Time and time again, I go on general fire alarms and rarely do they amount to anything. Today, as we headed down the road responding to a fire alarm, I was faced with two options: to get ready (don air-pack, full gear, etc.) because this may be the "real thing," or rely on the past experiences and find it to be a false alarm (skip the pack and full gear). It is said that "Success is a struggle; good preparation is the key to winning that struggle" (Anonymous). In order to be a successful firefighter, police officer, or EMS provider, we must be prepared. As most of you well know, we can never be prepared for everything; however, as I was faced with the two options this morning I chose to "get ready." While this may look foolish to some, by "getting ready," I am preparing myself for success. Imagine the look on others' faces when "the real thing" happens and they failed to prepare. While they are spending time preparing, I'll be spending time putting the fire out!
What ever we do in life, can always be enhanced and sometimes--almost perfected, IF we give enough time for preparation. While others may think I'm crazy for donning full gear (including irons) for a fire alarm, I'm staying ready. The question is are you?
