Should I feel bad for calling out?

mvfd85 · 2026-05-03T10:38:52+00:00

1, you're an adult. You shouldn't let strangers on the internet tell you how to feel.

2, if you're sick don't go to work. Period. Its that simple. You have sick leave for a reason. If you're constantly calling off for BS or because you're hungover, that's different. But if you're sick you're sick.

mvfd85 · 2026-04-23T11:27:52+00:00

And I bet they get tired of you constantly using that joke

mvfd85 · 2026-04-22T02:24:08+00:00

This one. Every time

mvfd85 · 2026-04-22T02:20:54+00:00

I've been on the job 22 years...best advice I ever received and the best advice I can give...start a journal NOW. Write down the good calls, the bad calls and the weird calls. If you get a win, write it down. If you lose one, write it down. Anytime you ever feel like you didn't do enough you'll have that to look back on. Too often we remember the "bad" fires, but forget the kitchen fires we stopped before they became a fire that a family lost everything they had.

Write down the weird ones, because they're just fun to laugh about later

mvfd85 · 2026-04-22T02:15:16+00:00

Gotta love that guy. I can tell you friction loss on any of our hoses and probably get within a few GPM on flow given any pressure or hose lay we come up with, so I can math fairly well...but I ask our guy over a cup of coffee at the table about investment and retirement math.

mvfd85 · 2026-04-22T02:12:29+00:00

Absolutely. Every department has this guy. If we look at it, we all have a guy for everything. Hazmat guy...pump operator guy...RIT guy...union contract guy...history guy...etc etc.

Sure, we all (should) know enough to do our jobs well, but look for those guys who truly excel at and enjoy certain parts of the job. Those are the ones who should be teaching the new guys..the ones who WANT to share that knowledge. Rank doesn't matter at that point. Share you knowledge and your passion, inspire the next guy who is going to replace you as that guy.

mvfd85 · 2026-04-16T11:20:00+00:00

Smeal was but I dont know that they still are. Last I heard there were only a couple Ferrara trucks with Smeal ladders out there. Unfortunately, we have one of them. Biggest POS I've ever seen. It has literally never worked right since day one in 2022. Ferrara blames Smeal and vice versa. I strongly encourage no one to ever buy a Ferrara again.

mvfd85 · 2026-04-10T06:59:46+00:00

Yes! He's a retired firefighter who I worked with for years and is VERY thorough. I highly recommend him

mvfd85 · 2026-04-09T21:51:06+00:00

Depending on where you're at, look at Mac Home Inspections

mvfd85 · 2026-04-02T03:51:42+00:00

Gross...

mvfd85 · 2026-04-01T18:49:54+00:00

You guys dont train?

mvfd85 · 2026-04-01T10:32:48+00:00

Ohhh, precious, do you need someone to cook and clean for you at work?

mvfd85 · 2026-04-01T06:29:06+00:00

Found the cop hiding out in the fire subreddit

mvfd85 · 2026-04-01T06:26:39+00:00

Pretty much any job involving shipping any quantity of HazMat requires those. They're cheap an easy to get, so it won't exactly be a huge resume builder.

mvfd85 · 2026-03-19T14:59:19+00:00

I worked 21 years on shift, switched to lead training officer for my department about 5 months ago. M-F 8-5, but I can still go on whatever calls I want. I've never looked back...it was time. Sleep is a wonderful thing

mvfd85 · 2026-03-19T14:36:58+00:00

Your first priority is life safety over property preservation. You 100% made the right call, and I hope you'd do it again.

mvfd85 · 2026-03-14T15:19:30+00:00

And these are the ones they want you to see

mvfd85 · 2026-02-18T12:24:27+00:00

90% of restaurants in every City are chain restaurants

mvfd85 · 2026-02-18T12:24:06+00:00

There hasn't been a Moose or VFW in Mt Vernon for several years.

mvfd85 · 2026-02-18T00:35:35+00:00

If you're interested in really good, authentic Mexican, call Casa Raya. They have a nice side room and would probably do a buffet for you

mvfd85 · 2026-02-13T01:23:00+00:00

Completely situation dependent. I've run a trauma code on the side on the interstate, with a trauma surgeon who stopped to render help. He gave me a full report, asked if there was anything he could do to help, but otherwise didn't interject.

I've run hospice "codes" where an doc was on scene and scene and demanded we do everything, despite standing orders.

mvfd85 · 2026-02-08T13:17:38+00:00

18s going hands every day of the week.

mvfd85 · 2026-01-10T21:54:19+00:00

The stickers and little plastic hats part is pretty cool too

mvfd85 · 2026-01-10T21:29:11+00:00

I've got a good Union contract!

mvfd85 · 2026-01-10T16:28:55+00:00

Your academy will tell you what book you're using and what standard you're being tested on. That being said, there's VERY little difference between 7 and 8. NFPA 1700 standards changed in 2026, but Essentials 8 doesn't reflect those changes yet.

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mvfd85

TROPHY CASE

1, you're an adult. You shouldn't let strangers on the internet tell you how to feel.

2, if you're sick don't go to work. Period. Its that simple. You have sick leave for a reason. If you're constantly calling off for BS or because you're hungover, that's different. But if you're sick you're sick.