What an exciting month April was for the Association! It began with our representation at the Vision 2020 conference in Washington D.C., our "Of the Year Award" recipients  were recognized in the Capitol, we received a grant for a juvenile firesetter database, a new vehicle from the Southern Manatee Fire District and passed firesafe cigarette legislation through both chambers of the Legislature and it awaits the Governor's signature as of this writing.

Speaking of Legislation, the general feel in Tallahassee this year was to not hear any bills that had any fiscal impact. This turned out to be both good and bad as many good bills died, but so did some that were not what we felt was in the best interest of the fire service. One of particular interest is the re-write of FS 633. There were some long overdue cleansing matters introduced, but the bill died a painful death for the State Fire Marshals Office. We continue to monitor interests that include marking structures containing light-weight truss construction and impacts on revenue for emergency responders. Stay tuned.

While in Washington I was approached by representatives of the IRC who are looking for votes on the residential fire sprinkler language to be introduced in Minneapolis, Minnesota in September. You will hear much more about this in the coming months and we are looking into possibilities for funding members travel for this event.

Numerous educational offerings are in our immediate future and you can view the full schedule on our website.

Finally, it seems our membership continues to grow and that is a direct reflection on the services available. Please continue to send us your suggestions. This is a member driven association and we are here to serve your needs.

Until next month.

Sincerely yours in a fire safe State of Florida

Jon W. Pasqualone, President

FFMIA

 

Fire Chief, Ron Parrish Urges Residents Check Their Smoke Alarms

 The St. Lucie County Fire District (SLCFD), with a contribution from Lowe's Home Improvement, recently installed 141 smoke alarms in the Tropical Isles Community in Port St. Lucie. 

Lowe's contributed the smoke alarms, along with two drills.  Firefighters from Station #6, Explorers, Fire District Public Education staff, and Building staff installed the smoke alarms over fivedays during a two week period. 

"We urge everyone to check their smoke alarms," said Fire Chief Ron Parrish.  "During installation we checked, and 13 residents had electric smoke alarms that did not work even though the green lights were on." 

Tropical Isles is a community of homes just east of U.S. 1 and south of Midway Road in Port St. Lucie. 

"We would like to thank Lowe's for their continued support of citizen safety in providing the smoke alarms.  They will save lives," states Chief Parrish, "and for those that assisted in the installations - a job well done."   

"Johnny", said the father, "did you hear me?"  Did Johnny hear what?  Earlier in the day, Johnny's father had given the boy explicit directions about chores he was to do around the house that Saturday.  Upon returning home, Johnny's father found that the boy had made some effort, but the results certainly were not what the father expected and yet to father's question Johnny answered, "Yes, Daddy, I did."

Is there any amongst our ranks that have not had experiences like that, both in our personal lives and in the work place?  Doubtful that there are any who haven't, but why is that worth mentioning in this column?  The answer is because all too often people hear, but they don't listen.  What's the difference and how is it meaningful to our members?

To listen is distinctly different than to simply hear.  The word, hear, is a verb meaning to perceive or apprehend some sound by the use of the ear.  To listen however, is indeed different because although it too is a verb, Miriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary tells us that listening means to pay attention to sound or to hear something with thoughtful attention; to give consideration.  So we all know what that means, right?  Maybe not, so let's consider some illustrations. 

To listen means that we've given thoughtful attention and consideration to professional issues like the state fire marshal's office website's brochure regarding adoption of local amendments to the FFPC which clearly states, With the adoption of the Florida Fire Prevention Code, Chapter 69A-60, Florida Administrative Code, local governments were severely restricted in their ability to adopt local amendments and variations. The legislative intent was to adopt a statewide unified Building Code and Fire Prevention Code, and to minimize the number of local variations to them.  Because the legislature saw fit to adopt a unified building and fire prevention code, it provided a means for local governments to vary it, but made the process relatively more difficult than prior to the adoption of the Florida Fire Prevention Code. The State Fire Marshal discourages adoption of local amendments, as does the Florida Fire Prevention Code, unless they are truly needed because of a unique feature of a local area. The wishes of the legislature in this respect should be honored to as great a degree as possible.

Does your agency have a local amendment?  If so, is it one that is" -truly needed because of a unique feature of [your] local area?"  If it is, then you've indeed heard and listened.  If not, consider another illustration.

Perhaps you've had a meeting with a property owner, a developer, a contractor or even as a supervisor with a subordinate to whom you've given directions and the next time you have contact with them to evaluate the accomplishment of those previous directions, you like the father mentioned at the onset of this piece opine at the dismal results, "Didn't you hear me?"  The clear answer is yes, they heard you but they didn't listen.  What's the lesson here?

The lesson is this: The shoe is now on the other foot so to speak.  Across this state fire and life safety officials like those in the illustration previously mentioned, hear but they don't listen and we really don't like that.  Yes, most people do not get the sense of what listening involves.  Do we need ears to listen, or can listening be done in some other way?  Well without argument it can clearly be seen that deaf people can't hear, but they sure can listen; how so?  To listen means in generalities, but especially as officials, that we act in such a way that demonstrates evidence that we have indeed not only heard what's been said, but that we too have listened and understand.

Focusing some of our energies on the impact of our role on our customers is one very important way to start this listening initiative.  When a property owner tells us that a notice to comply is financially punitive or that the 30 days to comply is simply an inadequate period of time, why not listen and then show some deference to their pleas?  Listening can also come from non-verbal input, i.e. listen to the law, listen to the code, but how might we understand that?

Listening to the law simply means showing respect by obedience.  When the law says we can or perhaps more importantly cannot do something, professionalism demands that we simply obey.  It also means that we don't apply the code according to IWI (I want it).  When the statute says the local authority is charged with doing certain inspections, just do them.  When the rule says "this" or "that", well that's what it is then.  Listening means that we obey this principle and do not look for creative ways to circumvent the laws, rules or codes, thus we then in effect are listening, not just hearing.

One official told me years ago, "I don't give a ____ what the law says, this is my way or no way."  This guy heard, but didn't listen.  The accounts are endless and it's not the goal here to identify them on point, but it is the goal to identify the principle that invariably leads to such occasions.  Those occasions are now being felt in the most demonstrable of ways, because life safety managers heard, but didn't listen.  Have a look at statute s.633.081 and see now how our roles in this field have changed since last year's legislative session.  Your actions can now indeed be in harms way and the SFMO can remove you for cause.  Why?  Because as an industry we heard, but didn't listen.

In January's newsletter I mentioned the importance of life safety managers being able to empirically quantify the value or benefits of our divisions.  For well over a year, the "warning shot" was fired over the bow of our life safety vessels in the form of candidate for Governor Charlie Crist's campaign promise regarding tax reform, but to what end?  To the end that apparently in many places life safety educators and inspectors have been laid off by various agencies and that started almost immediately following the election of Governor Crist.  So is he the bad guy?  No, I hardly think so.  No, he's just fulfilling a promise.  Indeed nevertheless, he spoke and while many heard, few listened.

So again we, the life safety industry as ambassadors of government, are faced with a challenge - if you've listened, you know the challenge because you've given attention to the difference between hearing and listening.  In the event that you haven't listened or perhaps are not clear exactly what listening means in this case, let me tell you what it says to me.

If we as life safety managers do not as an industry statewide and in harmony with the intent of the Florida Fire Prevention Code's intent, immediately begin treating our customers as customers, showing deference to them as peers and partners, put away this "gold-badge" syndrome and stop all of the rogue activity that puts our customers in harms way on so many different planes, we will go the way of the former DMV's inspection services, the Edsel and Enron.  There are no winners there; only losers.

Let's join together and be not only hearers but also listeners and have a state where all parties are the benefactors of what only listening can produce.

           A few years ago the economy was starting to decline. Now it seems to have hit everyone at once. As we do our preplanning for a new mall, building, or subdivision, did anyone prepare for this situation?

           In many departments, Public Education is on the chopping block due to "economic reasons". I have heard everyone complaining, but see little effort to maintain Public Education. Instead, I see and hear about the cutbacks. Now is the perfect time to get the marketing caps on and see how it can still be done.  It is during these economic times that more public education needs to be done.  Not less!  Now, more than ever, we need to lower the call volume.  There is no more economic way to do that than through stepping up the pace of public education programs.

          I see Public Education as a commodity (something useful or needed). Everyone needs it, but what are they doing to show how much they want it.? "Freebies"  are still out there if you know where to look and how to get them.

          Educators have to take on a different role now. We must become professional beggars/marketers in uniform. Many departments that did have budgets, have even less now.  Some departments (ha, ha) who have or had Public Safety Educators in their staff, have gone to none or fewer personnel.

          It can still be done, but it's going to be slowed down. Until you have found that new method of getting the job done, you can expect to be frustrated! You will have to get everyone involved, from the participant to the public themselves. When you 'show' people how to save money and  lives, there is more buy-in than just telling' them they are saving money. Techniques may have to change. Believe me, I know from first hand experience. We had no special department for Public Education, we built it from the ground up. Since I have retired, I have heard through the grapevine everything has been cut. No Public Education is taking place other than on shift events. It's a shame that certain individuals and upper echelon let this happen. Public Education can and should still take place.  The public contacts should not be lost or forgotten. You say, How can this still happen? You can do it through marketing in newspapers, magazines, billboards, theaters, professional offices, and many, many, other areas. It doesn't have to cost a great deal, just time while on shift, or minimal costs if that.

      There are Public Education companies out there that will come and visit with you, and set up what you need or want. The cost to you is time spent on shift and everyone is happy.  Programs continue at a little slower rate but they don't die. With all that's going on in budget cuts, educators should be reaping the benefits of keeping the entire department in touch with the public and still preventing incidents. When I said there is an abundance of resources out there, I was not kidding you. You can ask for help from other agencies i.e. V.F.W., Kiwanis, hospital support groups (pink ladies) insurance companies, Red Cross, and share the tasks of keeping the education out there. Never give up, you are the  unsung heroes and behind the scene life savers.

          I created a slogan for myself some twenty years ago and I still maintain it today -"There is no honor in responding to any emergency if it could have been prevented through education". You have heard the sermon, now is the time to make that second commitment in your career.

Each time someone comes up to me and says, "Thank You", it's a very special moment. A life or property was saved, because someone received the education we put out there. If you have never had that feeling, it will come someday. You will be floating on that cloud of happiness as others that have experienced it. I know I have done my best when someone has received that special bit of information from me to help protect them or someone they love during an emergency.

          Keep wearing those thinking caps and keep networking with the people in your department and community. Learn from each other. Get the much needed homeowners associations., business contacts, vendors and whoever else you need together and "GET R DONE!!!" Start up safety coalitions or networking groups and let everyone speak their knowledge to each other. Everyone will hopefully not say it's not my job anymore. Be proud as the Public Safety Educator. We didn't take this job just to get awards or recognition.  We took these jobs for what we can do for our respective communities and for the intrinsic value that provides.