Back Seat Accountability!

Are you accountable for you riding position? Every day I happen across proud men and women of America serving their community in the role of a Firefighter/Ems Provider. With great websites like firehouse.com you keep up with event’s as they happen or shortly after. The event I noticed as of late is the lack of fitness and Obesity of our brother’s and sister’s. At what point is enough. When are we going to be accountable to ourselves and each other? This topic has became near and dear to me because I was one of the obese firefighters. I am ashamed to admit that a lot of times I used a structure fire to even measure how fit I truly was. On an emergency scene is not the time or place to measure fitness, or lack thereof!

Now this is my disclaimer: Who am I and what do I know about obesity and fitness. Well, I don’t hold a degree in fitness nor nutrition but I will tell you that what qualifies me to be writing this article is that I have been there done that! First off just like in all my other articles I ride backwards, I don’t give orders, I take them! But does that give me the excuse to not be prepared for my job, NO! At what point do you say, “Enough is Enough” and stop the madness! Whether you’re a Rural volunteer firefighter or a downtown firefighter we all owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to be ready! So, are accountable for you position? Are you ready for the BIG ONE? Are you fit to fight? Are you like I was another excuse away from a stroke? Follow along today as I share some personal experience with my struggles to be Back Seat Accountable.

Back to Blogging

Good morning everyone,

I would like to say thanks for tuning in to the once active, now reactive, views from the jumpseat! It has been a long time since I have blogged and I apologize for the time. I have had a very busy summer and fall. A decision had to be made about my health, so I decided to live and started a healthy eating plan and a vigorous exercise program that has paid off like crazy! 46lbs of unhealthy have gone and now it's on to bigger and better things!

Back to the fire side of things, it has been a slow summer and spring. A couple small fires here and there and one huge fire that went on for hours but I was on may way to work, so I could only help for a few minutes. I joined the local volunteer fire station and haven't been as active as I would like to but plan to get active more next year. Volunteering what little time I have left after Kids, Jobs, and house is hard. Volunteer fire and ems providers should be given all the support of their community. They provide a valuable service and a cost to their families and friends. Time is something that you can never give back!

In closing I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas.....

Please check back as I will be blogging weekly to discuss subjects from the Jumpseat!!

Welcome back!

Dear Views Readers,

I apologize for the long lay off from viewsfromthejumpseat. It has been since April and I have had some technical issues that seem to be resolved and View's is officially back up and running. First I would like to catch everyone up with the happenings. I was recently selected to become a contributing editor by firehouse.com. I would like to think Pete Mathews for using my work and choosing me to contribute my work to the fire service. I appreciate everyone support in reading and listening to my work and I will hope to keep up with views from the jumpseat discussing some of today's issue's and topics. Keep you eyes open in the July issue of Firehouse magazine for a article on attitudes. Once again, thanks to all the readers of Views from the Jumpseat. Everyone have a great summer and check back soon for more views.

Thanks
Ryan

Views is down for repairs....

Hello everyone in the fire service world.....Views from the jumpseat is going to be down for a few more days....The author had a major computer, well let's just say IT DONE BLOWED UP!.. Views will be up and running soon.......


Everyone keep the West Virginia Miners and Mine rescue teams in their prayers. 25 hero's lost....... and 4 still missing! Hoping for a miracle!!

Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Ryan

How will you be remembered?

I am sitting in the station waiting for the next alarm to ring out, surfing the internet looking at the latest information on the fire service. In my surfing I come across a touching video honoring the fallen firefighters nationwide. This touching video was narrated by a young girl that moved me to tears. My first thought went to why am I sitting here in a chair and not doing something to prepare for the next alarm. We all have downtime in our tour whether they are 24's, 14's, or 10's. So maybe I shouldn't feel so bad. But if you were to not make it home to your family how will you be remembered? Would you be remembered as a student of the job or a pay check Fireman? We all have different personalities and priorities but should one of those priorities be OUR JOB? It's simple each year we have approximately 100 or so line of duty death's, and a high percentage of them are cardiac or stress related! So why is it that many of our priorities revolve around the firehouse meal and a recliner? Now a lot of us are not quite as bad as the other's but I will bet you that there are still many of us unwilling or unable to make strides toward preventing LOD Deaths. How will you be remembered if today was your last shift?

Welcome to a New Life!

My mind is racing as I sit at my computer reviewing material for a upcoming Emergency Medical Technician class that I will begin in two days to a fresh group of new firefighters. Teaching a new generation of EMS providers is a huge responsibility and a great opportunity to make a difference in the lives of many future patients’. The power points, notes, and handouts are mounting but my mind keeps going back to my very first night of EMT class. I remember walking in a wet nosed newbie that didn’t have a clue of the new world that I was being introduced to. What’s a backboard used for and what the heck is a combi-tube? Once it began I felt like a duck that had just found a huge new pond to swim in! But as I prepare to indoctrinate the newest group of Ems Providers I try to remember some words of wisdom that were first given to me. With the knowledge and life saving skills that I hope to pass along I would also like to pass along some wisdom from a fifteen year career riding backwards down the highways. In this article I am going to take the role of a mentor, teacher, and a guidance counselor to the next generation and welcome them into a whole new life, a life of Emergency Medical Service. While teaching I will try to give them the wisdom to protect themselves and to provide superior medical treatment for years to come.

Goodbye 2009!

 

Looking back at the year that has past I have a lot of things to be thankful for and proud of. This year in my fire life I accomplished many new and exciting goals. Well Sort of? You see writing articles and blogs never was even on my radar until I met up with an old friend from years past. Chief Richard Gasaway and I met up last year in Charleston and again in Baltimore for a training opportunity and better yet chance's to discuss our chosen careers. He was setting out on a national speaking career as I was getting settled into my new department. His wisdom made me begin to refer back to some of my experiences and taking his advice, Bam I started writing! I must say that I have enjoyed writing this blog and was captivated by the number of people who read my article of firehouse.com

With that being said 2009 also brought challenges and opportunities until the end. Each challenge was met HEAD ON with the strength and the support of my gracious family. I do realize that without your families love and support that you will never be able to reach your potential. In today's world of divorce and deception it is truly the love of friends and family that pushes us to succeed and meet our challenge's HEAD ON! I would encourage all of us to take some extra time off and reward the one's that helps us fight our battles and is always on our team! THE HOME TEAM!

 

Be safe everyone….and Thanks Rich for introducing me to the written word!