May14
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Views from the Jumpseat
Bunker up, Buckle in, it's where we all begin!
Foxfury
Hook up the hose
Apr30
After last week in Indianapolis has ended and my head has quit spinning one thing keeps coming to mind: the faces of the fire service. There is no doubt that FDIC is an amazing place full of excited firefighters who have traveled from around the globe to learn, laugh, and share with thirty thousand “like minded” people who want to better themselves. Tall, short, big, and small walking through the convention center the different types of people amazed this jumpseat riding firefighter. As they kept walking and talking I could not help but think, wonder if they can do the job or not. There really are only two types of firefighters: those who can and those who cannot! It’s just that simple! Lets look at a few types of firefighters we all have.
Hobbyists:
Let’s face it, there are many firefighters who are drawn into the service because of the brotherhood, belong to a social group, or collect a paycheck. These folks are the ones who have an opinion on everything from what sized line to use to choosing the company logo. Hobbyists hang back in training or choose to make more excuses why they “Can’t” perform a skill. These same folks are the ones who proudly display their fire department swag as they walk around the community.
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Apr29
As the finishing equipment is placed on the big red twin trucks and let out of the garage, free to begin their journey of service to the community, this is the last time that they will be just like twins. You see one engine is destined to serve a older more deprived neighborhood that see’s fires on a weekly basis while his brother is heading toward a up and coming neighborhood with upscale homes that may see a fire once every 6 months. While both engines were forged from the same steel at the same time the conditions that they face could not be more different. One must be a finely tuned firefighting machine that will be tested more often than not the other, well wait a minute, it has to be a finely tuned firefighting machine as well. How can the engine that will be assigned to the slower fire area keep up with the real world experience of the battle hardened warrior? Can these twins that began their journeys be equally ready for their next challenge? If they stay the same, how will they be different? Let’s use the story of “The Tale of the Two Engines” to drive home the point on how sometimes you DON’T have the option of lot’s of real world experience sometimes but are required to perform the same tasks.
Slow Engine
I thought of this analogy on a shift riding on the twin to my home engine. Often times in my department we get moved from our home station’s to rotate ambulance coverage and this time I just so happened to be riding in the twin that is in the slower fire district. It was amazing to me the similarities and the HUGE differences in the twins. They are both 8 plus years into their service careers and could not look more different. Fewer bumps are bruises can be seen on the slower engine, the hand tools look brand new, air packs look like they could be placed back in the plastic to be sold as new, and the hose is perfectly aligned in the hose bed. But these conditions are not a sign of what’s to come. At any moment the bell could ring out to the tune of “Structure Fire” and off to work it goes.
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Apr23
The views from the jumpseat would like to announce a contest with our Fox Fury Family at FDIC 2013. Fox Fury will be having a contest to see who can set up their Nomad portable scene light the quickest. This was a popular contest at last years FDIC conference and a exciting way to see firefighters in a friendly competition.
Ways to Enter.
Do I need to be present at FDIC 2013?
Note that you’ll need to be attending FDIC to be able to get to the FoxFury booth to compete in the contest.
How many finalists will there be and how will the winner be determined?
In all, 10 people will be chosen to compete in the Nomad competition, which we’re calling our #nomadcontest. The person that deploys and stows the Nomad fastest will win the Nomad Prime.
So…how do you register to enter the #nomadcontest and how will the 10 people (spots in the contest) be chosen?
The short answer is you can enter via Twitter and enter at the FoxFury booth during the show. The more places you enter, the better your odds of being one of the 10 finalists.
Ways to enter via Twitter:
- Follow @jumpseatviews on Twitter and watch for instructions next week. This is Ryan Pennington’s twitter page for his popular Views from the Jumpseat blog. He’s one of our special guests at the show. He’ll be giving directions on how to enter the contest next week. These are his TWO spots to give away so he gets to make up the rules.
- Follow @chasing4life on Twitter and watch for instructions next week. Eddy Weiss ofChasing4Life will be another one of our special guests at the show. Eddy will provide instructions next week and will give away ONEspot. This is his spot to give away so he gets to make the rules.
- Follow @foxfuryled on Twitter and watch for instructions next week. This is our Twitter page and we’ll be giving out TWO spots for the contest. We’ll figure out the specifics next week but stay tuned to our Twitter page for details.
How to enter while at the FoxFury booth:
- Visit the FoxFury booth #5457, fill out an entry form and drop it in the contest box. Entries will be accepted all day on Thursday, April 25th and until noon EDT on Friday, April 26th. We will draw FIVE names at 12:15 pm EDT. If your name is selected, we’ll text you to tell you and you’ll have 30 minutes to contact us back confirming that you’ll be there in time for the contest.
When / where is the #nomadcontest taking place?
4 pm EDT on Friday, April 26th.
So how will we choose the two #viewsCrew winners? During FDIC 2013 snap a picture of you and your favorite activity, class, or anything else during your visit to indiapolis. Tweet it to @jumpseatviews using the hashtags #nomadcontest. The most creative, fun, and exciting picture will win the jumpseats two entries in to win the nomad contest and also win a prize from FoxFury Lighting Solutions.
Rules:
- You must be at FDIC
- You must be at the Drawings on Friday
- You Must Have FUN while attending FDIC…
- Ryan gets to choose two winners……Sorry, but that’s the rules…
Best of Luck everyone and make sure to stop by booth #5457 and say Hi! I might have a surprise from the Jumpseat for you!
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