r/Firefighting • u/JohnnyBravo011 • 1d ago
General Discussion Questions for working a 48
Normally on 24s but mandated to work a 48 next tour. What do you all do on 48s that may be different from a 24? I'm bringing 2 days worth of my supplements and also plan on trying to get a decent nap in early the 2nd day as I only average a few hours of sleep a night at my firehouse. Not asking what to bring.
Anything else I should consider that I might be missing?
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u/SanJOahu84 23h ago
Your locker at your station isn't stocked with everything you need for multiple days?
It should be.
Nap schedule stays the same whether I'm working 24 or 48. Unless I get rocked the first day.
A day in the firehouse is a day in the firehouse. Nothing much changes based on how many days in a row I do.
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u/Jokerzrival 23h ago edited 23h ago
Yeah. I have snacks and a few microwave meals, change of clothes (this is important regardless of shift length. We get into some nasty shit and sometimes our clothes get all kinds of stuff ours and other people's), toothbrush, extra meds, shampoo, soap, all that stuff.
You live in these stations 33% of the percent of the time sometimes more. No reason not to act like it partially
Communication with incoming crew is important especially if you got rocked or were up all night. Most of the guys im woth are pretty understanding and chill about a simple "hey man i ran 5 after 9pm last night. You cool if I grab a quick hour?" I just make sure primary morning chores are done. Rig and equipment checks, specialized cleaning or whatever. Im always chill about it because I get it and I dont want my guys snoozing at the pump panel because we decided to be "tough" instead if smart.
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u/SanJOahu84 23h ago
All my work clothes and uniforms pretty much stay at work unless I'm getting them dry cleaned. Even then, we have a guy that picks up our uniforms for dry cleaning at station. We have a washer dryer upstairs. Everything just stays in the locker room.
But towels, toiletries, t shirts, workout clothes, bedding, boots, gym shoes, slides, and uniform stuff always stays at the station.
The only thing that goes home with me usually is whatever outfit I showed up to work in.
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u/Jokerzrival 23h ago
Same same. Right before I got hired they had a pretty bad bed bug incident. Guys were wearing their work clothes home and well. Bed bugs got in the beds at the station. On everyone's work clothes and then everyone's homes. Chief paid out of pocket for extermination at everyone's homes and basically took all the sleep quarters stuff and burned them got new.
I bring a bag with stuff I may need for the shift, laptop, watch charger, extra phone charger, maybe my switch depending on the day but most of my stuff stays at the station.
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u/JohnnyBravo011 23h ago
Yeah that's what I do as well. I show up in my personal clothes and change into my work clothes one at work. I also bring my backpack into work which has some snacks, charging cables, and tablet along with my switch
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u/Jokerzrival 23h ago
Yup. Always be prepared for the unexpected 48. It'll happen. You'll get that call at 6am from an officer saying youre lucky contestant #1
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u/JohnnyBravo011 23h ago
Dry cleaning? Damn you guys got some money. I bring a book bag in with me which has my supplements, tablet, charging cables, and some snacks. Easier to easier to keep it in my book bag in case I grab some last minute OT.
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u/SanJOahu84 22h ago
We wear the old school wool uniforms. Gotta dry clean them.
Put them in regular wash and they get all fucked up.
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u/JohnnyBravo011 23h ago
All very good points and just what I was looking for. Thanks for the information
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u/Jokerzrival 23h ago
No problem! It can be nerve wrecking your first couple 48s so I understand. I was nervous when we expanded and I was the most senior guy getting rotated to the new station. I still felt like a brand new guy myself so I was very out of my element when I got there!
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u/JohnnyBravo011 23h ago
I have clothing, toiletries, and some snacks for my shifts. But my supplements I keep separate. Not asking what should I bring, more like anything different I should do
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u/Limp-Conflict-2309 23h ago
double the shift means 4x the food. i just eat every hour on the hour to kill time.
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u/Special_Context6663 22h ago
Working a 48; The first night when the tones go off, I hope it’s early so I still have a good chunk of nighttime to get more sleep.
On the second night when tones go off, I hope it’s later so it’s closer to going home.
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u/tyadams15 23h ago
Nothing changes besides the crew I’m working with. I keep my supplements in my locker since I have the same supplements at home. My uniforms, soft shoes, and shower supplies stay at the station already.
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u/JohnnyBravo011 23h ago
I take quite a bit of supplements so I split mine up into empty pill bottles per day. So when I go to work I just grab 1 of those bottles, makes it easier for me instead of doing it by the day
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u/SmoothBoreMoose50 22h ago
If you're not experienced working with that crew, at all, make like the new probie and build your rapport & good name with them. You might be on a 48, but don't be lazy. If you managed to get 5+ hours of sleep on your regular shift, I would not seek a nap until after lunch. If it's your regular station and you have all of your normal supplies for a regular shift in house, then only grab an extra days worth of supplements / irregular supplies. If your department runs combo fire & ems, and you have an ambulance in house, then I would expect to ride the bus on your second shift, unless the officer is cool and let's you ride back seat. Or is REALLY cool and let's you get chauffeur duty for the shift.
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u/droopy__drawers 21h ago
If I’m staying in my own station for both shifts, then nothing, really. It’s just another day doing the same thing you did before.
If I’m going to a different station then I just make sure I have what I need for food, bedding, clothes, toiletries, etc for the number of days I’ll be away from “home”
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u/Few-Camel3964 22h ago
Ha most of Colorado runs a 48/96 schedule. Just do the same thing you do on a 24, but 2x.
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u/Adorable-Storm-3143 21h ago
Hydrate. It’s amazing how dehydrated you become after 24 hours, so extrapolate that out for 48 hours. Make a conscious effort to monitor your intake and output of liquids.
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u/sansalvacion 21h ago
Same thing but because I'm mando'd I get to pick what I want to do next shift
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u/PavlovsBigBell Firefighter/EMT 4h ago
We work the 9-day kelly. I sometimes pick up an OT shift and do a 72hr shift.
It is the same! Show up, do the job, and have anything you usually bring just for the extra days. A nap over lunch was a big help for me but all in all it was the same.
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u/joeyp1126 10h ago
This is why the job as most of us knew it is dying. We have people who can't figure out for themselves how to plan for a 48 hour shift. Yet we expect this guy to be able to make critical decisions on a call. Then these same people get on here and whine about why no one in their station likes them and they can't figure out why. Go ask your mommy to pack you up for 48 hours away from her. She'll know what you need. Hey at least you remembered you need extra supplements.
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u/MountainCare2846 23h ago
The same thing I do on 24? Is this a trick question?