Ride Alongs with Columbus, Fire

[Marco09]

I have done one ride along with Columbus Fire on Wensday. It was a lot of fun, but at time's I felt kind of lost and didnt know what to do, i.e. standing around. I was wondering if anyone can give alittle advice or input on what to do and how to act when doing a ride along. I understand I am a guest in their house and I don't want to step on toes. I mainly kept quiet. I am a firefighter and a student at OSU. I just want alittle incite from guys who have done ride alongs or from guys at columbus. I am looking at moving around the city to different stations to get a feel for different companies. What advice can you give me?

[fireman8611]

I have done one ride along with Columbus Fire on Wensday. It was a lot of fun, but at time's I felt kind of lost and didnt know what to do, i.e. standing around. I was wondering if anyone can give alittle advice or input on what to do and how to act when doing a ride along. I understand I am a guest in their house and I don't want to step on toes. I mainly kept quiet. I am a firefighter and a student at OSU. I just want alittle incite from guys who have done ride alongs or from guys at columbus. I am looking at moving around the city to different stations to get a feel for different companies. What advice can you give me?

Marco, I've done a couple of ride alongs on Engine 28 in St.Louis. The first time was a litle awkward at first, but I asked questions and just paid attention. The second time was alot more fun. I went to the same staion w/same shift. I was treated as one of them. They knew what I knew and trusted me. They let me do CPR, package patients, and do salvage/overhaul with them. I am asst. Chief of a small VFD and training officer on a small paid department in southern IN. and one of the FF from E-28 brought his cadets(32 of them) to southern IN to ride with us and a couple other local departments in the area. They got to see what it is like to fight a house fire with 6 FF and not the typical 30 St. Louis would bring. Keep up the interest, ask Questions, and don't say "This is how we do it". FF's hate that.

[Marco09]

thanks for the info. It helps alot. Any other tips that you can think of!?

[ATFDFF]

i just know from when i have had ride alongs at my house, no matter what rank you are, you WILL be treated worse than a probie, and do what they ask, and dont act like a know it all