“Shoulda, woulda, coulda” doesn’t get the job done. Making a change starts with making a decision to do it. If you are looking for a new year’s resolution, here are a few ideas where you can make some positive changes for yourselves and your departments.

Look in the mirror. Some of the most obvious changes are ones that involve you. You are the one that has to make the changes, and in many cases you are the only one affected. Skills, attitudes and work habits fall into this category. Do you think and act professionally? Do you practice what you preach? Do you have the knowledge and qualifications to perform your work?

One of the best changes a mechanic can make is to join one of the state fire mechanic or emergency vehicle technician associations. These groups are headed by hard-working, dedicated and knowledgeable individuals who are professionals in their fields. If you are looking for contact with people who have not only “been there, done that,” but who have also “been there, done that right,” then these associations are an excellent resource for personal advancement. Many groups hold regular skill sessions and meetings, as well as sponsor annual training events. Some of the events are free and others have very affordable registration fees. Taken as a whole, they represent one of the best bargains around. See the Calendar of Events listings in every issue of In Service Online.

Another important change is to become qualified to work in various vehicle areas. These qualifications can be obtained through training classes, direct experience or certification exams. The Emergency Vehicle Technician Certification Commission (EVTCC) and Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) tests are a good way to establish qualifications. Each test covers a specific vehicle system or component such as chassis, engine, pump or aerial. The tests are offered several times a year and may be taken at one of hundreds of test sites around the country. Mechanics who feel they need to brush up their knowledge in a given area can often find instruction sessions at state, regional or national service training events.

Look around your department. Most departments need to make some sort of changes in their shop operations. Does your department have a preventive maintenance program -- not an annual maintenance schedule, but a real daily/weekly/monthly preventive maintenance program? Do you conduct annual pump, aerial and hose tests? Do you have good maintenance records?

Establishing a preventive maintenance program is probably one of the most important things a department can do to maintain the required level of safety, performance and reliability of their apparatus and equipment. The basic steps involve determining what work has to be done, who has to do it and how often. Start with common sense daily checks, add inspections and maintenance specified in the manufacturer’s maintenance manuals and finish with special procedures determined by local conditions. Make checklists and write standard operating procedures. Then keep records of all inspections, maintenance, replacements and repairs with notations of who did what and when.

Annual testing is also important. Pump tests are probably the easiest. Learn how to prepare for the tests and how to perform the tests correctly. Also take the time to learn how to deal with any problems that arise. If you don’t have a suitable test site, arrange to use one at a neighboring department. Perform the tests once a year to comply with NFPA standards and to obtain the maximum possible points on your Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating. Testing once every 3 years gets only half ISO credit; every 5 years gets zero credit.

Keeping good records is often difficult for folks who don’t like paperwork, but it’s another important change you can make in your department. Set up individual files for each apparatus and piece of equipment. Add warranties, serial number records and other paperwork that came with each item. Then add all the preventive maintenance checklists and work orders that apply to that item as they are generated. The result should be a complete record of all work performed on that item. The biggest benefit is that it will give you written proof that can help spot recurring problems, track maintenance expenses and potentially reduce your legal liability. No records, no proof.

Look at neighboring departments. If your department is in the position of having a well-organized, well-run maintenance program, perhaps you might consider helping neighboring departments with theirs. Do you have a good pump test site that other departments can use under your supervision and control? Do you have a preventive maintenance checklist that you can share with others? Did you end up with an extra copy of a particular maintenance manual that you can pass along to another department?

It’s a sad fact of life that many fire departments in the United States are so underfunded that they can barely pay the light bill or provide firefighters with proper protective clothing. When budgets are tight, it’s the shop that often ends up short. Helping your neighbors with maintenance would take only a little effort on your part, but it could make a big difference to them. Even if your budget is as tight as theirs, pooling your resources and talents can help everyone -- it’s sort of like mutual aid at the shop level, and it works just as well.

Look beyond. At some point, you may want to look beyond yourself, your department and your neighboring departments. If you have a special talent, it would benefit everyone if you shared that talent with others. Maybe it’s a talent for organization. Maybe you have a knack as an instructor. Maybe you’re an expert in a particular subject. If so, maybe it’s time to seek an opportunity to share your talent on a broader scale.

One good way is to become involved with the leadership of your state EVT association. Volunteer to help out at the annual training event. Host a quarterly meeting at your department. Offer to teach a class on a particular subject. Write a newsletter, set up a Web site or run for an office.

Whatever you decide to do, follow through. Thinking about it is fine, but actually doing it is better. You, your department, your neighboring departments and the fire service in general could benefit if everyone decided to make a positive change and then just went ahead and did it!