FireLink

Is it just me, or lately when you log on and see the stories on the home page, do you not just want to cry??? It's not the editors fault or anything, like their trying to bother us, their just reporting the news......but it is very sad. So many fallen brothers and sisters and innocent by-standers......

Rest In Peace, you are all in our thoughts and prayers.......

We have had a lot of fallen brothers and sisters this year. The sad part is some could have been prevented. Others well you can't control the actions of others. We need to remember that we are not invinsible and that we need to take a second look at: how we drive ambulances, apparatus, and our own cars on the way to scenes, to the hospital and to and from the stations. We need to rethink trainings and have everything in place for the what ifs instead of this is how we always did it.  We need to think again before sending a FF into a burning building. Whats in the building IE: human, animal or inanimate objects. Risk benefit factor.

There will always be deaths like the FF who save his son and drowned instead but, if you ask him he would not have had it any other way if he means his son will live. Others who die trying to save someone else will tell you it's worth it. I know I would!

I could go on on about child abuse and the stupid parents and other adults who commint such crimes. This is truly preventable if others would step in or the courts would listen and not put these kids back into the hands of their abusers. If complaints that are filed are looked into a little deeper for alot of people instead of blowing it off cause "I checked on the child and they looked happy while I was there". Children are resilient and will at times act as if nothing is going on and laugh and play and try to go on with life til the next time they are beaten. This I know from experience. You try to forget and alot of it you do while you are playing. But that doesn't mean the abuse is not happening.

Freak accidents, weather related accidents, really not alot you can do about these.

So I say to all my brothers and sisters on this site and those I have yet to meet. Think through things a little longer, use good judgement, have fun but most importantly stay safe.

My County had lost Four in the past year. (3 FF,1Deputy) It is something we face every day.Some from your area.Some from mine.

I feel that we our being more careful.It's the other guy(civilians)thats not paying attention. Yes, in the heat of the moment we can do stupid things.But we are more safety minded then ever before. We just have to pay more attention to the other guy.

Also,check out the group CISM.   Stay safe out there.