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I wont mention names or places. Yesterday, I attended an event involving antique firetrucks hosted by a local chapter of nationally known organization that promotes the restoration and appreciation of antique fire apparatus. It was my tenth year as a safety officer at this particular event, which is renowned across the eastern seaboard as one of the greatest events of it's type anywhere, across the entire United States. It is held high in the spotlight of the antique fire apparatus world.
For 10 years, I have been invited by this organization, to gather a few of my friends, and travel to their location and act as their safety eyes and ears. The National Parent organization requires certain parameters be followed, in order to maintain a safe environment for thousands of onlookers that attend. Things like pump pressures no higher than 70PSI, two wheel chocks needed, all deluge sets or unmanned hose lines must be tied down, etc. These regulations are required by the parent organization's insurance provider, which the local chapters tag on to.
One rule of course is NO ALCOHOL allowed. Period. Additionally, the park which we were in was a City-owned park, and has strict rules forbidding alcohol.
(**Before we go any further, for those of you who don't know me, I have a ZERO tolerance for alcohol in the fire service, by members who are on duty, in uniform, or may be operating equipment or riding equipment. This includes members at parades or wet-downs or other FD sanctioned events. My personal philosophy is that if you want to drink, take off your uniform, and get a ride back home. You will NOT ride on my apparatus and you certainly will NOT be placed into service for a minimum of 8 hours post-consumption. It is NOT up for negotiation. Anytime I was ever a company officer for a parade, my guys knew not to even ask.)
In the last 10 years, we have never had a problem. Not one. Perhaps we have just never caught anyone, but to my knowledge, it has never happened. Yesterday, a participant approached the Safety Team's area to report that a group with a vehicle operating at draft was consuming beer. I approached the participants and sure enough, they had beer in paper cups- so they damn well knew what they were doing was a no-no. I asked to speak to the highest ranking officer, and a gentleman identifying himself as the Chief stepped forward. I took him aside, and introduced myself as a Safety Officer. I asked what was in the cup he was holding, and the look on his face showed that he knew he was fooked. He said "Beer." I told him "Dump it out NOW. Everyone else too. Have one of your guys remove the cooler from this park, and I dont care if you have to call someone from your station to come and get it. (Can't throw out the whole company which I wanted to, due to the physical location of where they were, and the inability to move them out without disrupting a bunch of other participants who would have to move their pieces) I continued with my rant by saying if they got caught again they would be permanently banned from the event.
As I walked away, I looked at the Chief and said in a loud, irritated voice, "C'mon guys, you should know better."
I was really bent out of shape. Why would this group of cretins risk getting the event (which has been in this City-Owned park for 35 years) thrown out of the park, or getting the insurance revoked (which would eventually lead to cancellation of the group's charter) or, god forbid, someone getting seriously hurt, all in the name of a few beers?Huh?
Did I get carried away? Why do some people or organizations feel like they need to consume beer in order to have a good time? Is a Muster of antique firetrucks an appropriate place for beer? How about a celebration after a parade? Should members who arrive on Department Apparatus, who are in uniform, and are carrying their bunker gear with them, be allowed to drink?
I am certainly not preaching total abstinence from alcohol, I myself drink socially, but whats wrong with just participating in the event with bottled water or sodas, returning to your firehouse, and heading down to the corner bar for a few if it is that important to you?
Thoughts Please. Keep it civil.
For 10 years, I have been invited by this organization, to gather a few of my friends, and travel to their location and act as their safety eyes and ears. The National Parent organization requires certain parameters be followed, in order to maintain a safe environment for thousands of onlookers that attend. Things like pump pressures no higher than 70PSI, two wheel chocks needed, all deluge sets or unmanned hose lines must be tied down, etc. These regulations are required by the parent organization's insurance provider, which the local chapters tag on to.
One rule of course is NO ALCOHOL allowed. Period. Additionally, the park which we were in was a City-owned park, and has strict rules forbidding alcohol.
(**Before we go any further, for those of you who don't know me, I have a ZERO tolerance for alcohol in the fire service, by members who are on duty, in uniform, or may be operating equipment or riding equipment. This includes members at parades or wet-downs or other FD sanctioned events. My personal philosophy is that if you want to drink, take off your uniform, and get a ride back home. You will NOT ride on my apparatus and you certainly will NOT be placed into service for a minimum of 8 hours post-consumption. It is NOT up for negotiation. Anytime I was ever a company officer for a parade, my guys knew not to even ask.)
In the last 10 years, we have never had a problem. Not one. Perhaps we have just never caught anyone, but to my knowledge, it has never happened. Yesterday, a participant approached the Safety Team's area to report that a group with a vehicle operating at draft was consuming beer. I approached the participants and sure enough, they had beer in paper cups- so they damn well knew what they were doing was a no-no. I asked to speak to the highest ranking officer, and a gentleman identifying himself as the Chief stepped forward. I took him aside, and introduced myself as a Safety Officer. I asked what was in the cup he was holding, and the look on his face showed that he knew he was fooked. He said "Beer." I told him "Dump it out NOW. Everyone else too. Have one of your guys remove the cooler from this park, and I dont care if you have to call someone from your station to come and get it. (Can't throw out the whole company which I wanted to, due to the physical location of where they were, and the inability to move them out without disrupting a bunch of other participants who would have to move their pieces) I continued with my rant by saying if they got caught again they would be permanently banned from the event.
As I walked away, I looked at the Chief and said in a loud, irritated voice, "C'mon guys, you should know better."
I was really bent out of shape. Why would this group of cretins risk getting the event (which has been in this City-Owned park for 35 years) thrown out of the park, or getting the insurance revoked (which would eventually lead to cancellation of the group's charter) or, god forbid, someone getting seriously hurt, all in the name of a few beers?Huh?
Did I get carried away? Why do some people or organizations feel like they need to consume beer in order to have a good time? Is a Muster of antique firetrucks an appropriate place for beer? How about a celebration after a parade? Should members who arrive on Department Apparatus, who are in uniform, and are carrying their bunker gear with them, be allowed to drink?
I am certainly not preaching total abstinence from alcohol, I myself drink socially, but whats wrong with just participating in the event with bottled water or sodas, returning to your firehouse, and heading down to the corner bar for a few if it is that important to you?
Thoughts Please. Keep it civil.
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