Views from the Jumpseat
Ryan Pennington

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

  • Happy EMS Week
    by Ryan Pennington - Tuesday May 22, 2012
    Happy EMS Week from the Jumpseat. At the start of EMS week I realized how quickly another year of riding in the ambulance jumpseat has passed. Just like many of you I split my time between an engine and an ambulance, it is interesting mix to say the least. I believe that if you are willing it can make for a well-rounded provider because you have the fire-rescue side to go along with your EMS skills. It's a well-known fact that most of our runs are EMS in nature and often your time on the ambulance is busier, but this also gives you more chances to have an effect on your community. EMS runs give you a chance to show compassion while offering life saving measures to your patients. You may never know what it is like to lose a loved one...

  • Hose or Hook?
    by Ryan Pennington - Friday May 18, 2012
    Welcome back to the Jumpseat. It has been an exciting couple of weeks here in West Virginia with some new opportunities opening up. Over the past two weeks I have had the pleasure of talking with firefighters from around the country and one question kept coming up. A hook or a hose, meaning are you a truckie or an engine firefighter? There is a distinct difference in the mindset of each. Which do you prefer? Many times in the bigger cities a firefighter emerges from their probie school and can be sent to an engine or a truck. This will be a defining moment in their careers as you seem to mold yourself into your first assignment.If you are assigned to an engine you become an engine firefighter, often remaining on it for your entire...

  • Crawling Through Filth
    by Ryan Pennington - Sunday May 13, 2012
    Good evening from the Jumpseat. Yeah, here on the East Coast it is late in the night and I would like to share an experience that happened here in my local area. Since I have started the research into the world of hoarders I have had the honor of sharing many different stories of responses. From EMS incidents to working structure fires with entrapped victims the stories continue to blow me away, all the while providing for new areas of research. My first fire chief called me to relate a story of a hoarder fire. His response has taken my research to a whole new level and it was seen from the perspective of the first due crew hitting their knees to make entry and finding filth! The short version of the story is that they responded to a...

  • Are you a Pink Flamingo?
    by Ryan Pennington - Tuesday April 17, 2012
    Good afternoon from the Jumpseat! In talking with some friends I have noticed that there seems to be growing breed of firefighter around the world. This is the pink flamingo breed. You know the type: they are laid out in the yard with their new gear, air bottle full, drinking all the water while looking pretty, just like a pink flamingo. We all have them in our department. I have often heard the term "yard breather," but they have taken it to a new level. Here is my two cents on this subject. I like socializing with my fellow firefighters too, but the fireground is not the place to do it, nor is it the place to stand there looking cool in your fire gear. The fires scene is a work zone. With today's staffing levels going down faster than...

  • When a Flashlight isn't Enough
    by Ryan Pennington - Monday April 9, 2012
    Hello from the J umpseat . As the sun sets on another evening riding backwards we stand ready for the next fire. With my flashlight charged and ready, let the bells ring out "structure fire." Maybe you are asking yourself "Is he seriou, is he taking the time to write a blog post about a flashlight?" Yep, and with two points in mind here it goes. First: "bring your own light!" because as much as you are my brother or sister firefighter you are not borrowing mine. Yes I said it; they named a street after me in every town: One Way. Your department places them on the trucks or issues one to you and it is not my job to make sure you carry one. It never fails that on every fire I have someone is asking, "hey, let me borrow your light...