CaptBob
08-23-2007, 10:17 PM
From: Captain Sprink
Let me address a topic I have noticed in candidates the last couple of years. As candidates today you are part of a wonderful generation that has grown up on nintendo, playstation, and x-box. You have a remarkable ability to take in and process large quantities of rapidly changing information and act on that infomation all while new information is rolling into your senses. This is a fantastic thing.
Many of todays students and candidates have a very difficult time taking direction. You have grown up in the "nintendo" generation and are used to rapidly taking in changing information and acting on it. Understand that in the fire service we work as a team and one person has to be in charge or people get hurt. Even as a Captain I have to be able to take direction as well as give it. In our business when you receive direction from the person in authority above you and then act according to your own direction, we call that freelancing. Freelancing gets people injured, or worse, killed.
Those of you aspiring to this amazing and wonderful profession need to ask yourself a very serious question: Can I take direction? If you are not able to take direction don't despair, this doesnt make you a bad person. Many of the great start-up companies of the 21st century were started by people who did not want to take direction from others. If you are one of these folks, your future is bright--but not in the fire service. The panel members on the fire department interview are seasoned fire service personnel who understand the necessity for a candidate to be able to take direction, and they are evaluating your ability to do that.
If you want to be successful as a firefighter, learn to take direction.
respectfully, Captain Sprink
Here, here! Captain Sprink
I just received this inquiry:
I am really struggling here. I was recently hired by an ambulance company. They have a certain way for doing patient assessments. I would prefer to be more thorough. I feel like I will forget a lot of the stuff I was taught if I don't use it. After all, this is all so I can go to medic school someday.
I should be doing everything as completely as possible so I have a stronghold on the basics. Am I looking to deep in this as a new guy? It was recommended that I should change companies. Our FD uses one company in particular. I hear you can learn much more in some environments than others. Guidance please!
Reply Well, I take this as ambulance companies, fire departments, etc. have certain protocols they want followed. If you can’t follow these how are you going to be as a firefighter or firemedic in the field?
I hear from EMT's and firemedics all the time that were let go because they went off on their own not following the mandated protocol. As Captain Sprink stated, they just didn't follow directions.
They could be 100% right and they show them the door. What oral board panels want to hear is candidates say I want to learn it your way; especially the seasoned and lateral medics.
Let me address a topic I have noticed in candidates the last couple of years. As candidates today you are part of a wonderful generation that has grown up on nintendo, playstation, and x-box. You have a remarkable ability to take in and process large quantities of rapidly changing information and act on that infomation all while new information is rolling into your senses. This is a fantastic thing.
Many of todays students and candidates have a very difficult time taking direction. You have grown up in the "nintendo" generation and are used to rapidly taking in changing information and acting on it. Understand that in the fire service we work as a team and one person has to be in charge or people get hurt. Even as a Captain I have to be able to take direction as well as give it. In our business when you receive direction from the person in authority above you and then act according to your own direction, we call that freelancing. Freelancing gets people injured, or worse, killed.
Those of you aspiring to this amazing and wonderful profession need to ask yourself a very serious question: Can I take direction? If you are not able to take direction don't despair, this doesnt make you a bad person. Many of the great start-up companies of the 21st century were started by people who did not want to take direction from others. If you are one of these folks, your future is bright--but not in the fire service. The panel members on the fire department interview are seasoned fire service personnel who understand the necessity for a candidate to be able to take direction, and they are evaluating your ability to do that.
If you want to be successful as a firefighter, learn to take direction.
respectfully, Captain Sprink
Here, here! Captain Sprink
I just received this inquiry:
I am really struggling here. I was recently hired by an ambulance company. They have a certain way for doing patient assessments. I would prefer to be more thorough. I feel like I will forget a lot of the stuff I was taught if I don't use it. After all, this is all so I can go to medic school someday.
I should be doing everything as completely as possible so I have a stronghold on the basics. Am I looking to deep in this as a new guy? It was recommended that I should change companies. Our FD uses one company in particular. I hear you can learn much more in some environments than others. Guidance please!
Reply Well, I take this as ambulance companies, fire departments, etc. have certain protocols they want followed. If you can’t follow these how are you going to be as a firefighter or firemedic in the field?
I hear from EMT's and firemedics all the time that were let go because they went off on their own not following the mandated protocol. As Captain Sprink stated, they just didn't follow directions.
They could be 100% right and they show them the door. What oral board panels want to hear is candidates say I want to learn it your way; especially the seasoned and lateral medics.