THEN ANY OTHER ENTITY OUT THERE..

TAKE A BOX OF TOOTH PICKS AND OPEN IT UP AND PLACE ALL THE TOOTH PICKS ON THE TABLE. NOW PICK ONE UP AND BREAK IT, DISCARD THE PIECES. NOW PICK UP ANOTHER TOOTH PICK AND BREAK IT IN HALF, DISCARD THE PIECES. IT IS PRETTY TO BREAK THOSE INDIVIDUAL TOOTH PICKS ISN'T IT?...

NOW PICK 300 TOOTH PICKS, TRY TO BREAK THEM ALL AS ONE? IT IS IMPOSSIBLE!!!

AS INDIVIDUALS THEY WILL PICK US UP AND BREAK US AND DISCARD US, BUT AS 300+ STRONG IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BREAK US!!!

SO THE NEXT TIME WE THOW OUT THOSE WORDS BROTHER/SISTER, FAMILY, TRADITION, THINK ABOUT THEIR MEANING AND THINK ABOUT THE TOOTH PICKS!!!

NOT A MATTER OF IF, JUST WHEN...

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:13:00 +0000

IT'S NOT AT MATTER OF IF, IT IS JUST A MATTER OF WHEN...

OUR PRAYERS ARE NEEDED IN BRYAN, TEXAS RIGHT NOW. OUR PRAYERS ARE NEEDED FOR THE PEOPLE OF BRYAN THAT LOST TWO FIREFIGHTERS, FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT LOST TWO BROTHERS, AND TO THEIR FAMILIES THAT LOST A LOVED ONE WAY TOO SOON. THESE TWO FIREFIGHTERS PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR THEIR BRAVERY AND COURAGE AND WERE LOST IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

WE MUST ALSO SEND OUR PRAYERS FOR THE TWO OTHER FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE STILL IN SERIOUS CONDITION CAUSED BY THE SAME FIRE...THESE TWO FIREFIGHTERS WERE PART OF THE RAPID INTERVENTION TEAM THAT WENT IN TO ASSIST THE DOWN FIREFIGHTER AND WERE INJURED IN THE PROCESS.

I AM NOT ALL THAT FAMILIAR WITH THE BRYAN FIRE DEPARTMENT. I HAVE VISITED THEIR WEBSITE AND READ A FEW ARTICLES WRITTEN BY MEMBERS OF THEIR DEPARTMENT. I HAVE FRIENDS THAT KNOW A FEW OF THE BRYAN FIREFIGHTERS AND THEY ALWAYS SPEAK VERY HIGHLY OF THEM.

THEIR FIRE DEPARTMENT OPERATES IN ALMOST THE SAME FASHION AS THE ONE THAT I WORK FOR HERE. THEY USE ACCOUNTABILITY AND INCIDENT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, JUST LIKE WE DO. THEY HAVE THE MOST MODERN EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE AND HAVE VERY HIGH STANDARDS FOR THEIR PERSONNEL, JUST AS WE DO. WE TAKE A AGGRESSIVE YET SAFE APPROACH TO FIREFIGHTING. SAFETY OF OUR PERSONNEL AND THAT OF THE CITIZENS IS OF THE UP MOST IMPORTANCE TO US. WE PREACH SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND TRAIN DAILY SO THAT WE MAY REMAIN SAFE EVEN WHEN WE OPERATE IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL THE BRYAN FIRE DEPARTMENT PRACTICED ALL THESE THINGS AS WELL...

WHILE WE ALL WOULD LOVE TO BELIEVE THAT WHAT HAPPENED IN BRYAN TEXAS COULD NEVER HAPPNEN HERE THE TRUTH IS THAT IT IS NOT A MATTER OF IF, IT IS JUST A MATTER OF WHEN...

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THINGS GOING WELL AND THINGS GOING HORRIBLY WRONG IS A VERY THING LINE SOMETIMES. YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING RIGHT AND IT JUST TAKES ONE SMALL THING TO MAKE THINGS SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. I DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IN BRYAN TO CAUSE THIS TRAGEDY, BUT I DO KNOW THIS..WE MUST GIVE OURSELVES/OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS EVERYTHING THEY NEED IN ORDER TO HAVE THE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL. NO ONE SNOWFLAKE CAUSES A AVALANCHE, NO ONE RAINDROP CAUSES A FLOOD, AND WE WOULD NOT THINK THAT A SINGLE BIRD COULD BRING DOWN A JETLINER...BUT THE TRUTH IS SMALL THINGS HAPPEN THAT CAUSE REALLY BIG CONSEQUENCES. WE MUST LEARN FROM THESE SMALL THINGS SO THAT WE NEVER REPEAT ANY OF THESE TRAGEDIES...

IF WE ARE TO TRULY HONOR OUR FALLEN BROTHERS WE MUST EMBRACE CHANGES THAT GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO HOME TO OUR FAMILIES WHEN OUR SHIFT IS OVER. WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT WE ARE SENDING OUR BROTHERS/SISTERS IN TO DO A JOB WHERE THEY ARE OUTMATCHED FROM THE BEGINNING. SO WE MUST MAKE SURE WE DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD AND INCREASE OUR CHANCES OF STAYING ALIVE AND INJURY FREE. THIS MAY MEAN ADDING MORE PERSONNEL, THIS MAY MEAN ADDING MORE ENGINES, THIS MAY MEAN PURCHASING BETTER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE GEAR...

WHATEVER IT IS THAT OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS NEED IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE WE ALL GO HOME TO OUR FAMILIES, IS WHAT WE ALL NEED TO DO!!

BECAUSE IT IS NOT A MATTER OF IF, IT IS JUST A MATTER OF WHEN...WHEN WILL IT HAPPNEN HERE???

IS A BOTTOM LINE MORE IMPORTANT THAN A LIFE?

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 05:01:00 +0000

In every community across this great country the existence of a local fire station is a matter of pride and assurance, that if needed, emergency responders will arrive quickly, with the proper equipment and personnel, to bring the incident to a safe and successful end. As our economy keeps putting pressure on the citizens, as well as government officials, that assured feeling may be called into question. Maybe its a department being understaffed, maybe its a city's budget that is the problem. Whatever the reasons are we need to ask ourselves are we doing everything we can to protect the citizens and their property that we swore to protect?

The Insurance Information Institute states that fire remains the leading cause of property loss incurred in the homeowners marketplace. The NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency) reports that there were 515,000 structure fires in 2008. These fires resulted in 2,900 civilian deaths, almost 15,000 civilian injuries and over 15 billion dollars in property damage. We didn't even mention firefighter deaths or injuries there did we? Over the last 10 years fires have caused direct insured losses of more then 120 billion dollars and countless billions in related loses. Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods make the news headlines, yet building fires are the daily drumbeat of losses across this country. So are we doing everything we can?

Now in just about every city and community out there they are talking about slashing their budgets. The officials do this with personnel cuts, layoffs, hiring freezes, and reducing staffing levels.

Don't think for one second that the public safety is safe from these cuts. In reality government officials look there first for multiple reasons. One reason is most of the time public safety has a large part of most budgets. Another reason is that these officials do not see the reason to have such a high and effective level of staffing, because emergencies are at a low right now. This mentality is "We don't need them until we need them". This mentality also destroys property and ends lives...Are we doing everything we can?

Now according to the NFPA the nation's fire departments respond to a structure fire on average once every minute. So even with a adequate staffed 911 call center, with the latest technology available, it is minutes if not seconds that saves lives and property. This also takes into consideration that each apparatus has a 4 person crew as the NFPA (which sets the standards that fire departments should be trying to reach) suggests. Are we doing everything we can?

Keep in mind that a fire intensifies rapidly, doubling in size and heat every 30 seconds, so time not only matters it saves lives and property. Any delay in getting water to the fire puts civilians, firefighters, and the property in grave danger. Just ask the New York Fire Department Union President....

OSHA or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires that at LEAST 2 firefighters enter a structure for firefighting, while 2 other firefighters are outside the structure ready to enter in case something goes wrong. An apparatus with a crew of only 3 people makes this virtually impossible. Are we doing everything we can?

We here have written before about the study released in 2010 by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This study stated that 4 person crew were able to complete 22 essential firefighting and rescue tasks in a typical residential structure 30% faster then a 2 person crew, and 25% faster then a 3 person crew. Saving time, saving lives, and saving property...Makes sense since that is our job right? So why go to a 3 person crew? Again are we doing everything we can to save the citizens and their property that we swore to protect?

When we as a society decide that a bottom line of some budget is more important then lives and property, we are in trouble...

Are we in trouble???

In any business the goal is to add staffing levels so that you become more effective and more efficient. Let's not go backwards here by reducing staffing levels to fire departments...

Are we doing everything we can???

ARE YOU OK WITH THAT DECISION??

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:20:00 +0000

THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI IS GROWING...NO REALLY IT IS, JUST LOOK AROUND. YOU WILL FIND NEW STREETS BEING CUT DAILY. YOU WILL FIND NEW SUB-DIVISIONS BEING BUILT BY THE DOZENS. THERE ARE HOUSES BEING BUILT ON ALMOST EVERY CORNER, IN EVERY PART OF TOWN.

THERE ARE NEW BUSINESSES OPENING HERE DAILY. WE NOW HAVE 2 WATER PARKS, HURRICANE ALLEY AND SCHLITTERBAHN (TO BE OPENED SOON), YOU WILL FIND NEW HOTELS BEING BUILT AROUND TOWN AS WELL. WE ARE GETTING READY FOR A LARGE BAYFRONT DEVELOPMENT CALLED DESTINATION BAYFRONT, THE 2 CITY GOLF COURSE HAVE BEEN RESTRUCTURED AND ARE NOW ACTUALLY MAKING MONEY, WE ARE ABOUT TO LAND A LARGE CHINESE PIPE FACILITY, THE PORT IS DOING MORE BUSINESS THEN EVER, OUR REFINERIES ARE NOT SLOWING DOWN NOR ARE THEY CLOSING...

THIS CITY IS GROWING..BUT ONE PART OF THE CITY THAT IS NOT GROWING IS THE CORPUS CHRISTI FIRE DEPARTMENT....THIS IS NOT THE FAULT OF ANYONE IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, OH NO THE REASON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT SEEN ANY GROWTH AND IS FACING THE WORST PERSONNEL SHORTAGE IN OVER 25 YEARS IS BECAUSE THE CITY DID NOT WISH TO HIRE FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS.

THE CORPUS CHRISTI FIRE DEPARTMENT AT THIS MOMENT IS 45 FIREFIGHTERS SHORT AND WILL SOON BE CLOSE TO 60 FIREFIGHTERS SHORT. ..THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI HAS A POPULATION OF OVER 400,000 PEOPLE AND YET THE CITY ONLY HAS 9 AMBULANCES TO PROVIDE ALS TREATMENT AND TRANSPORT FOR ITS CITIZENS. THIS IS WAY UNDER THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR A CITY OF THIS SIZE. LAST YEAR ALONE THOSE 9 AMBULANCES CARRIED THE BURDEN OF RESPONDING TO OVER 35,000 CALLS. TWO OF THOSE MEDIC UNITS MADE MORE THE 5,000 CALLS ALONE.

THOSE 2 SAME UNITS ARE RANKED IN THE TOP 25 OF BUSIEST AMBULANCES IN THE NATION. THIS IS AGAINST CITIES LIKE LOS ANGELES, HOUSTON, MIAMI AND OTHERS. NOW WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID EACH ONE OF THE CORPUS CHRISTI AMBULANCES HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE THAT BUSY...

THE MEDICS THAT RIDE ALL OF THE 9 CITY AMBULANCES PROVIDE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE POSSIBLE. THESE ARE SOME OF THE BEST PARAMEDICS YOU WILL FIND ANYWHERE AND THEY ARE BEING RUN RAGGED...

WE ARE HAVING MEDICS ON MULTIPLE AMBULANCES RUN 20, EVEN 30+ CALLS EACH SHIFT. THIS IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS FOR THEM BUT ALSO FOR THE CITIZENS OF CORPUS CHRISTI. ANYTHING OVER 10-12 CALLS IS CONSIDERED EXCESSIVE AND ALMOST EVERY AMBULANCE IN CORPUS CHRISTI RUNS THAT DAILY.

THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI IS HAVING PARAMEDICS DRIVING HOME, AFTER MAKING 20+ CALLS WITH NOT A WINK OF SLEEP, GET LOST!! THAT IS RIGHT THEY FORGET WHERE THEY LIVE. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT SLEEP DEPRIVATION MIMICS THAT OF BEING INTOXICATED. THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI IS HAVING PARAMEDICS TRANSPORT PATIENTS, POSSIBLY YOUR FAMILY MEMBER, WHILE NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE STRAIGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE SLEEP DEPRIVED..

IS THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY COUNCIL OK WITH THAT DECISION??

YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT RIGHT NOW THE CORPUS CHRISTI FIRE DEPARTMENT ONLY STAFFS ENOUGH FIREFIGHTERS TO COVER THE 9 AMBULANCES AND THE FIRE ENGINES/TRUCKS AT THE 17 STATIONS.

IN ORDER TO CORRECTLY PROVIDE THE HIGH LEVEL OF CARE THE CITIZENS OF CORPUS CHRISTI DESERVE AND TO HELP REDUCE THE CALL VOLUME OF EACH OF THE AMBULANCES AND THE MEDICS THAT RIDE THEM, IS TO INCREASE THE DAILY STAFFING LEVELS. RIGHT NOW THE DAILY STAFFING LEVEL STANDS AT 96, IN ORDER TO PLACE THE 2 NEW AMBULANCES IN SERVICE THE CORRECT WAY, THE CITY NEEDS TO UP THE DAILY STAFFING LEVEL TO 100...

THIS IS NOT A ACT OF CONGRESS, THIS IS JUST THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY COUNCIL SAYING, OK 100 IT IS!!

NOW I AM SURE YOUR NEXT QUESTION MAYBE WELL DOES THE CORPUS CHRISTI FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVE THE MAN POWER AVAILABLE TO MEET THAT DAILY STAFFING LEVEL OF 100. AND THE ANSWER IS YES!!!

ON TOP OF THAT THE CITY STARTED THE FIRST FIRE ACADEMY IN 3 YEARS TODAY. THIS WILL PUT OUT 34 FIREFIGHTERS TO THE FIELD IN ROUGHLY 14 MONTHS.

NOW DO THOSE 34 FIREFIGHTERS HELP THE PERSONNEL SHORTAGE THE CORPUS CHRISTI FIRE DEPARTMENT IS FACING? WELL EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS, BUT IN ALL HONESTY THE CITY NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO HIRE ACADEMIES FOR THE NEXT 4 TO 5 YEARS..

NOW HERE IS A TWIST IN THE STORY....THE ACADEMY THAT STARTED TODAY WAS BUDGETED BY THE CITY OVER A YEAR AGO. THEY BUDGETED TO HIRE 30 FIREFIGHTERS. THEY BUDGETED 1.2 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THIS ACADEMY. THE CORPUS CHRISTI FIRE CHIEF WROTE AND WAS APPROVED FOR A S.A.F.E.R. GRANT, THAT GAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THE MONEY IT NEEDED TO HIRE A ADDITIONAL 34 FIREFIGHTERS, ON TOP OF THE 30 BUDGETED ONES...

NOPE I DID NOT MAKE A MISTAKE, THE CITY INITIALLY BUDGETED A ACADEMY OF 30 FOR 1.2 MILLION DOLLARS BUT NOW ARE HIRING A CLASS OF 34 THE SAME NUMBER THE S.A.F.E.R. GRANT WAS APPROVED FOR. RUMORS FLOATING AROUND ARE THAT THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI TOOK THE S.A.F.E.R. MONEY AND USED IT TO FUND THE ACADEMY OF 34 THAT STARTED TODAY. THE RUMOR ALSO SAYS THAT THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI IS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE THE INITIAL 1.2 MILLION DOLLARS THAT WAS BUDGETED FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AWAY FROM THEM...

THAT 1.2 MILLION COULD BE USED TO PLACE 2 MORE AMBULANCES IN SERVICE AS WELL AS HELP WE PAYING FOR ANY OVERTIME THAT MAY BE NEEDED TO STAFF THOSE UNITS UNITL THIS ACADEMY CLASS HAS BEEN TURNED TO DUTY...

BY DOING THIS IT WOULD HELP REDUCE THE CALL VOLUME EACH ONE OF THESE 9 AMBULANCES FACES, AS WELL AS HELP REDUCE THE SLEEP DEPRIVATION ON THE PARAMEDICS THAT RIDE THESE UNITS...

SO IF THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY COUNCIL WILL NOT DO THIS, THEY ARE SAYING THAT THEY ARE OK WITH OUR FIREFIGHTERS/PARAMEDICS ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES TO GET LOST.

THEY ARE SAYING THEY ARE OK WITH OUR FIREFIGHTERS/PARAMEDICS TRANSPORTING PATIENTS, WHILE NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE STRAIGHT BECAUSE OF THE SLEEP DEPRIVATION..

THEY ARE SAYING THAT IS OK FOR THAT FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC WHO HAS NOT SLEPT IN 23 HOURS AND THAT HAS MADE 20+ CALLS TO MAKE A LIFE OR DEATH DECISION WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBER...

THEY ARE SAYING IT IS OK TO NOT PROVIDE THE CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT CITY THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PRE-HOSPITAL CARE AVAILABLE. WE KNOW THAT ANYWHERE BETWEEN 10-12 CALLS IS CONSIDERED EXCESSIVE AND THAT THE LEVEL OF CARE DROPS OFF AFTER ABOUT 15 CALLS...THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY COUNCIL ARE SAYING THEY ARE OK WITH THAT!!! BY NOT GROWING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LIKE EVERY OTHER PART OF THE CITY...

ARE YOU OK WITH THAT???

IF YOU ARE NOT OK WITH THAT SHARE THIS WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW AND VOICE IT ALOUD!!

DAILY POLL QUESTION??

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 20:19:00 +0000

TODAY WE WELCOME BACK OUR DAILY POLL QUESTION...AFTER WATCHING A TV NEWSCAST THE OTHER DAY ABOUT AMBULANCE SHORTAGES IN OUR CITY AND FINDING OUT THAT WE ARE BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, I CAME UP WITH QUESTION..

PLEASE CLICK YOUR ANSWER...

WHO ARE YOU??

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 22:52:00 +0000

WHO AM I AND WHO ARE YOU??

I AM NOT PERFECT...

I WILL HAVE BAD DAYS, I WILL MISS WORKOUTS, I WILL EAT THINGS I SHOULDN'T, I WILL LET MY FRUSTRATIONS GET THE BEST OF ME, I WILL SPEAK BEFORE I THINK SOMETIMES...

BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT I WILL OVERCOME THESE SHORTFALLS. I KNOW THAT A LEADER IS NOT ALWAYS THE ONE IN FRONT. I KNOW THAT I DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE AT MY BEST, BUT I MUST ALWAYS LOOK TO GET BETTER...I AM NOT PERFECT, WHO ARE YOU??

I KNOW THAT PERFECTION IS NOT ATTAINABLE, SO I MUST KNOW THAT MY BEST AT THAT MOMENT IS AS CLOSE AS I WILL GET - FOR NOW!!

I UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYTHING I ACCOMPLISH DRIVES ME TO WANT MORE. I UNDERSTAND THAT MY BAD DAYS WILL BE FEWER THEN MY GOOD DAYS, BUT I MUST USE THOSE BAD DAYS TO FUEL MY IMPROVEMENTS AND GET BETTER...

I KNOW THAT I AM ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU JUST AS MUCH AS I AM TO MYSELF. THIS IS CALLED LOYALTY..YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME I AM NOT PERFECT, BECAUSE I ALREADY KNOW THAT...I AM REAL, WHO ARE YOU??

I REALIZE THAT I MUST FIND BALANCE IN MY LIFE. FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND PASSIONS TAKE ME AWAY FROM MY PROFESSION - BRIEFLY. I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY NECESSARY BUT ALSO VERY HEALTHY AND HELPS KEEP ME FROM BURNOUT...

I ALSO KNOW THAT I AM NOT ASHAMED OF WHAT I DO OR WHERE I AM STATIONED..FOR MY PROFESSION AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF MY FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVE MADE ME A BETTER FATHER, HUSBAND, AND FIREFIGHTER...I AM PROUD TO BE A FIREFIGHTER AT THE "DIME"...WHO ARE YOU??

I KNOW THAT I AM CAPABLE OF CREATING CHANGE. IF THESE CHANGES ARE BIG OR SMALL, FOR ME PERSONALLY OR FOR MY DEPARTMENT - WHETHER THE CHANGES ARE PHYSICAL OR MENTAL - I KNOW THAT I AM CAPABLE OF CREATING CHANGE. I KNOW THAT I CAN CHANGE OTHERS, FOR BETTER OR WORSE..SO HOW I CREATE CHANGE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT CHANGE IS CREATED...I KNOW THAT I AM NOT PERFECT, BUT I CAN CHANGE - WHO ARE YOU??

I KNOW THAT I AM NOT ALONE. I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES I MAY STAND ALL BY MYSELF, BUT I AM STILL NOT ALONE. I KNOW THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE WITH MY SAME VIEWS AND VALUES. I KNOW THAT THESE PEOPLE MAY NOT ALWAYS SPEAK UP LOUDLY, FOR WHATEVER REASON - I KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE...I STAND WITH THOSE THAT STAND WITH ME, WHO ARE YOU??

I KNOW THAT I AM INVOLVED. I AM INVOLVED IN MY COMMUNITY, IN MY DEPARTMENT, IN MY UNION. I AM INVOLVED WITH MY FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND FITNESS. I KNOW THAT I MUST STAY INVOLVED EVEN WHEN I FEEL LIKE NOTHING IS GETTING DONE. I KNOW THAT IN ORDER TO CREATE THE CHANGE I WISH TO, I MUST BE INVOLVED...I KNOW I AM INVOLVED, WHO ARE YOU??

YOU SEE I KNOW WHO I AM AND WHO I AM NOT. I KNOW THAT I HAVE A LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT PHYSICALLY, PERSONALLY, AND PROFESSIONALLY. THESE CHANGES WILL COME WITH TIME AS LONG AS I STAY INVOLVED. I KNOW THAT I AM MY BIGGEST CRITIC AND HOLD MYSELF ACCOUNTABLE FOR MY ACTIONS. THIS DRIVES ME TO IMPROVE EVERYDAY AND TRY TO BECOME THE BEST I CAN BE...

I KNOW WHO I AM, WHO ARE YOU??

RIGHT OR WRONG SOLUTION?

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 23:06:00 +0000

IF YOU KNOW THE FIRE SERVICE, YOU KNOW THAT IT FACES MANY OBSTACLES...THE ONE THING YOU CAN COUNT ON THOUGH IS THAT MOST DEPARTMENTS, NO MATTER WHERE AT IN THE UNITED STATES, FACE SIMILAR OBSTACLES. THE DIFFERENCE IS HOW THESE OBSTACLES ARE DEALT WITH BY LABOR AND MANAGEMENT...

SUCH OBSTACLES ARE BUDGETS, STAFFING SHORTAGES, SHORTAGE OF PARAMEDICS, SHORTAGES OF APPARATUSES SUCH AS FIRE ENGINES AND AMBULANCES, ETC...

AS I WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH I CAME ACROSS THIS ARTICLE FROM STATTER911.COM ABOUT HOW THE CHIEF IN DC IS MOVING PERSONNEL AROUND TO, IN HIS OPINION BETTER SERVE THE CITIZENS..AS I WAS READING IT I COULD NOT HELP OF THINK ABOUT PROBLEMS THAT LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE FACING AND HOW THEY ARE TRYING TO FIX THOSE PROBLEMS. THEN I ASKED MYSELF OUR THEIR SOLUTIONS RIGHT OR WRONG? READ THE ARTICLE FOR YOURSELF...

DC Fire & EMS Department Chief Kenneth Elllerbe got a couple of minutes to state his case in a live interview last night at the top of the 11:00 PM newscast on WUSA-TV. Chief Ellerbe wants to go to a peak scheduling plan for the department’s paramedics beefing up the number of paramedics working during the hours when the statistics show they are most needed. The most controversial aspect of the idea is the removal of all paramedic ambulances, or medic units, between 1:00 AM and 7:00 AM when Ellerbe says demand for those services goes down to about half the number of calls during the rest of the day.

Such peak loading has been attempted in the past in the Nation’s Capital. It can become controversial when a chief has to explain why a paramedic ambulance was sitting in quarters unstaffed at a time when a child around the corner goes into cardiac arrest. Chief Ellerbe points out that he doesn’t expect the wait time for receiving ALS care to increase during those hours because paramedics will still be responding aboard paramedic engine companies and there will be 21 to 25 basic life support ambulances available for transport overnight. In addition, there will be paramedic supervisors working during the off peak hours.

Chief Ellerbe was asked last night, and in a story a week earlier on WTTG-TV, about allegations of a paramedic shortage and the departure of overworked medics. The chief claims the rate of departure is lower the last two years than the previous two and that there is not really a paramedic shortage as claimed by the firefighters’ union.

But the question I have yet to hear anyone ask is the first that comes to my mind in these stories. When a fire call strips an area of paramedic engine companies and there is an immediate need for ALS around the corner how is easy is it going to be to defend the plan when the closest paramedics are aboard engines on the other side of the city?

My experience is that whatever the merits of this plan are or aren’t will take a back seat to the public and council members acceptance of it after the first news story about someone dying. In the past they have had trouble dealing with the concept that their neighborhood paramedic ambulance only comes to get you if you have your heart attack at 2:00 PM but isn’t staffed if it occurs at 2:00 AM.

THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BY DAVE STATTER FROM STATTER911.COM

ARE WE A FIRE DEPARTMENT OR A EMS DEPARTMENT OR BOTH??

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 18:30:00 +0000

AS FOLLOWERS OF LOOSE TOPICS YOU KNOW THAT OUR POSTS HAVE SLOWED DOWN FOR MULTIPLE REASONS. NOW WHEN WE WRITE A POST IT IS USUALLY BECAUSE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT SOMETHING. SO I AM SURE YOU ARE WONDERING WHAT TODAY'S POST IS ABOUT? WELL FROM THE TITLE OF THE POST YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH GATHER WHAT IT IS ABOUT...

ARE WE A FIRE DEPARTMENT OR A EMS DEPARTMENT OR ARE WE BOTH??

THIS SEEMS LIKE SUCH A EASY QUESTION TO ANSWER, HELL JUST LOOK AT OUR UNIFORM. IT SAYS RIGHT THERE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

BUT IF WE ARE HONEST WITH OURSELVES AND WITH EACH OTHER, WE KNOW THAT 80 TO 85 PERCENT OF ALL OF OUR CALLS ARE EMS IN NATURE. SO DOES THAT MAKE US A EMS DEPARTMENT? NOT REALLY, BUT IT DOES TELL US THAT WE MUST START ALLOCATING OUR RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL FOR WHAT WE DO THE MOST OF. THIS ISN'T A NEW CONCEPT, THERE ARE MANY CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT ARE DOING JUST THIS.

WE ALL KNOW THAT WE ARE FACING BUDGET ISSUES, STAFFING ISSUES, FACILITY ISSUES AND NONE OF THOSE ISSUES ARE GOING TO GET ANY BETTER ANYTIME SOON. SO WHAT DO WE DO? WELL WE WORK WITH WHAT WE GOT AND WE MAKE WHAT WE HAVE WORK BEST FOR US, IN THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY. OK WELL HOW YOU ASK? WE WILL GET THERE...

WHAT IF YOU PUT AMBULANCES AT STATIONS THAT CURRENTLY ONLY HAVE FIRE ENGINES? WHAT IF THOSE CREWS EITHER TOOK THE ENGINE OR THE AMBULANCE DEPENDING ON THE CALL? THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A SECOND, A LOT OF OUR CALLS ROLL A ENGINE CO. OR TRUCK CO. WHICH ARRIVES FIRST ON SCENE. THIS IS TRUE JUST CHECK THE RESPONSE TIMES. THE AMBULANCE USUALLY ARRIVES ON SCENE 3 TO 4 MINUTES AFTER THE ENGINE/TRUCK CO.

NOW WE RUN ALS SERVICE ON ALL OUR APPARATUSES, SO THIS MEANS THAT THERE WILL BE AT LEAST ONE PARAMEDIC ON EVERY ENGINE, TRUCK, AND AMBULANCE. MOST OF OUR ENGINES/TRUCKS HAVE MULTIPLE PARAMEDICS DUE TO OUR CONTRACT STATES WE MUST CARRY OUR PATCH FOR SO MANY YEARS, AS WELL AS MOST CAPTAINS AND ENGINEERS KEEP THEIR PARAMEDIC PATCHES BECAUSE THEY WILL NEED IT FOR FURTHER PROMOTIONS.

SO NOW YOU CAN SEE THAT WE HAVE PARAMEDICS ON SCENE 3 TO 4 MINUTES FASTER THEN THE AMBULANCE ALREADY. THESE UNITS ALREADY CARRY MOST OF ALL THE DRUGS THE AND EQUIPMENT THAT THAT AMBULANCE HAS ON IT, THE ONLY THING THESE ENGINES/TRUCKS CAN NOT DO IS TRANSPORT. BUT IF WE PLACED A AMBULANCE AT THESE STATIONS WHERE THERE IS ONLY A ENGINE OR TRUCK, WHEN THAT EMS CALL CAME IN THAT CREW(OR AT LEAST THE 2 PARAMEDICS) WOULD JUMP INTO THE AMBULANCE ARRIVE QUICKLY TREAT AND TRANSPORT THAT PATIENT AT LEAST 3 TO 4 MINUTES FASTER. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT TIME IS MUSCLE, OR WE SHOULD?

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 9 STATIONS THAT HOUSE FULL TIME AMBULANCES. WE HAVE 17 STATIONS, SO JUST OVER HALF OF OUR STATIONS ARE STAFFED WITH AMBULANCE. THE PROBLEM LIES IN THAT WE RUN OUT OF AMBULANCES MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY EVERY SHIFT. AS IT IS NOW WE USE VOLUNTEER AMBULANCES TO HELP CARRY THE LOAD OF CALLS THIS CITY SEES. (THIS IS A WHOLE OTHER ISSUE THAT I WILL NOT GET INTO RIGHT NOW).

WHAT IF WE COULD HAVE 17 FULL TIME AMBULANCES? NOW THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT THOSE EXTRA 8 AMBULANCES ARE ALWAYS RUNNING, BUT WHAT IT DOES MEAN IS THAT OUR RESPONSE TIMES WOULD DROP SIGNIFICANTLY, OUR TRANSPORT TIMES WOULD DECREASE, AND WE WOULD BE USING OUR PERSONNEL IN THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY POSSIBLE.

THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA HAS IMPLEMENTED THIS ALREADY AND HERE IS THE REASON THEY DID SO. BECAUSE THEIR MEDICAL CALLS FAR OUTWEIGHED THEIR FIRE CALLS (SOUND FAMILIAR). THEY RESPONDED TO 119,500 CALLS LAST YEAR, WITH 85,000 OF THOSE BEING MEDICAL CALLS (SOUND FAMILIAR). OF THE REMAINING CALLS 800 WERE STRUCTURE FIRE CALLS, BUT ONLY 300 WERE SERIOUS ACCORDING TO THEIR CHIEF. THIS IS USING HIS RESOURCES TO FIT WHAT HIS DEPARTMENT IS..

IF YOU HAVE A CALL WHERE TIME TO A HOSPITAL MATTERS AND YOU HAVE A ENGINE CO. ON SCENE TREATING THE PATIENT(S) WITH PARAMEDICS ALREADY BUT THEY ARE WAITING ON A AMBULANCE TO SHOW UP EITHER BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL TIED UP OR BECAUSE THE CLOSEST ONE IS 12-15 MINUTES AWAY, YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF ARE WE USING ARE PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES IN THE BEST WAY THAT OUR CITIZENS DESERVE?

IF YOU HAD THAT SAME CALL AND HAD THAT AMBULANCE IN WAITING YOU COULD HAVE THAT ENGINE/TRUCK (NON PARAMEDIC DRIVES THIS) AND AMBULANCE (2 PARAMEDICS FROM THE ENGINE/TRUCK CO. DRIVE THIS) SHOW UP AT THE EXACT SAME TIME. THIS SPEEDS UP TIME TO HOSPITAL WHICH IS WHAT CURES MOST PEOPLE...

THIS IDEA IS NOT POPULAR WITH EVERYONE. PEOPLE WILL SAY WELL THAT IF YOU HAVE THAT CREW OUT OF SERVICE DUE TO MAKING THAT CALL AND HALF OF THE CREW NOW TRANSPORTING TO A HOSPITAL, AND A STRUCTURE FIRE COMES IN THAT AREA THAT UNIT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RESPOND. WELL THE TRUTH IS YOU CAN "WHAT IF" ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TO DEATH!! THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT FIRE CALLS ARE ON THE DOWN SLOPE DUE TO BETTER PREVENTION, BETTER ALERT SYSTEMS, AND BETTER EDUCATION. EMS CALLS ARE ON THE UP SLOPE BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF PREVENTION, LACK OF PERSONAL HEALTH CARE. SO WE MUST TAKE CARE OF WHAT IS KICKING OUR BUTTS NOW...

MUST WE BE READY AND PREPARED FOR WHEN A STRUCTURE FIRE COMES IN, ABSOLUTELY. MUST WE USE OUR PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES IN THE MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO BATTLE THE TYPE OF CALLS WE ARE MAKING THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME, ABSOLUTELY!!

IS THIS THE ANSWER, I DON'T KNOW. IS IT A WAY TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE WITH OUR PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES, THAT I DO KNOW IT IS.

SO I ASK YOU THE QUESTION AGAIN, AND I REALLY HOPE YOU SHARE YOU THOUGHTS WITH ME, ARE WE A FIRE DEPARTMENT OR ARE WE A EMS DEPARTMENT OR ARE WE BOTH? ARE WE USING OUR PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WAY POSSIBLE?

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE ARTICLE IN FIREHOUSE.COM THAT SPEAKS ABOUT THE JACKSONVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT JACKSONVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT CHANGES TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT

PERFORMING UNDER PRESSURE...

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 22:13:00 +0000

THIS PAST WEEKEND I SPENT WATCHING ONE OF THE GREATEST SPORTING EVENT IN THE WORLD, THE RYDER CUP.

THE UNITED STATES WAS SET TO TAKE HOME THE CUP AFTER TAKING A COMMANDING LEAD INTO THE WEEKEND. THE TALK WAS HOW THE EUROPEANS COULD NOT COME BACK, BECAUSE IF THEY DID IT WOULD BE THE GREATEST COMEBACK IN THE HISTORY OF THE RYDER CUP. WELL GUESS WHAT HAPPENED?

HISTORY WAS MADE....

AS I WATCHED EACH MATCH ON SUNDAY, I COULD FEEL THE PRESSURE BUILD MORE AND MORE. EACH SHOT BECAME MORE AND MORE CRITICAL. AS I CONTINUED TO WATCH I BEGAN TO WONDER HOW DO THESE ATHLETES, AND OTHERS, PERFORM SO WELL UNDER SUCH PRESSURE. I ALSO STARTED TO RELATE THAT PRESSURE TO WHAT WE DEAL WITH IN THE FIRE SERVICE. I FOUND THAT ACTUALLY THE TWO THINGS HAVE A LOT IN COMMON, AND HOW WE PREPARE OURSELVES IS QUITE SIMILAR....

SO HOW DO THE GREAT ONES DEAL WITH THE CHEST CRUSHING MUSCLE PARALYZING PRESSURE?

THE ELITE AMONG US, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, KNOW THAT PREPARING IS ITSELF A RITUAL AND MUST BE DONE. THEY WORK THEIR CRAFT AND THEMSELVES HARD AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY.

GAMEDAY, OR WHEN THE TONES GO OFF FOR US, IS THE REWARD OF THAT PREPARATION AND HARD WORK. IT IS THE FRUIT OF DAYS, WEEKS, AND YEARS OF TRAINING SWEAT, ACHES, AND REPS AFTER REPS AFTER REPS..

THIS IS WHERE THESE ELITE PLAYERS ARE TESTED, WHERE THEY WILL DISPLAY THEIR MAKE AND METTLE. THIS IS WHERE THEY WILL DO WHAT THEY DO BEST. AND THEY USUALLY DO IT RIGHT. WHY IS THAT? IT COMES FROM CONSISTENCY, OF PERFORMING THE BASICS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THEY DON'T PRACTICE TO GET IT RIGHT, THEY PRACTICE UNTIL THEY CAN'T GET IT WRONG...

YOU SEE THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS AND THE DEMONS IN THE SPECIFICS. IF WE CHOOSE TO SKIP THESE THINGS MEDIOCRITY WILL BE THE BEST WE ACHIEVE. AND IN BOTH OF OUR PROFESSIONS MEDIOCRITY DOESN'T CUT IT!!

THESE ELITE PLAYERS (FIREFIGHTERS INCLUDED) SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF, THEY GO OVER THE DETAILS, THEY PAY ATTENTION TO THE SPECIFICS. THEY UNDERSTAND THAT LEARNING NEVER STOPS...

A FEW THINGS THAT WE MUST REMEMBER THAT WILL HELP US PERFORM BETTER UNDER PRESSURE...

WE MUST HAVE A STRONG FOUNDATION. THIS MEANS HAVING A STRONG GRIP ON THE MENTAL, PHYSICAL, AND EMOTIONAL ASPECTS OF OUR CRAFT, BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL LINKED TOGETHER..

WE MUST REMAIN FOCUSED...THIS MEANS FOCUSING ON THE NOW, IN THE MOMENT. IF YOU DO THIS ALL THE PRESSURE GOES AWAY. IF YOU START TO THINK ABOUT THE PAST, OR WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN, YOU ARE ONLY FOCUSED ON THE TASK AND NOT THE BIG PICTURE. ASK YOURSELF SLOWLY, WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW?

OUR TRAINING MUST BE PROACTIVE...WE MUST TRAIN PROACTIVELY FOR ANY SITUATION. WE MUST KNOW HOW WE WILL REACT IN THOSE SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES. WE CAN'T GUESS OR PRETEND, WE MUST KNOW...WE MUST TRAIN TO THE POINT WHERE WE KNOW WHAT IS COMING NEXT, AND WHEN IT DOESN'T WE MUST BE PREPARED FOR THE UNEXPECTED...

Success is not an accident. Very seldom does Lady Luck play a role in the outcome of high stakes endeavors. I'm not even sure that Lady Luck exists at all. If she does, she has children and she shows them great favor. She smiles upon the driven few who stay late, put in the extra work, take a few more reps, and sweat that much more than the competition.

LET'S MAKE SURE WE ARE PREPARED TO PERFORM UNDER PRESSURE...

TRAIN TO LIVE!!!

WHAT DOES BROTHERHOOD LOOK LIKE?

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 19:12:00 +0000

IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE I WROTE AN ARTICLE HERE AT LOOSE TOPICS. BUT WITH EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE HAD GOING ON LATELY, THIS ARTICLE JUST SEEMS FITTING...

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ASKED EXACTLY WHAT THE FIRE SERVICE BROTHERHOOD IS? I HAVE BEEN ASKED, AND TO FIND WORDS TO DESCRIBE HAS ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR ME.

THIS IS BECAUSE TRUE BROTHERHOOD IS ACTUALLY HARD TO DESCRIBE.

I AM NOT GOING TO WRITE A LONG ARTICLE ON WHAT THE BROTHERHOOD MEANS TO ME, FOR WHAT I THINK IT IS AND WHAT YOU THINK IT IS MAY BE DIFFERENT.

I WILL END THIS ARTICLE WITH A FEW REMARKS AND A PICTURE OF WHAT "TRUE BROTHERHOOD" IS..

WE MUST REMEMBER THAT IT IS BROTHERHOOD AND NOT BESTFRIENDSHIPHOOD. YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIKE ALL YOUR BROTHERS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET ALONG WITH ALL YOUR BROTHERS. AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO LIKE YOU EITHER..

BROTHERHOOD MEANS THAT WHEN IN NEED, YOU WILL LEAVE YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR AND DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE...WHATEVER THAT ENTAILS.

HERE IS THE PICTURE I PROMISED OF WHAT "BROTHERHOOD" ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE..

DON'T LET "BROTHERHOOD" BE A DYING TRADITION!!!

UPDATED TO OUR BENEFIT/TRIBUTE WORKOUT

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 21:31:00 +0000

BENEFIT/TRIBUTE WORKOUT UPDATE!!

CROSSFIT METRO361 AND XFIT936 WILL BE HOST A BENEFIT/TRIBUTE WOD ON AUGUST 22ND, 2012. CROSSFIT METRO361 IS LOCATED AT 401 S WATER ST. IN DOWNTOWN CORPUS CHRISTI TEXAS. HEATS WILL START PROMPTLY AT 9 AM.

THE EVENT IS OPEN TO EVERYONE IN THE PUBLIC AND XFIT936 IS ASKING THAT YOU ONLY MAKE A DONATION (OF ANY SIZE EVEN POCKET CHANGE IF THAT IS ALL YOU CAN DONATE. EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS) TO GET YOU INTO THIS ONCE OF A LIFETIME WORKOUT. DON'T WANT TO DO THE WORKOUT, NO PROBLEM. JUST COME OUT AND SUPPORT THOSE THAT ARE PARTICIPATING AND YOU CAN STILL MAKE A DONATION...

100% OF ALL DONATIONS WILL BE GOING TO THE RECOVERY FUND SET UP FOR CORPUS CHRISTI FIRE CHIEF J.D. JOHNSON. CHIEF JOHNSON WAS INJURED WHILE ON DUTY, RECEIVING MULTIPLE BURNS TO HIS HANDS, FACE, AND CHEST AREA. CHIEF JOHNSON IS NOW AT BROOKS COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER GETTING TREATED FOR HIS INJURIES. ALTHOUGH HE IS IMPROVING EVERYDAY, HE AND HIS FAMILY FACE A LONG ROAD BACK TO RECOVERY.

HERE IS THE WOD THAT WILL BE DONE ON AUGUST 22ND, 2012 IN HONOR OF CHIEF JOHNSON...

The 3 rounds symbolize the 3 shifts the CCFD has. The 5 exercises symbolize the 5 positions Chief Johnson has held in his career (FFI, FFII, ENG, CAPT, BAT CHIEF). The 17 reps symbolize the number of fire stations the CCFD has. So here is this tough as nails workout...

"J.D."

3 ROUNDS FOR TIME

(OPTIONAL) WORKOUT TO BE DONE IN FULL BUNKER GEAR (NO HELMET/SCBA) MASK SHOULD BE WORN.

17 KB SWINGS 50#

17 BURPEES

17 POWER CLEAN 95#

17 TIRE FLIPS

17 AIR SQUATS

AGAIN WE WANT TO THANK CROSSFIT METRO361 FOR STEPPING UP AND ALLOWING US TO USE THEIR FACILITY AND EQUIPMENT FOR THIS EVENT!!! WE ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT ATTENDS. THIS IS THE LEAST WE CAN DO FOR A MAN THAT HAS GIVEN MOST OF HIS ADULT LIFE SERVING THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY..

BENEFIT/TRIBUTE WORKOUT "J.D."

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 16:16:00 +0000

BENEFIT/TRIBUTE WORKOUT...

On August 22nd XFIT936, a group of local Corpus Christi Firefighters, will be performing a BENEFIT/TRIBUTE workout in honor of Chief J.D. Johnson. As many of you know by now Chief Johnson was injured at a structure fire. His injuries included burns to his hands, face, and chest area. Chief Johnson was flown to Brooks County Medical Center to receive the best care for his injuries. Chief Johnson is improving every day, but still has a long road to recovery.

On August 22nd XFIT936 will be performing the BENEFIT/TRIBUTE workout named "J.D." They will also be taking donations at this time to be given to Chief Johnson and his family to help with their recovery needs. Your donation gets you into this BENEFIT/TRIBUTE workout, any donation amount gets you into the workout. Don't want to actually do the workout, no problem. Just come on out and support these local Corpus Christi Firefighters as they perform this grueling workout in honor of their injured Chief, you can still make a donation to this wonderful cause. If we can walk up flights of stairs for "brothers/sisters" we have never met (which is a great cause also), making a small donation for a "brother" we all know and respect is the least we can do. So please come out on August 22nd starting at 9:00 am at Crossfit Metro 361 located at 401 S Water St and help us support one of your own.

Here is the workout so that those of you that are interested in participating in it can prepare yourself. The workout is named "J.D." it is 3 rounds, 5 exercises, 17 reps per exercise. The 3 rounds symbolize the 3 shifts the CCFD has. The 5 exercises symbolize the 5 positions Chief Johnson has held in his career (FFI, FFII, ENG, CAPT, BAT CHIEF). The 17 reps symbolize the number of fire stations the CCFD has. So here is this tough as nails workout...

"J.D."

3 ROUNDS FOR TIME

(OPTIONAL) WORKOUT TO BE DONE IN FULL BUNKER GEAR (NO HELMET/SCBA) MASK SHOULD BE WORN.

17 KB SWINGS 50#

17 BURPEES

17 POWER CLEAN 95#

17 TIRE FLIPS

17 AIR SQUATS

This workout is as tough as they get and will test your physical and mental capabilities. So remember if you choose to take a crack at this workout, remember why we are doing it. Because one of our fellow brothers was injured trying to protect lives and property of those he swore to protect. So 100% effort should be given, because the is what Chief Johnson always gave!!

2012 TEXAS FIREFIGHTER GAMES...

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 13:46:00 +0000

HERE are pictures from the 2012 Texas Firefighter Games held in Lewisville, Tx. including the first place gold medal in “C” Division Doubles, a CCFD/LAREDO FD team picture with Emilio Hernandez, Randy Smart, Eddy Ross, Rick Rodriguez, and retired Laredo FF Edwin Atwell. Randy’s second medal is for third place bronze for total pin count(9 games) in “B” Division.

WAY TO GO!!! GREAT JOB AND THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING OUR CCFD SO WELL....

OUR LOCAL HEROS!

cloosemore25@gmail.com (L2) — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 02:25:00 +0000

PLEASE TAKE 3 MINUTES AND WATCH THIS VIDEO. THESE MEN AND WOMEN PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERYDAY FOR YOU AND YOUR PROPERTY. THEY DO NOT ASK FOR MUCH OTHER THEN TO BE TREATED FAIRLY. WE ALL NEED TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL HEROS!!

WOULD YOU BE IN FAVOR OF 2 TO 3 MORE FULL TIME AMBULANCES IN SERVICE IN THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI?
	YES
	NO

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