I am confused. I thought I was supposed to take the time to wear seat belts, turnout gear, SCBA, latex gloves, and other protective equipment when responding to fire and EMS calls. Now I read the Editor`s Opinion and find out I`m a mouse. The way it should be done is to get in the rig as fast as you can, drive as fast as you can to the scene, jump off the rig, and run into the house. Taking time to put on that wimpy gear just wastes time we could be using to save the victims.
If we make the rescue, great. But what happens to us if we get hurt or killed? Is it just part of the job? Doesn`t a fireground injury or death complicate matters and take our attention away from the original victims?… We take risks every time we respond. We accept those risks and try to eliminate them as much as possible. Let`s not make light of this fact by editorials that put down safety.
What Firefighter Dan Santos did was a brave thing. How would the editorial have read if he had not survived the fall?
Kurt Weyers
Lieutenant/Paramedic
De Pere (WI) Fire-Rescue Department
