Each month I look forward to receiving Fire Engineering and reading the timely and informational articles. I often cite articles from the magazine to support my lectures. After reading “Of Mice and Men,” perhaps I should reconsider my choice of instructional material.
I find Bill Manning`s opinion inciteful and irresponsible. Emergency response is a team effort. The successful conclusion to an emergency comes about when skilled and dedicated people, using the appropriate tools and protective equipment, work as a team in a recognized system. How can Manning advocate unsafe behavior and freelancing? How can I teach safe practices when a magazine of your caliber insinuates that safety is synonymous with cowardice?
A hero is a person who takes the time to gain the necessary education and training so that when an emergency situation occurs, he can draw on that knowledge and training, push his body and protective equipment to the limits, and do everything possible to bring the emergency to a successful conclusion.
Bill Crawford, NREMT-P
Watauga (TX) Department of Public Safety
