Yes! Yes! Yes! To paraphrase, “Thank God for editors like Bill Manning!”
William J. Gantner
Franklinville, New Jersey
We have become so obsessed with political correctness (PC) and PC-risk analysis that we fail to realize that in the fire service our primary responsibility is to save lives. That responsibility may mean risking our own lives. There is a difference between “ordering” people to jump from a bridge and the guts of someone who just realizes that it is the only viable course of action within the time that may mean saving a life. Thorough incident command analysis and prudent action may mean only recovering a body.
There is a difference between the nonswimmer jumping and a swimmer jumping. There would be a major difference between jumping in summer and jumping into an ice-clogged river in January in the dark. One is foolish; the other a risk.
The leader blends knowledge with experience. We have a proliferation of people who have taken course after course and have never led anyone into the dynamic, changing environment of a life-threatening situation. The management of today is analysis, analysis. Analyze until the events decide their own course and then no decision by management (that could be criticized) is needed.
Risk analysis is just that: If the chance of success is greater than the chance of failure and the reward is great enough, you must go for it. That is why firefighters do rescues and will continue to attempt them, even though some have paid the ultimate price. That is why Dan went.
If we truly analyze a fire situation, the PC sane and rational could decide to never do anything. We could justify not rolling the apparatus because of the possibility of an accident on the way to the scene. We must analyze success and failure to learn, not fix blame. We must never use it as an excuse to do nothing.
For example, has anyone analyzed the cost to our citizens due to our paranoia with the PC analysis of every haz mat? We close a major highway for hours due to an accident that involves a diesel fuel spill. Look at the statistics on accidents because of stress (traffic backups), driving on unfamiliar roads (alternate roads), and suddenly changed traffic patterns (residential streets that become alternate routes) and then explain the risk/cost justification.
Keep challenging the politically correct; our citizens may die because of it.
