Fire Service Interpersonal Fire Service Interpersonal Dynamics and Dynamics and

CommunicationsCommunications

Dennis M. Dowd, M.Ed.Dennis M. Dowd, M.Ed.

Fire Chief Ret.Fire Chief Ret.

Calls that stick with youCalls that stick with you

Is it just a job?Is it just a job?

– Personally impacted by what you see Personally impacted by what you see affects Interpersonal Dynamicsaffects Interpersonal Dynamics

– As a leader, your men and women are As a leader, your men and women are impacted by what they see.impacted by what they see.

Practical exercise-Practical exercise-

– Think about Think about – 1-calls that stick with you- 1-calls that stick with you- – 2- Calls that affect another firefighter. 2- Calls that affect another firefighter.

– Calls Not easily left behind-Site an Calls Not easily left behind-Site an ExampleExample Haunt your/their dreamsHaunt your/their dreams Question our own mortalityQuestion our own mortality Question your competencyQuestion your competency

StressStress

Two types of stressTwo types of stress List on board different examples of List on board different examples of

stressorsstressors DistressDistress

EustressEustress

Recognizing PTSDRecognizing PTSDPost Traumatic Stress DisorderPost Traumatic Stress Disorder Objective:Objective: At the end of this class you should be At the end of this class you should be

able to recognize ( not diagnose) PTSD able to recognize ( not diagnose) PTSD in some one you know or yourself.in some one you know or yourself.– PTSD Slippery SlopePTSD Slippery Slope

BothersomeBothersome IntrusiveIntrusive DisturbingDisturbing DebilitatingDebilitating

What makes a fire fighterWhat makes a fire fighterChapter 1Chapter 1

Some Charaistics of folks drawn to Some Charaistics of folks drawn to firefightingfirefighting– Detail orientatedDetail orientated– Strong motivation to succeedStrong motivation to succeed– Thrill seekingThrill seeking– Sense of control-control orentatedSense of control-control orentated– ““Be Prepared”Be Prepared”– Success is not an optionSuccess is not an option– MeticulousMeticulous

Common RuleCommon RuleFD management made easyFD management made easy

““Tell a firefighter what you want Tell a firefighter what you want done, give them the tools to do the done, give them the tools to do the job, get out of their way, review the job, get out of their way, review the job when it’s done.”job when it’s done.”

Looking for thrills?Looking for thrills?

Firefighters are easily bored.Firefighters are easily bored. Need for control and successNeed for control and success Testing the limits of their control= Testing the limits of their control=

thrillsthrills High risk occupationHigh risk occupation Injured firefighters are quickly out of Injured firefighters are quickly out of

the loopthe loop Team sport-links of chainTeam sport-links of chain

What do you get when you put a What do you get when you put a dozen or so detail-orientated, dozen or so detail-orientated, success driven people on one team? success driven people on one team?

One hell of a good team!!!One hell of a good team!!! The Red soxThe Red sox The Pat’sThe Pat’s A shift at the fire stationA shift at the fire station

Why are you here?Why are you here?

What happens to the member of that What happens to the member of that team, or the entire team, when they team, or the entire team, when they are affected either physically or are affected either physically or psychologically to the firefighter psychologically to the firefighter when the mission turns ugly?when the mission turns ugly?

. What comes back to haunt the . What comes back to haunt the firefighter is what we are going to firefighter is what we are going to find out about in this class.find out about in this class.

Assuming personal Assuming personal responsibilitiesresponsibilities

Post incident analysis centers around a Post incident analysis centers around a failed mission:failed mission:– Could haveCould have– Should haveShould have– Would haveWould have– If only I hadIf only I had– AlsoAlso

Could notCould not Would notWould not Should notShould not

Action-reactionAction-reactionthe ying and the yangthe ying and the yang

Thrill seeking pushes the envelope-Thrill seeking pushes the envelope- Apparently FF attempt very risky Apparently FF attempt very risky

thingsthings Define heroic behaviorDefine heroic behavior Team work and the weak linkTeam work and the weak link Newby and the highest risk?Newby and the highest risk?

Not with outNot with out

TrainingTraining

High degree of training = less chance High degree of training = less chance of pushing the envelope.of pushing the envelope.

High degree of training = in a skill-High degree of training = in a skill-low amount of danger. low amount of danger.

Individual and team ttraining to a Individual and team ttraining to a high degreehigh degree

From the newbees perspective every From the newbees perspective every thing is dangerous and exciting. thing is dangerous and exciting.

SummarySummary

A firefighter is a special personA firefighter is a special person SociableSociable Needs of others before their ownNeeds of others before their own Thrills of the jobThrills of the job Technical detailsTechnical details Strong desire to complete a task Strong desire to complete a task

successfullysuccessfully Team playerTeam player