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Have you ever met someone who loved going to work every day? I have, and I count it as a rare gift. I share that gift with all those who have the good fortune to be in the fire service.
A primary contributor to that good fortune is enthusiasm, defined by Webster as, “great excitement for, or interest in, a subject or cause.” For the members of the Sierra Vista Fire Department, that cause is the daily opportunity to contribute to the safety and well being of our community. The satisfaction or contribution to that cause sustains us through those times when we must miss Christmas morning at home, or not be there on our child’s birthday.
The reasons we are so enthusiastic are found in what we do every day. It is nearly impossible to be indifferent while rushing to a family’s home on what may be the worst day of their life. How could we not show interest, be friendly, give a smile, or a reassuring pat on the shoulder to a person with a medical emergency, or is watching the family go up in flames. We show up and people know we are there to help. They know we are professionals. They know we will do whatever it takes to help. Look me in the eye and tell me that would not get you fired up.
Don’t get me wrong. We are not all perfect beings, walking around every day with a perpetual smile on our faces. We have occasional bad days just like everyone else.
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Out of necessity, that enthusiasm we feel when responding to emergency calls needs to be maintained during a 24-hour shift when our adrenaline is not pumping. When we spend 24 hours in close quarters with our co-workers, we see the warts. At these times our enthusiasm springs from, and is nourished by, our confidence in one another’s competence and character. The bad days do come, but our fire service culture makes them rare occurrences. That culture also allows us to, in effect, have a second family. That second family will do whatever it takes to complete our mission, while supporting and maintaining our enthusiasm.
Our ongoing training not only contributes to this enthusiasm, it demands it. Lacking a positive attitude and desire to perfect our professional knowledge would put the public and us at risk. Risk is always present in our line of work. Not measuring up to that risk could mean death. Having that enthusiastic attitude toward training makes it worth the countless hours we spend honing our skills by pulling hose, raising ladders, driving emergency vehicles, practicing extrication, or refreshing our knowledge of advanced emergency medicine. We know that without our training the outcome of many emergency situations may be less than desired.
Finally, although we are primarily an emergency service, not everything we do calls for flashing lights and wailing sirens. One project we especially value comes each year at Christmas. We gather food and toys and deliver them to those in our community who otherwise would go without. This emotional boost is often a welcome respite from the daily horrors that we see.
The entire Sierra Vista community has embraced this program and shares with us the feelings of joy and the enthusiasm from the recipients on delivery day. We get to see the smile it brings to the mom who works two jobs just to pay her bills, and to her 6-year-old son who waits impatiently by the window for the fire truck to pull up, knowing this year Christmas is going to be special. Have you ever received a hug so tight it hurts, but you never want to let go because this person is really happy and thankful for what you have just done? We have. And if that does not fire you up, you should see a professional.
No matter what your profession, enthusiasm enables you to make positive impacts on your customers and become successful. In the fire service, we live that attitude. We hope you do, too.
Be enthusiastic and remember this: It takes 43 muscles to frown and only 17 muscles to smile.
Go ahead and be lazy — smile.
BRIAN JONES is a captain/paramedic with the Sierra Vista Fire Department. He has been a member of the department since 1998. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in executive leadership. He can be reached by e-mail at bjones@ci.sierra-vista.az.us. Contact Sierra Vista Fire Chief Randy Redmond at rredmond@ci.sierra-vista.az.us. Look for Tools of the Trade the third Wednesday of the month in the Herald/Review.
