http://www.firehouse.com Firehouse.com http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10719755/happy-ems-week/blog/10719755/happy-ems-week I would like to personally thank everyone for choosing a career in the Emergency Medical Services. You should take a moment this week to think on how you have affected someone's life and be proud. Tue, 22 May 2012 09:44:00 -0500 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10719755/happy-ems-week/blog/10719755/happy-ems-week http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10716056/the-vigilant-hose-company-a-family-visit/blog/10716056/the-vigilant-hose-company-a-family-visit Knowing how much auxiliary groups often times struggle for support from their firefighters, I felt honored to be in a place where spouses are as dedicated and respected as the firefighters. Sun, 20 May 2012 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10716056/the-vigilant-hose-company-a-family-visit/blog/10716056/the-vigilant-hose-company-a-family-visit http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10716152/hose-or-hook/blog/10716152/hose-or-hook I must admit that I have always been an engine firefighter but feel comfortable performing in a truck role. This is why we must all be jumpseat ready in today's world to make the fire scene safer for us all. Fri, 18 May 2012 14:00:00 -0500 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10716152/hose-or-hook/blog/10716152/hose-or-hook http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10713748/crawling-through-filth/blog/10713748/crawling-through-filth Crews found a hoarded home at a Level 2 where they encountered piles at waist level. This was not the most concerning finding. Sun, 13 May 2012 22:26:00 -0500 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10713748/crawling-through-filth/blog/10713748/crawling-through-filth http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10705779/fps-grants-deadline-extended-and-free-fire-safety-programs/blog/10705779/fpamps-grants-deadline-extended-and-free-fire-safety-programs This is the perfect opportunity to apply for the fire prevention initiatives and firefighter health and safety programs that your department needs help funding. Thu, 26 Apr 2012 07:04:00 -0500 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10705779/fps-grants-deadline-extended-and-free-fire-safety-programs/blog/10705779/fpamps-grants-deadline-extended-and-free-fire-safety-programs http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10700428/are-you-a-pink-flamingo/blog/10700428/are-you-a-pink-flamingo 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... Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:17:00 -0500 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10700428/are-you-a-pink-flamingo/blog/10700428/are-you-a-pink-flamingo http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10689879/when-a-flashlight-isnt-enough/blog/10689879/when-a-flashlight-isnt-enough So next time you make fun of the guy who has more flashlights than an orbiting spaceship, maybe they have things figured out because they can see what's going on. Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:11:00 -0500 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10689879/when-a-flashlight-isnt-enough/blog/10689879/when-a-flashlight-isnt-enough http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10687989/you-must-become-a-student-of-firefighting/blog/10687989/you-must-become-a-student-of-firefighting Being a company fire officer, chief, or incident commander can be a challenging job. Or as I have said time and again over the decades of my career: " relax gang, this is only a life or death job." Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:31:00 -0500 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10687989/you-must-become-a-student-of-firefighting/blog/10687989/you-must-become-a-student-of-firefighting http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10687472/firefighter-safety-dont-play-with-trains/blog/10687472/firefighter-safety-dont-play-with-trains Railroaders live by safety rules-if they violate them, they get fired--if they are lucky. If not, they can be seriously injured or die. Fri, 06 Apr 2012 09:00:00 -0500 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10687472/firefighter-safety-dont-play-with-trains/blog/10687472/firefighter-safety-dont-play-with-trains http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10687358/are-you-working-to-create-a-better-organization/blog/10687358/are-you-working-to-create-a-better-organization If you want to succeed as a leader in your organization, you will apply yourself to writing a series of truly solid policies. Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:00:00 -0500 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10687358/are-you-working-to-create-a-better-organization/blog/10687358/are-you-working-to-create-a-better-organization http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10687104/brand-equity-marketing-the-fire-service-its-all-about-the-story/blog/10687104/brand-equity-marketing-amp-the-fire-service-its-all-about-the-story Chief Nyle Zikmund is probably one of the better marketers I have seen in the fire service. He has a high ROI based on years of promoting prevention and public education and telling the story to every segment of his market. Tue, 03 Apr 2012 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10687104/brand-equity-marketing-the-fire-service-its-all-about-the-story/blog/10687104/brand-equity-marketing-amp-the-fire-service-its-all-about-the-story http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10684621/the-charleston-nightmare/blog/10684621/the-charleston-nightmare With a solemn greeting from the jumpseat, I am writing with a heavy heart to give a huge shout out to the members of my home department. My department here in West Virginia is the Charleston Fire Department - an urban department nestled in between the big... Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:31:00 -0500 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10684621/the-charleston-nightmare/blog/10684621/the-charleston-nightmare http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10657840/leaders-must-help-to-shape-their-organization/blog/10657840/leaders-must-help-to-shape-their-organization You must be sure to search far and wide for possible solutions. I have found that it is the rare problem that has not been solved by someone else in another place. Sat, 17 Mar 2012 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10657840/leaders-must-help-to-shape-their-organization/blog/10657840/leaders-must-help-to-shape-their-organization http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10657839/i-might-be-a-freelancer/blog/10657839/i-might-be-a-freelancer As the hose was racked and air bottles were filled I came to the realization that I might be a freelancer after all Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:35:00 -0500 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10657839/i-might-be-a-freelancer/blog/10657839/i-might-be-a-freelancer http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10643688/delaware-pride/blog/10643688/delaware-pride Pride comes from your heart and shows in how you maintain you department's belongings. Mon, 05 Mar 2012 08:45:00 -0600 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10643688/delaware-pride/blog/10643688/delaware-pride http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10635802/beware-of-the-ides-of-march/blog/10635802/beware-of-the-ides-of-march In 44 B.C., Julius Caesar was warned by a fortune teller that things were not going to go too well for him around the 15th of March. This meeting was dramatized in William Shakespeare's play when the soothsayer warned him, "Beware the Ides of March... Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:00:00 -0600 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10635802/beware-of-the-ides-of-march/blog/10635802/beware-of-the-ides-of-march http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10635603/mayday-mayday-mayday/blog/10635603/mayday-mayday-mayday Much has been written about the term "Mayday" and how we in the fire service use it. Just recently I read an interesting article that discussed the causes for transmitting a Mayday, the hesitancy that many firefighters have for transmitting a Mayday and... Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:37:00 -0600 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10635603/mayday-mayday-mayday/blog/10635603/mayday-mayday-mayday http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10635744/different-folks-get-supplied-differently/blog/10635744/different-folks-get-supplied-differently First off, the response to the " Do You Lay In " blog was outstanding. Over 30 comments, from a diverse group of people and response areas with completely different answers are exactly what I was hoping for. So let's spend a few more moments on this... Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:25:00 -0600 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10635744/different-folks-get-supplied-differently/blog/10635744/different-folks-get-supplied-differently http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10631380/transitional-attack-is-whack/blog/10631380/transitional-attack-is-whack Now I may not be the sharpest tool in the box but have you read about this "Transitional Attack" idea? Sun, 19 Feb 2012 07:30:00 -0600 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10631380/transitional-attack-is-whack/blog/10631380/transitional-attack-is-whack http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10628001/do-you-lay-in/blog/10628001/do-you-lay-in It's a great debate for the loyal readers of Views From the Jumpseat. Now keep in mind that I am not an officer, nor do I play one on television. I have been in some interesting discussions, as of late, on whether to lay your own supply line... Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:53:00 -0600 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10628001/do-you-lay-in/blog/10628001/do-you-lay-in http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10623757/fire-wife-preppers/blog/10623757/fire-wife-preppers If being a prepper is crazy then I take solace in my own insanity. I have peace of mind knowing that in a hurricane, we have plans, food, and water and we'll be okay without panicking or depending on anyone else to meet our needs Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:44:00 -0600 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10623757/fire-wife-preppers/blog/10623757/fire-wife-preppers http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10623662/honesty-is-the-only-policy/blog/10623662/honesty-is-the-only-policy So why is it that people do not always deal in the truth? This is as tough a question to assess as any other problem involving fire department people, and society in general. Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:30:00 -0600 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10623662/honesty-is-the-only-policy/blog/10623662/honesty-is-the-only-policy http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10623664/firefighting-a-super-big-game/blog/10623664/firefighting-a-super-big-game For many the Super Bowl will be the biggest game of their life, one that they have spent years preparing for. In a way the football format can be applied to the fire service. Sun, 05 Feb 2012 09:50:00 -0600 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10623664/firefighting-a-super-big-game/blog/10623664/firefighting-a-super-big-game http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10620765/my-friends/blog/10620765/my-friends As time wore on some of us began retiring and others got promoted Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:40:00 -0600 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10620765/my-friends/blog/10620765/my-friends http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10619434/words-can-mean-so-much/blog/10619434/words-can-mean-so-much I can't express how that one message means so much to me. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:44:00 -0600 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10619434/words-can-mean-so-much/blog/10619434/words-can-mean-so-much http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10618762/reputation-equity-in-the-fire-service/blog/10618762/reputation-equity-in-the-fire-service Your reputation as a firefighter in your community is worth the value of the reputations of 1.6 million firefighters in this country. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:27:00 -0600 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10618762/reputation-equity-in-the-fire-service/blog/10618762/reputation-equity-in-the-fire-service http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10618845/risking-lives-for-nothing/blog/10618845/risking-lives-for-nothing Since this is my first blog for Firehouse.com let me introduce myself. My name is John Salka and I have been a battalion chief with the FDNY for the past 13 years of my 32 year career. In addition to my job with the FDNY, I also write the back page in... Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:58:49 -0600 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10618845/risking-lives-for-nothing/blog/10618845/risking-lives-for-nothing http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10617441/the-day-the-fire-service-changed-for-me-in-2005/blog/10617441/the-day-the-fire-service-changed-for-me-in-2005 Without any form of bailout system in 2005, the decision to jump was the only choice. Today you do have a choice - carry a bailout bag. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:53:00 -0600 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10617441/the-day-the-fire-service-changed-for-me-in-2005/blog/10617441/the-day-the-fire-service-changed-for-me-in-2005 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10611675/a-golden-fire-safety-nugget/blog/10611675/a-golden-fire-safety-nugget There is nothing quite like finding an unexpected surprise on the web. This evening, while surfing the web looking up some data, I stumbled upon this golden nugget, a page on the USFA for Kids website . If you are like me and you feel as though you... Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:00:00 -0600 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10611675/a-golden-fire-safety-nugget/blog/10611675/a-golden-fire-safety-nugget http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10603971/operation-falling-hippo-a-firefighting-familys-homeschooling-downtime/blog/10603971/operation-falling-hippo-a-firefighting-familys-homeschooling-downtime I married a firefighter, I birthed three daughters for him and we decided that home educating is the way to go. Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:38:00 -0600 http://www.firehouse.com/blog/10603971/operation-falling-hippo-a-firefighting-familys-homeschooling-downtime/blog/10603971/operation-falling-hippo-a-firefighting-familys-homeschooling-downtime