Don’t Let Them Get Away... Without Learning Something First
By Dustin Poist
It happens at some point, either by choice or by natural progression. Some choose retirement, some are forced to walk away, some find other things to do, or shift their priorities to other goals left undone. Some unfortunately leave with out saying goodbye, or ride off into the sun set unexpectedly.
However it occurs, whatever the circumstances, the Fire Service is loosing a whole generation of members in mass exodus. No offense to anyone, but the generation that we are loosing may have seen some of the best and worst days in the history of the profession. Most have lived and served through the late 60’s with integrating EMS and early 70’s during America Burning when the United States, so entrenched in a fire problem, conducted a landmark study and released a book on society’s needs to change the approach of fire prevention to proactive rather than reactive. There were the hazardous materials response and technical rescue movements of the 80’s and 90’s, the terrorism and biological warfare response of this decade.
They’ve seen vast changes to building construction and fire loading which has affected the dynamic of the environment that we go in to battle. They know our service areas, have seen buildings go up, torn down, renovated, changed from a pillow factory into apartments. They know where to get water, who will get mad if you pump from their pond, and what you need to know to defuse the situation. They know that “back in 1970 something, we tried this and it didn’t work”, “had a house fire where __________(take your pick on a new invention) would have made all the difference in the world”, and “wished that we would have known_________ on that call that would have saved those folks”.
In a time where we preach, “getting back to the basics” and leadership training, suddenly we look up and our “big brothers” in the service are slowly easing out the door. Some may not be inclined to tell you “how they did it”, others may remind you every time you see them but regardless, take notice that resource might not be around for much longer, get as much as you can, while you can.
Dustin Poist will host the round table discussion entitled Don’t Let Them Get Away: Breakfast With the Chief at the third annual Adams County Training Conference at the Gettysburg Fire Department on Saturday October 30, 2010
Click here for more information on this year's conference and to get registered!