People leaving children at the station semi-unattended at a volunteer station

[u/statuscaffeinepticus]

Hello all,

I am a volunteer firefighter/AEMT for a volunteer fire department. We have a station that is fully equipped for living out of (used to have a live-in program for college students) that a handful of people use. We have a TV room, bunk room, and a gym.

Several times now, I have arrived at the station and found children semi-unattended in the TV room. If it’s only for a short time it’s no big deal, but it does get kind of frustrating when the on-duty crew has to tiptoe around the kids. At previous departments, sometimes members would bring their kids for a tour or something. However, they were not left unattended in the living areas of the crews.

Once all the station duties are done, hit the gym, run calls and do paperwork, training, cook dinner, it’s nice to kick back and relax. It feels disrespectful to be leaving your children in the way of the crew(s). This is a fire department not a daycare?

This is mostly a vent and to see if anyone else has dealt with this.

[u/yungingr]

I would put an end to that. If a crew is on duty and expected to be in the station, they need to be able to use the facilities as THEY want, not have to sit and watch 7 episodes of Bluey because someone isn't watching their own kids.

[u/statuscaffeinepticus → u/yungingr]

Thank you!!! That’s exactly how I feel. If it was a short period of time it’d be fine but I’m not watching kids TV for 5+ hours.

[u/Slight_Can5120 → u/statuscaffeinepticus]

Short period of time? Unattended?

Bullshit.

Get the officers then the Chief on board: No visitors unless escorted at all times by a FF/medic. No unattended children at ANY time. Hard rule.

I’d expect some ruffled feathers—the entitled jerks who feel like your station is their daycare. Well, fuck them.

[u/statuscaffeinepticus → u/Slight_Can5120]

Good point. It’s definitely time to look at the SOP (if we have one) and make one if we don’t already.

Rather unfortunately, it is an officer that seems to do this the most.

[u/Slight_Can5120 → u/statuscaffeinepticus]

🫤 well, that could be a no-win situation

The smart play here might be the safety/liability angle, and if his kid(s) are older and more responsible, the fairness issue.

[u/statuscaffeinepticus → u/Slight_Can5120]

Yeah that’s why I haven’t said anything yet. I’m going to ask a different officer about an SOP. Going to tread carefully, I think the safety angle is probably the best. I doubt he’s going to care about the crews having to deal with his kids.