Firefighters are Brothers

829 Words2 Pages

Firefighters are more than friends. You can't fight fires with friends. To fight fires you need a brotherhood. The men and women of the fire service across the globe consider each other family, this is one of the grand traditions of the fire department. Firefighters are constantly looking out for one another, thinking about the things they do and how it may affect the other’s lives and safety. Life safety is of the highest priority in the business of fire rescue. To achieve a safety standard there are many tasks that fire personnel are expected to carry out, for both a personal and a team related purpose. One of these tasks is the daily inspection of the fire apparatus upon arrival to the fire station. This task is with most certainty the most essential process that fire personnel are responsible for in order to get through the shift safely and efficiently. Preparation for the shift often begins while one is walking into the station, because the thorough inspection of the fire apparatus is primary for a dependable engineer. During a walk-around inspection one should be examining the fire apparatus for any defects or flaws that were not present the shift before. Engineers take pride in the fire apparatus and wear them as badges of honor. On approach to the truck note if there are fluid leaks of any kind: engine oil, transmission fluid, radiator fluid, and water. Good engineers treat the fire apparatus as if it were their own child; if anything is wrong with the fire apparatus it is time to go to the doctor or in this case the mechanic. The windshield of the vehicle must be clear and free of cracks or blemishes, for this is the vista of our response to emergencies. The doors to all compartments should all open and close pro... ... middle of paper ... ...ine that equates to certain life or certain death for firefighters and possible victims inside of the fire, meaning that there is no room for complacency. To some, proper maintenance of a vehicle is mundane, but in the fire service it is the pinnacle of consequence if left abandoned. All tasks are performed to foster confidence that the trucks crew will be able to perform their job with the utmost of safety. A unified effort in the proper inspection and upkeep of all fire apparatus allows for the knowledge that all fire personnel will be safe in the case of an emergency. A high standard of excellence encourages confidence in trustworthy driver engineers. As driver engineers make every effort to ensure the safety of the family of fire fighters inside the fire apparatus and the patrons that they have sworn to serve, this is the testament to true selflessness.

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