FDNY Probie Commandments

[markrojek]

Delete Post Please

[FFFRED]

Can anyone get me a copy of the FDNY's 10 Commandments for Probies? I have heard they are posted on the walls of the firehouses.


Honestly...never heard of them and never seen them in my Battalion.

FTM-PTB

[markrojek]

I was reading an article in either Firehouse Mag or Fire Engineering or something of the like mentioning them. It stated that one was a probie was to be the first one up in the AM and last one to bed no matter what. I'll have to find the article. Thanks anyway!

[firefiftyfive]

Well those two examples may be true..... in my house anyways, but I have never heard of them refferred to as the commandments nor have I known them to be any type of official rules that get posted in the firehouse!!!

[NDeMarse]

I agree with firefiftyfive.

I have never heard of a set of rules called the probie ten commandments for our job. I know that several houses have set rules for probies two of which have already been mentioned.

The Firehouse Magazine article was a general fire service article if I remember right.

[jonnyirons2]

Get in early
last to leave
two ears one mouth
You have no opinion
last to sit, first one up when eating
No gym
if someone is mopping, sweeping it better be you!
pay your housetax
Always check the rig
Always make sure the coffee is down, or ready
you are the new dishwasher
make sure the sheets are done
check the fuel level on the day tour
keep your cell phone in your locker, unless your wife is pregnant or someone is ill

I am sure I could think of more but now its a blur!

[BKDRAFT]

Get in early

No gym


I agree with the others but this one suprises me.

[PureAdrenalin]

I agree with the others but this one suprises me.

Why? There are plenty of things the probie should be doing during his time between runs, such as learning the first due, special hazards or high life threat occupancies, SOG's, where everything is located and how it's used, making sure tools are clean, sharp and ready..etc. We all know fitness is a smart thing, but, that's something you can do on your day off or after your tour is done.

[markrojek]

Thanks for all the info. The article said FDNY posted the 10 probie commandments. Must have been a particular house or a misunderstanding on the authors part. All the info you provided was great. Thanks again!

[JHR1985]

also remember... they dont work 24's. Typically there is a little time left in the 24 hr period to work out. Picture all your activity except sleeping in a 24 hr period rolled into, say a 10 hour period.

[markrojek]

I found the article. Fire Engineering Magazine November of 2007. The articles is The Rookie Firefighter: Preparing for the Role. Author is Jerry Wells. Page 20.

Even if they don't exist at least I don't feel like I was imagining reading it.

[NBFDpackman]

I found the article. Fire Engineering Magazine November of 2007. The articles is The Rookie Firefighter: Preparing for the Role. Author is Jerry Wells. Page 20.

Even if they don't exist at least I don't feel like I was imagining reading it.

Well since you went to all the trouble, why don't you post them for probies on here to read.

[markrojek]

Thats the problem, the article just mentions them briefly stating that he remembers them being on the wall in the firehouse. He doesn't go into any other specifics. Hence my original question.

[bbishop1317]

The Rookie Survival Guide

1. You volunteered, knowing full well the hazards of the job

2. You are not Superman, Spiderman, or any other superhero

3. Anything you do in a burning building could get you hurt or killed

4. When in doubt back out

5. No preplan ever survives the initial attack

6. All thirty-minute air packs will last fifteen minutes

7. The first air pack bell to ring is yours

8. Never forget a senior member discarded your gear

9. If you are short on everything except fire, it's a multiple alarm

10. Beer math is: 2 beers x 8 firefighters = 10 cases

11. The second due engine always takes longer to arrive than you think

12. The closest hydrant is always blocked or frozen

13. The pre-connect is always 5 feet too short

14. Radios will always fail when you need more help

15. The more important your message, the greater the odds

16. Someone will step on your transmission

17. Never man a hose with someone braver than you

18. Hero lasts for days, dead is forever

19. Firefighters are predictable, Amateurs are dangerous

20. Veteran Firefighters know more then you think

21. Volume of fire = amount of smoke x number of rookies on the first line

22. The firefighter with the dirties face saw the least amount of fire

23. How does wet water make water wetter?

24. First in means the last to leave

25. Never pass a fire truck unless it’s your house that’s on fire

26. Never spray water into a vent hole even if your officer tells you to

27. A charged hose line will go limp as soon as you open the nozzle

28. Try before you pry

29. It’s easier to open a window than smash it

30. Always make sure the floor is there before you enter a room

31 .Response time = volume of fire showing x the number of hysterical neighbors

32. At EMS calls, there is always someone that wants to tell you what to do

33. Rookies are the members sent to " fill" the fire hydrants

34. The left hand smoke shifter is always kept on the reserve truck

35. Don't shut off your brain when you turn your red lights on!

36. The Fire Fighters from the other station always, always, disappear when its time to repack the engine

37. The important street signs are always missing

38. If you can smell a hazardous material, you are too close

39. Downed wires are always treated as live, and usually are

40. If you experience a flashover up close, you will never forget it

41. You learn more from listening than talking

42. Never leave the apparatus empty handed

43. Always tie your own knots

44. Always look around before you swing an ax

45.A Firefighter without full protective equipment is called a bystander

46. Always sit in a jump-seat its harder to fall out

47. Never underestimate the power of adrenaline

48. For any job, 2 people are better then 1

49. The simple way to do something is usually the best

50. Rookies run, professionals walk

51. Did you see " backdraft "?

52. Do not use equipment you haven’t been trained on

53. Wait until the apparatus is completely stopped before getting on or off

54. Stay off the radio, there is already enough noise

55. Dress warm in cold weather, it could be a long call

56. A rookie without a tool is useless

57. When on a roof, stay close to the ladder

58. The more you know about haz-mat, the further from the spill you are

59. An ax can't tell the difference between the roof and your boot

60. Never loan anyone your gloves

61. Can you really breathe halon?

62. Professionals always wear their masks

63. Eye protection lets you see what your doing

64. Water only puts out fire, not smoke

65. You never know how many firefighters will show to a particular call until it's over

66. It's amazing how many firefighters can't find their way back to the firehouse after a call

67. Forward and reverse lays are not drills you practice in bed

68. More can be learned on the apparatus floor than in front of the TV

69. You are there to protect lives and property, and learn your job, nothing else

70. You start driver training when the engineer thinks you are ready

71. It’s not just a job, it’s a brotherhood

72. Do not be a knife and forker

73. Not everyone has to be inside at the same time

74 Fireman’s prayer, "Dear Lord Please Don't Let Me @#*!Up"

75. If you break something please tell someone

76. All fires go out eventually whether or not you do anything at all

77. Never underestimate Murphy’s Law

78. There is no such thing as a secret in the firehouse

[FFFRED]

Thats the problem, the article just mentions them briefly stating that he remembers them being on the wall in the firehouse. He doesn't go into any other specifics. Hence my original question.

I just read it.

It was probably something specific to that house...we have some rules all houses do...just not some 10-commandments thing.

Many probably wouldn't apply to your dept nor would you be comfortable with some of them.

FTM-PTB

[Cuzzz2259]

Hey Bishop:

I just read your 78 Rules to follow, if that's what it can be called. Very interesting. They make sense as well..

[DubLuv]

the earlier post about "no gym" bothered me. being fit for this career is just as important as wearing ur ppe.if you cant take care of ur self on a call. who will? i have 3 months left of probation and workout almost every shift and during my 4day. its expected here, at least it is by my capt.

[MattyJ]

the earlier post about "no gym" bothered me. being fit for this career is just as important as wearing ur ppe.if you cant take care of ur self on a call. who will? i have 3 months left of probation and workout almost every shift and during my 4day. its expected here, at least it is by my capt.

The point is....work out before or after work.....during work: drill,read,go over rig,ask questions,get in the sink, do the housewatch,do committee work,help with the meal......there is plenty to do....work out on your own time.

[MattyJ]

the earlier post about "no gym" bothered me. being fit for this career is just as important as wearing ur ppe.if you cant take care of ur self on a call. who will? i have 3 months left of probation and workout almost every shift and during my 4day. its expected here, at least it is by my capt.

The point is....work out before or after work.....during work: drill,read,go over rig,ask questions,get in the sink, do the housewatch,do committee work,help with the meal......there is plenty to do....work out on your own time. If our probies can find time during the work day to be in the gym, then theres a problem.

[Probie1Kenobi]

Words to live by, I printed it out, will have to study that while at the gym :-)

[DennisTheMenace]

Writing stuff like that down will ALWAYS come to bite you in the A$$ in the court of law after a probie becomes a LODD. :(

[IllinoisFF3]

I found these elsewhere

The Firehouse Commandments of a Probie

1. Get in early

2. You're last to leave

3. Two ears and One mouth

4. You have no opinion

5. Last to sit and first one up when eating

6. No workouts - you have other things to concentrate on

7. If someone is mopping or sweeping - it'd better be you!!!

8. Pay your coffee club dues

9. Always (!!!) check the rig

10. Always make sure the coffee is down, or ready

11. Keep your cellphone in your locker, unless your wife is pregnant or
someone is ill in your family.

http://nbforums.info/forums/viewtopic.php?p=632&sid=e00d7787779423458e1336130b 38bf24

[FFFRED]

Writing stuff like that down will ALWAYS come to bite you in the A$$ in the court of law after a probie becomes a LODD. :(

Really?...you have any factual or relevant information to back this up...or is this baseless conjecture on your part?

FTM-PTB