In social situations, when we reply to the question, "What do you do?" with "I'm a firefighter," the follow-up questions are usually, "What the biggest fire you ever put out?" or "What's the most important thing you ever did?"
We've all been there, and our shoot-from-the-hip reply usually deals with a major rescue we participated in or a large fire we worked. However, there's a much more important task we probably carry out daily—or that we should carry out each day—and that is to teach every day! From the newest probie in the department all the way up to the chief, each of us should teach someone something, every day.“What should I teach?” and “What do I know that I could teach?” are probably questions you are asking yourself at this moment. Don’t forget that if you are now working as almost any kind of first responder, but specifically a firefighter, you did not reach your current position without learning many, many things. You have garnered a great amount of information over your lifetime, regardless of your age. From that knowledge base, you have certain information that you realize that others do not have. When you realize that, we call that a “teachable moment.”
Sharing vs. teaching
It is important for each of us to remember that there is difference between sharing a thought or idea and teaching a method, a process or a concept. Think back to high school, college, trade school or the fire academy. Did teachers just sit on the corner of the desk and share random thoughts and ideas, or did they arrive prepared to teach the facts and concepts of psychology, sociology, water’s expansion rate when heated, calculating flow rates or tying knots?
To teach, we must have that desire to share and impart knowledge that we have to someone who doesn’t have it. For example, look at the current world of social media. While there are millions of scraps of information shared every moment, we as first responders tend to gravitate and follow other first responders. It’s true that there are plenty of first responders who simply share someone else’s scraps, but a great deal of the information is educational in nature.
We see ideas for new methodologies, new systems, new techniques and alternative means to complete a certain task. Sometimes we agree, sometimes we disagree. Then there are times when we offer an augmented method to the original idea that has worked for us, and now we have just shared (or taught) that augmented manner to a whole group of like-minded individuals. Anyone can do this and probably already have. We just haven’t identified it as a teachable moment.
Teaching the public
Now, let’s expand our view of who we can include in our definition of “students.” Besides our peers (no matter the rank) and our families, who else do we often have contact with on an almost daily basis? The public. It is here where these teachable moments are invaluable, because one simple lesson we provide to a civilian might save a life.
At this point, I must admit that I have been an educator for the past 50 years, and I try to find a teachable moment in almost every interaction I have with another person. Additionally, I have been blessed to have a very full life, working in numerous fields, some that have taught me lessons that I continue to share today.
We annually observe Fire Prevention Week, and there is usually a theme that has been attached to it. If you have read my other articles, you know I don’t believe in Fire Prevention Week being only a single week, nor do I believe that Fire Prevention Month should just be in October. As firefighters (again, no matter the rank), we have a duty and obligation to teach fire prevention and fire safety at every single opportunity. Our interactions with the public, whether it’s a firehouse visit or our visit to the local supermarket, are golden opportunities to teach. And it is my belief that we’re derelict in out duties if we don’t take advantage of those opportunities.
That’s a pretty damning charge, isn’t it? But if we see a parent and child while shopping, what does it cost us (as long as we’re not toned out) to walk over and say hello? Do we carry fire prevention brochures or stickers to hand out? Do you realize the impression our actions could make on both the children and the parents? We could certainly take a couple of minutes to teach them “Look, Listen, Learn,” “Stop, Drop and Roll” or other fire safety concepts we’ve learned over the years.
Teaching can happen anywhere
Many firefighters and paramedics who are my age (close to retiring, if they haven’t already) went into these fields for one reason: the old TV show Emergency! The program was based on Los Angeles County’s burgeoning new paramedic system that was made part of the fire department. LA County was flooded with applications after just the first season. Talk about public relations.
And what about the positive PR we create when, instead of just hurrying through our errands (since we’re wearing either our day uniforms or part of our turnout gear), we smile and nod to the civilians we see in the aisles?
On social media, many of us have addressed the very strong and positive message we send to civic leaders when we invite them to attend a Firefighting 101 seminar at the firehouse. For some of us, that effort has paid off in a number of ways as we use it to teach them a fraction of the complexities of our jobs. In turn, this can lead to a better understanding of our need for equipment, staffing and other things. We can use the Firefighting 101 class to teach our community leaders to “Look, Listen, Learn.”
I remember one northeast community that was having a difficult time convincing the city council to pay for the repair of, what I believe, was the fire department’s only aerial apparatus. Promises were continually made and broken. It was posted on social media, and there was quite a bit of support from other firefighters, but that didn’t have any bearing on the situation. I suggested to them to take it to the people, and let the public know that the only aerial was in the shop, and the city council was dragging its feet on its repair. I told them to make a point that the people who live in the community’s five-story apartment buildings were aware of the situation.
Whether they followed my advice or came to it on their own, I don’t know. They scheduled public forums around the city, and let people know the good things about the fire department, as well as the more difficult situations. That’s what citizens needed to hear, and they got the job done. And it happened, one way or another, through a teachable moment.
Teachable moments aren’t pearls
Too often, we are so wrapped up in what we do that we forget the simple things we can do. Don’t compare teachable moments to pearls of wisdom, though, because:
- Pearls are relatively rare; and
- There’s a big difference between common sense and wisdom.
Teachable moments are simple as long as we open our minds and set them as a priority as part of our interactions with others. Whether you teach knots to a new firefighter in your department or you actively promote fire safety in your interactions with the public, teaching can be more powerful than any stream from a smooth bore nozzle or the strike from any axe. While not pearls, they are indeed worth their weight in gold.
Steven Greene
Steve Greene is a former volunteer firefighter/EMT, serving in Guilford County, NC, and Onondaga County, NY. He also served as the executive director of several large non-profit organizations and specialized in training volunteers for leadership and board positions. Greene is the president and executive producer of Dalmatian Productions, Inc., and the creator and host of the podcast, 5-Alarm Task Force: News & Issues for Today’s First Responders. He may be reached at [email protected].
