I'm getting a Pager?

[tajm611]

I don't agree with our dept's policy with 14 year olds..it is in place and it is what it is.

As far as the drivers license justifying letting a 16 year old to ride a fire truck..I'll justify it by saying this..driving emergent to a call..would you say that it is more dangerous then letting a 16 year old go out on a Friday night driving around by himself or worse, with friends trying to impress girls and giving into peer pressure?

Yes. You're also assuming that every 16 year old would be that immature. I know I wasn't, I payed for my truck with my own money and had to buy my own gas so it stayed parked most of the time. That said, even the most responsible 16, 17, or 18 year old does not have the same driving experience to safely pilot fire apparatus. That's like giving a firefighter command of a fire ground because he has 1403. We have a requirement that you have to be 21 to drive ANY fire department vehicle, not because its an easy number but for the fact you'd have at least 4 years driving under your belt. It's not much but it's a hell of a lot better than 4 days or 4 months. This is ignoring the common sense fact that handing a 16 year old the keys to a honda accord and a fire apparatus are worlds apart and such an asinine comparison that it doesn't deserve discussion.

I know what my friends and I did when we were 16 driving around, we thought we were untouchable, and it had nothing to do with how I was raised or my morals/values..it had to do with having a new sense of freedom not having to ride with a parent all the time..it felt like we were adults, however, we obviously weren't.

So allow them to drive a vehicle much, much larger, with not just everyone on the roads lives at stake but my crew and my self? So let them drive, code, in a vehicle they may not have any experience in dealing it, when it comes to weight, brakes, and turning?

Now, your faced with a choice..let your 16-17 year old son/daughter go on a call, with a qualified apparatus/driver operator..and operate under the direct supervision of firefighters like yourself..or giving them the keys to your car and tell him, hey, be back by 11.

Not a difficult choice at all, it's common sense. He/she learned, was tested, has experience in a passenger vehicle, he/she will drive a passenger vehicle.

Now, once again, this scenario does not reflect at all on you as a father or your wife as a mother or your parenting skills collectively..things happen, it is what it is. and in all honesty, what makes a 16 year old more mature then an 18 year old..or a 17 year old more mature then an 18 year old..or an 18 year old more mature then a 21 year old? a 16 year old who works 1 or 2 jobs and does good in school, plays sports or a 21 year old who smokes pot does dishes part time and lives in his mothers basement like a leach? maturity/responsibility does not have an age limit..if a 16 year old walks into my firehouse and is like I want to learn how to be a firefighter and he goes through the appropriate training and demonstrates he is responsible and mature there is no reason to not let him on an apparatus to go and assist doing jobs on the fire ground that aren't in the hot zone. Saying that letting a 16 year old child onto a fire truck is insane, but letting an 18 year old man is not..is equivalent to saying..it is insane to let an 18 year old FRESH out of high school to go to war..but it is ok to let a 21 year old to go and fight and die. If letting a 16 year old on a fire truck keeps him away from drugs or trouble and gives him interest in a career field..then I'm all for it.

good debate..

It's not illogical at all. There is a huge gap in cognitive reasoning between 16 and 18. Are some 18 year olds stupid? Sure, but I'd like to put my money on the guy who has a little more experience. It's not crazy at all, it'd be crazy to think there isn't a difference between a 16 year old and an 18 and beyond.

[BigGriffC12]

Yes. You're also assuming that every 16 year old would be that immature. I know I wasn't, I payed for my truck with my own money and had to buy my own gas so it stayed parked most of the time. That said, even the most responsible 16, 17, or 18 year old does not have the same driving experience to safely pilot fire apparatus. That's like giving a firefighter command of a fire ground because he has 1403. We have a requirement that you have to be 21 to drive ANY fire department vehicle, not because its an easy number but for the fact you'd have at least 4 years driving under your belt. It's not much but it's a hell of a lot better than 4 days or 4 months. This is ignoring the common sense fact that handing a 16 year old the keys to a honda accord and a fire apparatus are worlds apart and such an asinine comparison that it doesn't deserve discussion.


So allow them to drive a vehicle much, much larger, with not just everyone on the roads lives at stake but my crew and my self? So let them drive, code, in a vehicle they may not have any experience in dealing it, when it comes to weight, brakes, and turning?



Not a difficult choice at all, it's common sense. He/she learned, was tested, has experience in a passenger vehicle, he/she will drive a passenger vehicle.



It's not illogical at all. There is a huge gap in cognitive reasoning between 16 and 18. Are some 18 year olds stupid? Sure, but I'd like to put my money on the guy who has a little more experience. It's not crazy at all, it'd be crazy to think there isn't a difference between a 16 year old and an 18 and beyond.

I apologize if I confused you, but I never meant that a 16 or 18 year old should be allowed to drive an apparatus, I said it is ok for 16 year olds to ride on an apparatus with a qualified driver/operator.

my bad for the confusion.

[CaptOldTimer]

All of this because a 14 year old said they were getting a pager.


If that department has them and wants to issue them to kids so be it. We don't have that problem at all.

[FyredUp]

All of this because a 14 year old said they were getting a pager.


If that department has them and wants to issue them to kids so be it. We don't have that problem at all.

Nope sorry, I adamantly disagree. The story a while back of the junior repsonding on his bike that got hit and killed was enough to close the door to underage juniors responding to calls. AND, you know if you give a wacker kid a pager, he is going, if only to watch.

Not worth the risk.

[LVFD301]

Nope sorry, I adamantly disagree. The story a while back of the junior repsonding on his bike that got hit and killed was enough to close the door to underage juniors responding to calls. AND, you know if you give a wacker kid a pager, he is going, if only to watch.

Not worth the risk.

Makes sense.

But I wonder if we can't remedy the issue and issue pagers. Just not sure how.

[LVFD301]

All of this because a 14 year old said they were getting a pager.


.

Hey, I am getting a prostate exam!

[slackjawedyokel]

Hey, I am getting a prostate exam!

Word of advise --RELAX -first one I had --- I almost broke the docs finger.

[LVFD301]

Word of advise --RELAX -first one I had --- I almost broke the docs finger.

Advice taken

[BULL321]

I'm going to fart! No sir, you think you are going to fart. No Doc, I'm really going to fart! No sir you just think you're going to pass gas. Hey Doc, Does it smell like I thought that I was going to fart?

[Miller337]

I'm going to fart! No sir, you think you are going to fart. No Doc, I'm really going to fart! No sir you just think you're going to pass gas. Hey Doc, Does it smell like I thought that I was going to fart?

This really is kinda a Twilight Zone incident thread. This thread was started by some kid getting a pager but can't respond when it drops tones and somehow morphed into an Bull's rectal exam issues.

Bullman I come to think of you as family I never wanted so I'll try to be kind. The reason the doctor closes the door when he comes in the exam room isn't for your privacy, its an act of humanity so we don't have to watch.

[LVFD301]

This really is kinda a Twilight Zone incident thread. This thread was started by some kid getting a pager but can't respond when it drops tones and somehow morphed into an Bull's rectal exam issues.

Bullman I come to think of you as family I never wanted so I'll try to be kind. The reason the doctor closes the door when he comes in the exam room isn't for your privacy, its an act of humanity so we don't have to watch.

I will wrench it back on topic, do you wear your pager during the exam?

[LaFireEducator]

This really is kinda a Twilight Zone incident thread. This thread was started by some kid getting a pager but can't respond when it drops tones and somehow morphed into an Bull's rectal exam issues.

Bullman I come to think of you as family I never wanted so I'll try to be kind. The reason the doctor closes the door when he comes in the exam room isn't for your privacy, its an act of humanity so we don't have to watch.

I can be blamed for a lot of things, but this diversion into rectal exams damn sure ain't MY fault.

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

I can be blamed for a lot of things, but this diversion into rectal exams damn sure ain't MY fault.

Not reallly.. the vast majority of posters here think your head is up your (fill in the blank)....

[scfire86]

Not reallly.. the vast majority of posters here think your head is up your (fill in the blank)....

That's pretty damn funny. Sadly, it's true. What's scary is if there are others out there like LA.

[FWDbuff]

I can be blamed for a lot of things, but this diversion into rectal exams damn sure ain't MY fault.

actually it is your fault, as you being an azzhole and rectal exams correlate with one another......

[Junior22]

If you knew the whole story A.S.S.H.O.L.E, I get your point 100%, that we can agree on the same thing. I don't live in the city, So my parents drive me to the station, not to the call, I DO NOT RIDE MY BIKE THERE!

[IronValor]

Do your parents know you talk to your elders like that?

[Junior22]

Do your parents know you talk to your elders like that?

Of course. We all say, "I'm getting sick of old people!"

[slackjawedyokel]

Of course. We all say, "I'm getting sick of old people!"

well maybe you ought to tell your mamma to change your diet.

[KennyTheFireGuy]

I am going to chime in here on the original topic at hand.

We don't even give probies pagers until their 90 days are up. They get gear and if we need them we call them on the phone.

Juniors get nothing. no pager, no gear, nothing issued. When they come for training, they grab out of the pile. Since none of them are 1403, then they are not doing live burn training anyway. Juniors are not allowed to respond to calls, even if they happen to have a scanner or family member that is a member. They have no place on a fire scene. In our department, you must be 16-18 to be a junior member. So you being 14/15, are lucky.

Now as for your question. I prefer the M5. it is not much bigger then the M4 and has a better battery. I think the better pager should be left for the other members.

This was the first pager I was issued many years ago.



I was later lucky enough to get a M3. I do miss the earphone jack.

Now have a M5. as back up for when my radio dies, or if I don't feel like wearing it.