Jumpline magazine April 2024 - Flipbook - Page 42
42
Jack Swerdloff, Ret.
Jumpline Editor
Editor’s Page
Help at my First Fire
Back in the 1900’s…somewhere between August 1st and
24th of 1992 (Hurricane Andrew’s arrival), Firehouse 16’s
tones go off around midnight.
Rookie
Fire昀椀ghter
Swerd
caught a 昀椀re! I had been in operations for about 2 weeks. The
fi rescue crew did their normal “昀椀rst in” thing.
aggressive, young
The older than them, but faster than us Engine 16 crew (lol)
was second. And then there was us… the real old timers on
Squrt 16 with 19-year-old Jack Swerdloff (aka the new guy).
Even as a Homestead boy, I had no idea where we were going due to excitement (plus raggedy radios and only one handheld for the OIC). Rushing to get dressed in our open cab rig,
we made 2 turns and stopped. All I saw was WOOD-FRAMEFIRE. Then I heard the E16 Lieutenant say, “Hurry up rookie
they’re waiting for you.”
In the case of my 昀椀rst 昀椀re, I was unclear on what actions to
take once inside on the 昀氀oor. In training I ALWAYS knew where
the 昀椀re was. You’d think the real deal should be no problem
after minimum standards and SOPs. I was a trained adult professional, but this was different. I was dumbfounded. I needed
help. I was frozen. It made no sense. My processor could not
compute the fact that we pulled up and saw huge amounts of
昀椀re, yet once inside I didn’t know which way to go. Once inside
the door I thought, “Why don’t I know exactly how to 昀椀nd the
huge 昀椀re that I just saw?” I was confused. Data read error!
At the nozzle I found the help I needed. Waiting on the line
was smooth as silk, E16 Fire昀椀ghter Al Godding. Al’s cool, calm
guidance was never forgotten (If you know Al, you know). I
spoke of his actions at my 昀椀rst 昀椀re often when I was still on the
job. I didn’t know which way to crawl. It was much hotter than
昀椀re college. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t see anything. In
Fire College you can always see a teeny, tiny little bit! I said
to Al, “Where’s the 昀椀re?” In an instant I was out of my comfort
zone.
Cool as a cucumber, Al said, “Well, let’s just stop for a second.
Let’s put our heads to the 昀氀oor and see if we can hear or see
anything.” So, we did! Then off to the seat of the 昀椀re we went.
I never forgot how perplexed I was that his simple, calm, helpful words immediately redirected me on a path to success.
We don’t get to decide fi
for others what’s easy. A fact I didn’t
really understand until I could not control grief and get my life
back after the loss of my son. Losing him was an eye-opening
event that allowed me to see the dark place that I didn’t understand. The dark place that owns some people we love and like.
Publicly I was ok, but when the lights went out, not so much.
Lots of people need help. In the worst cases, without help, a
nozzleman doesn’t know which way to go. In the mental health
arena, without help, some members fall into a dark hole. Many
people helped me with my grief after January 6, 2021. Thank
you to the people whose words and actions assisted me when
I was in a dark place. I survived with your help. Big or small, it
all helped!
fi
Life is ful昀椀lling now. Job, daughter, new house, life. And the
BrotHERhood is full of amazingness that’s cool to be a part of.
I still have tough days, but I’m ful昀椀lled!
Help takeaway message: On the emergency scene everyone
needs guidance sometimes. For people struggling, please remember their journey may not end. PTSD and triggers extend
their battle. Sometimes people need you to speak up and save
them. They’ll appreciate your efforts one day. It may save their
life!
Dr Mohammad Qahtani speaking about the demise
of his friend. And the power of words.
bit.ly/MQ-Powerofwords
April 2024 | JUMPLINE Magazine