View from the Jumpseat - Ryan Pennington shares his views while riding the back seat of the fire engine in West Virginia. He writes about firefighter safety, tactics, leadership and EMS.
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The Biggest Honor in the Fire Service
By Ryan Pennington - Friday May 10, 2013
What is the biggest honor that you have ever received in the fire service? From a medal of valor to recognition for 20 years of service, the fire service hands out many reminders of good times and good work. Recently I received the biggest reward my career; it wasn't a medal for heroism or a life saved, it was seeing my first protege sworn in as a firefighter. Sharing a moment in time to celebrate a young man’s journey into the world that we all care so much about was amazing. I’d like to take a moment to share the story and how you can pay it forward. There is no doubt that the biggest honor in the fire service is seeing your guidance followed, understood, and rewarded. The story of how I got to this point has been covered... -
Your Crew Has a Mayday: Are you Ready?
By Ryan Pennington - Friday May 3, 2013
As I listen to the audio recording from the fire in Baltimore County, Md., that claimed the life of Firefighter Gene Kirschner , I reflect on a lesson learned from my recent rapid intervention train-the-trainer class . If a Mayday were to occur the firefighters most likely to facilitate a rescue are the ones already operating inside the structure. If you have an emergency and need assistance, the firefighters nearest you will be in the best spot to help -- if they are not experiencing the same emergency. Are you prepared to help a fellow firefighter in their time of need? Let’s take a look at some self-rescue and crew rescue situations where you can help save a brother or sister firefighter. Are you ready to manage a crew... -
Pennington: Those Who Rush In...
By Ryan Pennington - Thursday April 18, 2013
As the news continues to come in from West, Texas, we stand by waiting for the inevitable. No one understands the loss of life and when first responders lay down their lives, it hits us all hard. As we learn the details from Texas and Boston , the emergency services community should send prayers and support to both of these communities. From the Boylston area of Boston to the small town of West, one thing is for certain in this Jumpseatrider's mind: the first responders are ready! Understanding how and why may not be known for days, or weeks, but we all should take the time to mourn while learning. These two incidents happened thousands of miles apart, but they both should have us focused on our district. We all have similar issues... -
Hoping For a Fire?
By Ryan Pennington - Thursday April 11, 2013
"Man, I hope we run a fire today." How many times have you said those words while at the firehouse just to hear a brother or sister ask "you want someone to lose their house?" It’s seems like an age-old battle between those who want to do the job and those who would rather be riding a recliner in front of the television while watching the History Channel, but maybe it goes a little deeper than that. Wanting to use the skills that you train on, day in and day out, is not a unusual thing to ask for, is it? Let’s take a little closer look at the heated debate on "wishing for a fire" from a few different perspectives. As firefighters we all want to be the first in crew, but at the same time how often is it the fire departments... -
Teamwork: Build it Before the Bell
By Ryan Pennington - Wednesday April 3, 2013
After the bruises and war marks from one of the most intense training weeks of this Jumpseat rider's life finally faded, I would like to share some thoughts from a class I recently took. I was asked to take "RIT: Training The Trainer Course," led by the Fire Department Training Network here in West Virginia. Jim McCormack and his awesome team of seasoned firefighters came down and put a group of instructors from around the state through a grueling class that handed out more than one piece of humble pie. One key learning lesson kept coming up was how teamwork is essential. It seems impossible to think that an experienced group of firefighters, all who serve as instructors, would be re-learning this lesson. But, this class really...
