Help, I'm new!

911, what is the address of the emergency?

We've all been new. Some of us have been new more than once. New agency, new position, new whatever... there's something to be said for being the new guy. (But it's not the fact that you've got a whole new audience for the same tired stories.)

In most every fire station I've worked in, there's been a list tacked up somewhere. On a bulletin board. On a door. Over the chief's or captain's desk. Over the urinals/on the back of the stall door.

I just googled "rules for rookie firefighters" and the first half-dozen links are variations of these rules.

Thing is, these rules? They're not just for firefighters. The cleanest site for them seems to be FireEngineering, and here's a sample (emphasis mine):

1) Respect the job. Firefighting is one of the most respected professions in our country. For every person who wears a firefighter uniform, there are at least 10 more who wish they could. As much of an honor as it is to become a firefighter, it is equally as much of a dishonor to become complacent, and those who don't care about the job are disrespectful of the profession and their coworkers. Respect the job, work hard, and be proud of the profession you have chosen.

5) Be proactive around the firehouse. Don't wait for someone to tell you what to do. As a probationary firefighter, you basically do everything. If the phone rings, answer it. If someone knocks on the door, see who it is. After lunch, volunteer to do the dishes. If you sit and watch the other firefighters doing these things, they will develop an unfavorable opinion of you early on. As a rule of thumb, if you think you are not doing enough, you probably aren't.

15) Leave your ego at the door. Don't think, "Been there, done that." In this profession, celebrations are short lived. You (and your crew) are only as good as your next call. Don't be overconfident or cocky because you had a fire on your first day. Sure, the experience will help, but remember, there is a lot to learn in this business and you will NEVER know it all. The day you think you do is the day you should consider another career.

19) If you feel stressed, tell your officer. While on duty, you will see and experience traumatic occurrences that exceed what the average person will see on television (multiple-alarm fires, serious injuries, deaths, and so forth). In time, you will become partially immune to most of this, but you will always be affected to some degree. Some people are good at hiding their stress, but this will catch up to you and affect your personal life as well as your professional life. Don't be foolish enough to hesitate to ask for help if you need it.

22) Be accountable. The only person responsible for your actions is you. If you make a mistake, own up to it. Your co-workers will respect your more for admitting you were wrong than they will for your trying to hide it. Accountability is also important on the fireground. If your officer asks you to do something, do it; then immediately report back to him. Freelancing at a fire is a major problem that could end up costing someone's life.

Yep. Pretty good start. Read the whole thing, and feel free to chime in with your own "as a newbie, you should..." thoughts.

Respect is earned, not given. No one in the department is too good to scrub a pot or push a mop. Do it with a smile. Little things like making fresh coffee for the incoming shift, or (given tonight's weather) brushing off a couple extra cars in the parking lot at end of shift can go a long way.

Call me back right away if anything changes.