Kitchen Table Conversations

After 50 years in the business, Chief Robert Swarthout has something to say.

Swarthout shares his takeaways from a life in emergency services, and specifically, being on the ground at the Pentagon on 9/11. Right in the middle of the country’s emergency response.

Even though his career is rich with experiences serving with the United States Air Force and in public safety, Swarthout said that prior to 9/11, the biggest fire he had experienced until that point was “3 or 4 alarms.” After 11 days he took away an understanding of the “complexity of a big incident. I mean a big incident… not a 3-4 story house fire, not 3,4,5 or 20-story high rise fire… especially when it deals with government.”

In a live podcast recording session with recruits in the New Hampshire Fire Academy and EMS 2022 recruit school program, Swarthout said, “I’ve learned a lot over my 50 years in this business about when to take a chance and when not to take a chance.” Swarthout went on to encouraging the recruits to continue with their education and “learn it all.”

“Know your job. Know your streets. Know your hydrants. Know the basics," and added, “your reputation will precede you wherever you go.” 

Listen as Swarthout describes the situation in Washington D.C. on 9/11, from the moment he heard of the low-flying plane, through the scene in, on and around the wrecked building- the jet fuel smell, the incoming alert of another aircraft, and the work keeping tabs on all of the responding agencies that had arrived to help.

In a demanding job, emergency services professionals steel themselves against the inevitable psychological challenges.

Guest Dr. Nicole Sawyer,  a clinical psychologist, clinical director with the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire Peer Support Team, and a crisis intervention specialist says, “that armor has cracks, no matter how hard we try to patch it up over and over again. The people that are closest to us are the one that see the leaks.” Those people are your crew, and, the people at home.

Dr. Sawyer talks about not pushing trauma deeper, potentially destroying ourselves and those close to us, but finding a way to move forward. 

“Those experiences never go away, and treatment is not about making them go away. Treatment’s about helping people find where those experiences fit in their life picture.” Dr. Sawyer adds, “There is no magic to erase our memories, It’s about finding a balance between those experiences, how we process them and how we take those experiences and help them build us as we move forward.”

It's an issue for salty veterans, and, those who are new to the service or potential recruits.

“A person deciding that this job isn’t what they thought it was going to be and it’s not a good fit for them is probably one of the healthiest decisions they can make. The reality is, if you just try to power through, you’re on a path of destruction.”

Join Capt. Scott Cathy and Dr. Sawyer for an important, and honest, discussion about first responder mental health.

Battalion Chief Troy Ruggles is in charge of training and safety at the Burlington (VT) Fire Department. He has a lot to say about leadership "... earn the members' respect, it doesn't come automatically," and recruitment/retention (we've) "got to change our strategy."

Chief Ruggles explores a wide range of topics in this episode, including whether a firefighter's job title should change from Firefighter/EMT to EMT/Firefighter, and shares feedback his department received from candidates that turned a job offer down, being told that due to the job's work/life balance led the potential hire to believe the job, "wasn't worth it."

Listen as NHFA-EMS Capt. Scott Cathy spends time with Chief Ruggles on these and other topics in this latest episode of the Kitchen Table Conversations fire and ems podcast.

5th-generation firefighter Lt. Dave Quick of the Manchester, New Hampshire, Fire Department talks with Capt. Scott Cathy about subjects such as managing his firefighters, making training decisions and maintaining a work/life balance.

Lt. Quick is a 28-year veteran of the fire service. He is assigned to Engine Co. 11 in the city’s downtown neighborhood.  He is a lead instructor in the department’s Recruit Program where he teaches Engine Co. Operations.  In addition, he co-authored the Department’s High Rise SOP.

David holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Science from the University of New Haven as well as an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Fire Protection Technology from SUNY Rockland.  David is a Technical Committee Member (representing the User category) of NFPA 1961, Standard on Fire Hose, and also sits on the UL-19/219 Technical Committee, Standard for Lined Fire Hose and Hose Assemblies.  He was a member of the NFPA Research Foundation’s Operational Environment Study Task Force.  David is a Pro-Board Certified Instructor II/III and a Senior Staff Instructor at the New Hampshire Fire Academy and EMS.  He actively instructs in both the Firefighter I and Pump Operator Programs.  He helped develop the skill drills used in the Water Supply, Hose & Nozzle and Fire Attack Modules of Firefighter I.  David is also the owner of 603 Fire Service Consulting & Training and a consultant for Mercedes Textiles

What keeps Antrim, New Hampshire Assistant Fire Chief Tom Beaumont up at night? Captain Scott Cathy talks with Chief Beaumont about the challenges of operating in a rural fire department. 

Where's the line? How would your mother react to your firehouse behavior?  Learn about the elements of bullying- the perpetrator, target and bystanders in this episode of the Kitchen Table Conversations with Durham, New Hampshire Fire Chief Dave Emanuel. 

Emanuel is well versed on the topic of bullying and its impact on the fire service. Regarding bullies, Emanuel says, "all we need is the attitude or the desire to capitalize on a power imbalance and the desire to hurt someone." Have you experienced it in your department? In your crew? Do you think your own behavior could be considered bullying? Listen to the conversation and find out.

Recruiting, and keeping, qualified firefighters isn't just a problem in larger communities or with career departments. Captain Scott Cathy talks with Laconia, New Hampshire, Fire Chief Kirk Beattie about the challenges of securing firefighters in departments both big and small.

The fire service- "Two hundred years of tradition unhindered by progress." Or is that true? 

Listen to this conversation on the subject of change with Captain Scott Cathy of the New Hampshire Fire Academy and EMS and Manchester (NH) Fire Department Assistant Chief Matt Lamothe. Matt has over 22 years in the fire service, most of them with MFD where he has served in various leadership positions including Lieutenant on Rescue 1, Captain on Engine 10/Truck 3 and Truck 1. Lamothe was promoted to District Chief and moved up to Assistant Chief in May of 2021.  Matt is also a Senior Staff Instructor at the New Hampshire Fire Academy and EMS.

This podcast was edited from a live online webcast from Wednesday, February 2, 2022.