As a Boy Scout, the Scout Motto was “Be prepared.” To a police officer, that is an excellent motto. We handle what normal citizens cannot or do not want to handle. Firefighters run into burning buildings to save lives as other people are running out. Normal people run from the sounds of gunshots, police officers run toward them. This is not news to anyone who remembers the firefighters and police officers who died on 9-11 when the Towers came down.

When driving by a police department have you noticed the cruisers all backed in to the parking spots? That is not for aesthetic reasons. There is a perfectly reasonable explanation. When parking the cruiser the officer is not on a call, thinking about what will confront her. The adrenaline is not flowing and tunnel vision has not set in. This is a perfect time for the officer to back in, using the mirrors, the defensive driver training we take every year and do it safely.

While on station the officer receives a call of a serious domestic situation with a gun involved. The officer runs out of the office, thinking of the shortest route to arrive on scene, thinking of prior history at this address or which weapons to take and which ones to not utilize. The officer has begun to naturally start with the adrenaline, tunnel vision begins to set in and as she is backing out, she runs into another cruiser who is also going to the call. Now we have two damaged police cars and the officers are even more hyped than they originally were. Perhaps one of the cruisers is unable to continue on to the call, resulting in further delay. But when the cruiser is backed into the parking spot ahead of time, the officer has a clear view out the windshield, no blind spots in the mirrors and responds much quicker and safer.

Thinking ahead and being prepared. The evidence technician will have his EV Kit in the cruiser with him for when evidence needs to be collected in a timely manner. The canine officer will not leave the dog at home and have to respond home before going to look for a lost child or escaped criminal. My briefcase always carried every report I may need during the shift.

A firefighter keeps his bunker gear close to the assigned engine/truck. Bunker gear is the helmet, nomex hood, bunker coat, pants and bunker boots. Once in the engine enroute to the fire, they put on their Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), grab an axe or Halligan tool and turn their portable radios on. Once on scene they lay a line which is a fire hose preload in the engine to come off without snagging.

One firefighter grabs the hydrant wrench, wraps the hose around the hydrant then the engine pulls away laying the hose to the scene. The other firefighters in the jump seats grab whatever tools the officer orders, the hose is hooked to the engine, the driver begins to prime the pumps and get ready to flow water to the firefighters making entry. This is all preplanned and practiced to the nth degree so that everyone knows their duties when time is of the utmost importance to save lives.

Notice that all the fire gear is backed into the fire bay when all is calm so that no backing is needed when the alarms sound. The first stick shift I ever drove was back in 1974 and was on a 750 gallon fire truck. It took some time for me to learn to back carefully. Although the trucks are now all automatics, you do not want to be backing a fire truck during an emergency if it can be avoided.

I am willing to bet there are things in your everyday life that with a little forethought and planning can be done much easier and safer if you follow this tip. The next time you go to the grocery store, pull into a parking spot and drive straight into the next one so that when you leave there is no backing in a crowded parking lot. Even though you will not get a ticket for improper backing and causing an accident on private property, the insurance companies will find you at fault and you will pay for it in the higher rates.

First Group 2x2
First Group 2x2
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