subject: Confidence is a Must For Firefighters [print this page] Confidence is a Must For Firefighters Confidence is a Must For Firefighters
If you are looking to be a firefighter, then you need to be confident in yourself. With confidence you will move fast in the face of danger and not slow fellow firefighters down. However, be cautious of overconfidence, which could put you in a dangerous position. This information will stress the importance of the right level of confidence.
Confidence could be synonymous with competence when it comes to firefighting. The definition of confidence is being certain that the course of action and decision you are making is correct. In firefighting, you must move fast. You must think fast. Knowing what to do and knowing that you can do it is critical in the job.
The lack of confidence is one of the worst disabilities a firefighter could face. If you are not certain of what to do, you will second guess your decisions. That will cost time, which you don't have in a rescue situation. Second guessing could also slow other firefighters down as they try to guide you into action. Lives could be lost in these situations, your own included.
Overconfidence can be just as dangerous for a firefighter as the lack of confidence. Overconfidence is simply believing that you are capable of doing more than you really are capable of doing. This could lead you to enter into a dangerous situation, thinking that you can handle it. It could even lead you to bring someone that you are rescuing into a dangerous situation as well. An overconfident firefighter will hesitate in evacuating when a situation becomes too dangerous. He will also not call for back up when it becomes dangerous. There are so many bad situations that an overconfident firefighter will find themselves in, it is best to get this vise in check.
Understanding the importance of having the right level of confidence will allow you to do your job effectively. Overconfidence and the lack of confidence put both yourself and others in danger. The correct level of confidence, though, will get you and others to safety, which is the purpose of your job. Every fire fighter can be confident with the training they have, confident to know what they can and can't do.
