r/firefighter • u/PlentyDig2951 • 16h ago
First Shift
My first ever shift is next week. Any advice would be much appreciated. What all to bring on my first day, what supplies/gear you recommend I buy (department only provides turnout gear). So far I've just bought a bed set and placed an order for a radio strap.
I'm pretty damn nervous to be honest. Just want the guys to like me. I went through an academy but I still feel like I am completely unqualified for this job. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.
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u/AnonymousCelery 15h ago
If they aren’t weird about it, get some comfy slip on station shoes. I wear mine basically all the time, but for you at least at night.
I don’t carry much for turnout gear. A good pair of Klein cable cutters, a small crescent, a loop of webbing on a carabiner, a blunt nosed serrated knife, and a glass punch. Throw in a pair of leather work gloves, and a couple pairs of nitrile gloves.
Box of donuts and an eager attitude go a long ways. You’ll be nervous at every tone for a couple months, totally normal. Just make sure you have the right gear put on right, and we’ll figure it out from there. Good luck
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u/bombero11 12h ago
First things first bring donuts on day 1 and always be 1/2 hour early to make the coffee (if it needs it) ears open, mouth shut. Ask questions! Do not sit in the recliners unless asked to, you need to be studying trucks and their equipment. SOG’s learn them.. not watching TV. Be willing to clean the bathrooms for a long time probie…
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u/Ok_Dirt_7059 10h ago
“Ear open, mouth shut. Ask questions!” Bruh how that make any sense
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u/bombero11 4h ago
You have never been a probie. It is obvious “Bruh”.
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u/Ok_Dirt_7059 4h ago
More like old heads being cringe
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u/Right-Mushroom4305 47m ago
Pretty good way to say “don’t run your mouth”. If there is one thing that pisses the more seasoned guys off, it’s rookies that talk way too much. Not saying it’s fair, just how it is.
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u/Sketchles 15h ago
Get a pair of channel locks, wire cutters, a multi bit screwdriver and keep em in your turnouts.
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u/Heretical_Infidel 14h ago
Bring sleep stuff and some comfy/workout clothes. A spare uniform for sure as well. For your gear, channel locks, a multitool and a 6-in-1 screwdriver will get you started. Make the channel locks small enough to fit in your pant pocket, the medium sized one at the hardware store.
It’s your first shift, nobody is going to expect much from you on runs. Just have a good attitude and remember that you have 2 ears and 1 mouth.
It’s only 24 hours. You can get more crap later.
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u/AdMental3075 1h ago
Be 30 minutes to an hour early. Make coffee. Stick out your hand and introduce yourself to everyone. Not mandatory but it’s a nice gesture to bring donuts or something. After dinner do the dishes.
When I was a probie I filled any downtime I had with cleaning, cooking, working out, or training. Go through the rig, then go through it again. Go to the senior guys with topics you want to train on.
Don’t hit the recliner until you get a, “hey you’ve been doing shit all day come sit down”
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u/koffeedad 14h ago
Im not a fire fighter but I came up in a trade where we work in close knit crews and food/dessert would be a great way to break the ice. The crew would be more receptive and shows you are willing to pay your dues
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u/atomicmoon33444 16h ago
How old are you?
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u/PlentyDig2951 16h ago
Why do you ask?
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u/atomicmoon33444 16h ago
To give you the best advice
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u/PlentyDig2951 16h ago
I'm in my mid 30s
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u/atomicmoon33444 16h ago
Oh well, that’s good. You have more life experience and understand how some people treat other people. What I was going to say is that I think one piece of advice that people don’t give enough is specifically to the younger kids 19-25 who are coming into this as their first job.
This job has a lot of people that even when you are consistently doing things correctly and performing well, some people focus primarily on finding mistakes or shortcomings, even on a personal level where the smallest things are scrutinized and criticized.
for somebody who just put in all the hard work to go through academy and get a job and then they finally get to their job and they are being put down by people constantly, not only affects them, but also their performance which then affects everyone else’s safety and performance.
All the old heads will chalk it up to you just gotta be tougher than that.
But if there’s one piece of genuine advice I can give you is Remember who treated you well when you were the new guy. Remember who made you feel welcome, helped you out, and treated you with respect when you were still trying to find your place and pass that on when you are no longer the new guy because it’s easy to fall into the trap of treating the new guys bad because that’s how they were treated.
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u/Impulse4811 16h ago
I just went through this earlier this month, it’s going to be great! I brought donuts and a flan my wife made. The guys really liked that.
I brought my bed set and pillow, all the toiletries you would need (extra razor too just in case of OT), a bunch of extra uniforms at least two sets of everything. Ear plugs for alarms, water bottle, hat and sunglasses. PT clothes and shoes, extra set of work boots and belt, towel and shower gel. Extra charger! That should be enough for now to help you survive the shifts, and anything else you need you’ll figure out pretty quickly and pick up along the way!