I have not one but two......

Recently, quite, actually.

I attended a QFF course at the NTC.
In English, Qualified Fire Fighter, at the National Training Centre.

To improve my fire fighting skills and knowledge, Great course.
While there, I got invovled in a debate with a trainer,

went like this....

Trainer- Why are you taking so long?!
Builder- Im working through the steps so I dont fuck anything up.
Trainer- But your a FF (Fire Fighter) you should know it!
Builder- I do, I just need to recall everything so I dont fuck this up.
Trainer- Just do it!
Builder- I will, and I am, and I did.
Went on for a bit, after at lunch, I talked to him

It was very frustrating, you see, I have two Jobs, unlike you.
I am a Builder.
And, I am a Volunteer Fire fighter.

I don't live and breathe Firefighting.
I don't stay at the Fire station ready to go
I don't work with other fire fighters, so I dont talk about jobs, practices etc
I don't have the mindset of a permanent FF

I do have another job
I do have to switch on when my pager goes
I do have to get to the Fire station
I do have to deal with the same issues as you


I explained to him.
When your siren goes off, your at the station, In the truck. And its go go go.

When I'm working and the siren goes off, I have to switch from " how do I fit that 75X25 into that frame"
To, "I'm going to a house fire, Level 2's, BA, entry techniques, Safety, Shit all my tools are lying all over the site hope they are there when I get back, No1 posistion or No2. Low pressure, HPD's?
Water to the truck, Feeders the list goes on and on.

SO, I do the same job as you, I just need to change my thinking, when all you do is think it.

Oh, and one more thing, I don't get paid to risk my life as you do.

Builder.