Doesn’t it seem like we’re constantly bombarded with class after class, requirement after requirement, and new topic after new topic to learn about from all angles? Let’s face it, that’s simply the reality of our dynamic world. It can be exhausting, but it is essential to our growth. After all, if the world wasn’t so dynamic, we might still be stuck in a world of bucket brigades and horse-drawn hose wagons. Thank goodness for innovation and growth!
While a few narcissists may disagree, it is simply not possible to know everything. Think about it: If there was even one person who did in fact know it all, then we wouldn’t still be fretting over how to effectively extinguish electric vehicle (EV) fires, and we certainly wouldn’t have disagreements on the installation of residential sprinklers. The problems would have been solved already.
Lifelong learning comes in many forms
When I was an active fire chief, people used to routinely ask me, “Chief, what is it that keeps you up at night?” My early response to that question was literal, albeit humorous: “the pager” (yes, this was pre-smartphone). Like every single one of us, I had a lot of room for growth. As I developed and learned more about the fire service, my answer to the “what keeps you up” question evolved. Today, there are two answers to the question:
- “Not knowing what we don’t know.”
- “Making sure we get everyone home.”
Let’s focus today on #1. The way to combat “not knowing what we don’t know” is to constantly study, attend classes and to LEARN whenever and wherever possible. Lifelong learning comes in many forms. There are countless opportunities out there to extend your learning – some free, some not; some limited to paid-only or volunteer only, most not; some that result in a certificate or other educational achievement, most that do not; some that require in-person learning, some that are online only. Here’s a short list of options:
- U.S. Fire Administration online courses
- U.S. Fire Administration resident courses
- National Fallen Firefighters Foundation training
- National Volunteer Fire Council education
- International Association of Firefighters online learning center
- International Association of Fire Chiefs online learning
- Emergency Responder Safety Institute training programs
- NFPA online training
- UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute Fire Safety Academy
- FireRescue1 Academy
Of course, there are many more opportunities out there. It is up to you to ensure that your local and/or state training requirements are met within the parameters set by your authority having jurisdiction.
Finding those opportunities is easy – all you have to do is look! Meeting the minimum requirements for taking advantage of these opportunities is on you. You’ll never meet minimum requirements if you’re not continually learning and growing.
Again, remember that education doesn’t have to fit a specific model:
- Education isn’t all about a degree. While attaining a degree is a significant accomplishment and a logical step in learning, it’s not the only path.
- Education doesn’t have to be expensive. A significant amount of money isn’t necessary to achieve your goals. Yes, some will cost money, some will be free. What do you want and need to learn? Start there.
- Education is not restricted by location: The list above should hammer home this point. Beyond that, remember that learning can occur during your daily training at the station, through observation and engagement at emergency scenes, and even by reviewing safety investigation reports and NIOSH investigations.
The opportunities are all around us! Yes, it will take time to sign up or apply, and once you’ve been accepted for a class or program, successfully completing the class takes commitment. That’s good – it solidifies your likelihood to absorb the information. Make that commitment and extend your growth.
The final step, of course, is the application of your knowledge. There’s a lot to be said for degrees and certifications, but let’s face it, those are simply pieces of paper or links in your email until you put the knowledge into action. Just knowing something because you attended class doesn’t mean you learned it. Shelves in our fire departments are littered with reports we label as “lessons learned.” Where nothing has changed, those “lessons learned” are simply “problems identified” and, really, just dust collectors on a shelf.
What I learned today
Use the links above (a nearly endless stream of training and growth opportunities – many of them free!), read FireRescue1 news and exclusives, and observe incident scenes like a sponge of information in order to learn something every day. While a lot of industry energy is focused on EVs right now, learning cannot be singularly focused on any given day – spread your wings!
On that note, here’s one thing I learned today, or at least something that was validated for me. A recent report by the National Institute of Health considered the effect of exercise on depression. This is keenly important for us in the emergency service world because of the extreme stressors we face every day. The study concluded that exercise IS an effective treatment for depression. While I recognize that treating depression is a complex topic, exercise can be one of the ways we stack the cards in our favor, as they say, setting us up for greater success in this area.
It doesn’t matter who you are, how many classes you’ve attended, how many classes you’ve taught, or what your rank is. We ALL have lots of room for growth.
So, what keeps me up at night? The fact that I just haven’t learned “that” yet – whatever “that” is. What keeps YOU up at night? Whatever it is, you will never know what you don’t know until you take steps to learn and grow.
