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Since 100% of your score in obtaining a firefighter badge is in the oral
board, what are you missing that's keeping you from gaining that badge?
Over 2,323 badges and counting have received their badges from this
program! Thousands more have been hired by using the free information
from our web site and having their questions answered by phone or
e-mail.
Leave FireZine easily here:
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If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from
him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.
--Benjamin Franklin
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Please forward or recommend this FireZine to anyone you
know that wants to shorten the learning curve to get
that badge!
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your own subscription, visit
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http://www.eatstress.com/firezinearchive.htm
=========================================
Please forward or recommend this FireZine to anyone you
know that wants to shorten the learning curve to get
that badge!
If you are receiving this issue as a forward, and want
your own subscription, visit
http://www.eatstress.com/firezine_signup.htm
For Back Issues of Fire-Zine
http://www.eatstress.com/firezinearchive.htm
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In This Issue
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1. Quick Presentation Skills Tip
2. Entry Level Skills Tip
3. Robs Corner
4. Promotional Level Skills Tip
(Entry level should read this too)
5. New Badges
6. Humor
7. Resource Websites for Candidates
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1. Quick Presentation Skills Tip
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First this: It's Your Turn in the Hot Seat!
You’ve spent time, money and put your life on hold to gain the necessary
education and experience to become a firefighter. Your oral board will
determine the future. It’s game day. You have around 20 minutes to
stun the oral board into giving you the opportunity to ride big red.
Are you ready to sit in the hot seat and see what you’ve got?
At the Chabot College seminar on Tuesday October 4, 2005, with Captain
Bob, you can gain the time-tested strategies of oral boards you might be
missing. In a no-nonsense, straight-from-the-hip way, and in a total
of 2+ hours, you will gain more information and insights than most
candidates learn in an entire lifetime.
Please send Captain Bob your questions on what you want to make sure
that is covered at the seminar:
captbob@eatstress.com
DATE: Tuesday October 4, 2005
TIME: 6 pm to 8 pm
LOCATION: Room 916, Building 900 at Chabot College
25555 Hesperian Boulevard, Hayward, CA 94545
This is information that has helped over 2300 candidates nail their
badges!
If you have questions or if you would like to reserve a spot, please
email Steve Prziborowski, Fire Technology Coordinator at Chabot College,
at
sprziborowski@chabotcollege.edu
Can't make the seminar? Get the new “It’s Your Turn in the Hot Seat” CD
series taped at our live seminars here:
http://www.eatstress.com/hot_seat.htm
More information here:
http://www.eatstress.com/seminar.htm
New! It's here. We're excited to announce that now you can listen to
segments from our CD program on your computer or iPod/MP3. More here
http://www.eatstress.com/mp3entryintro.htm
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Fired from Another Department
Let’s get real here! One of the most difficult hurdles to get over is
being fired by another department. It’s easier if you’re a medic.
There has been an alarming rate of new firefighters fired in their
academy and during probation. The main reasons are new hires are showing
up for their academy without being in good enough physical shape. No,
just because you passed the physical agility doesn’t mean you’re
physically ready for the academy. You see the physical agility standards
over the past few years have been lowered so almost anyone can pass.
Fire departments have had little control over this circus. But they know
once they get the candidates in the academy they will require them to
meet a level of service that the job requires before they put you on the
floor.
Others can’t remember the manipulative skills for equipment and
evolutions. Some seem to want to shoot their mouth off on how they were
trained in another academy or department.
Last, too many paramedic firefighters are carrying their position,
acting as if they’re in charge of patient care no matter what.
Understand if you have crewmembers that have been going on EMS calls for
over twenty years, they have had to learn something. If your officer
tells you something, you had better get quickly focused and ask him or
her what they’re seeing that you don’t. You could be 100% right and they
will show you the door.
A large city recently had oral boards. One BC had 25 candidates come
through that had been fired by other departments. When he asked why,
they went on the defensive and most said it was a personality conflict.
The BC said later, yea it was you. If you can’t keep your mouth shut
for a year why should we take a chance on you.
The main thing to remember is don’t bring up getting fired in the oral
board unless they do. Too many candidates want to bring it up on their
own trying to justify their position and try to do repair work. Don’t.
If it is brought up or covered in your background, take responsibility
for what you think happened (you may never really find out why), what
you learned, and how it has helped you move forward in your career.
One candidate had been let go from an academy. He enrolled in another
college academy and made it through with flying colors. When he tested
again, he told the background investigator how he improved his skill
level and was hired.
What does it take to get hired?
Captain Bob,
As seems the tradition, I am emailing you to inform you of my official
hiring. Having no FF history and knowing only a few firefighters, your
gold package aided me in getting my badge. Out of over 600 applicants,
I was # 6 and the dept. was hiring 8. I start October 3rd. I'm proud
to say I'm officially a new member of the Noblesville Fire Department,
just north of Indianapolis, IN, which is also located in the fastest
growing county in the state as well as the whole U.S.
JIM
LA City is Now Testing Monthly! More information here:
http://eatstress.com/la_city_test.htm
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Check out
http://www.eatstress.com/newpage2.htm and learn how entry
level and promotional candidates are improving their interview scores up
to 15 points and nailing that badge!
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Want Captain Bob to come speak to your group? See
http://www.eatstress.com/seminar.htm
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2. Entry Level Skills Tip
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Sea Monsters
I often hear from candidates when they go into the final stages of the
hiring process, background, psych, medical and poly. These are
unchartered waters. During the last steps many candidates start
creating sea monsters in their heads. Here’s an example:
Sea monsters are getting me. I talked to you about 2 months ago w/
regard to the psych/background. I had failed a psych 10 yrs ago w/
police dept., etc. I ordered your book on the psych! I got word last
week I passed my psych and background!!! I went in yesterday for my
medical. Sea monsters are getting me! It is so close I can taste it.
I have off and on back pain, nothing serious, nothing that keeps me from
lifting weights everyday, playing basketball, doing anything I need to
do. I had the full muscular-skeletal exam yesterday - lift 150lbs from
ground, lift 110 lbs above my head; raise my chest off floor as many
times as I can in 60 secs; raise my legs off the ground (while lying on
chest) as many times as I can in 60 secs; and then a flexibility exam -
raise legs straight up; etc, etc. then I went for a back x-ray. First,
the helper came in and took 3 standard x-rays of my back. I waited a
few minutes and then the radiologist himself came back in and said we
needed to take a 4th x-ray w/my back in a new position. All of a
sudden, I start freaking out. Are they seeing something w/my spine??!!!!
After the 4th x-ray, the radiologist only says, "ok, you can go." If
I’ve been relatively successful at everything else, CPAT, exercises w/
occupational therapist, I’m in good cardio shape, no current back pain.
Can they axe me b/c of something they see in the xray??? Who makes a
final call?? I heard all the info was sent to the fire department and
they decide whether they want to hire you. Is this true? Or is it a
medical doctor rendering an opinion based upon everything presented??
Thanks for your input. I’m so close, but so worried!!! Crossing my
fingers...JS
CB Reply: Sounds pretty normal to me. You could have not passed the
exam if you had trouble. The extra x-ray might have been taken because
one of the first ones did not develop well enough. Keep me informed.
JS: "I could have not passed the exam if I had trouble,” do you mean, it
sounds like I had trouble, or I would have noticed if I had trouble on
the exam???
CB: No, no, no. If there were a problem with your back you wouldn't
have passed the exam silly!
JS: My wife agrees w/ you!! I’m a worrier! That’s my problem!!
Anyways, it's more like back stiffness as opposed to pain. When you say
"I could have not passed the exam if I had trouble,” do you mean, it
sounds like I had trouble, or I would have noticed if I had trouble on
the exam??? But I just didn't want them to see something bone wise
that I don't know about and get the axe. I did in the high 40's and
50's on the back extensions (raising chest off mat) and raising legs off
mat (lying on chest)... all in a 60 sec. time limit. The lady commented
on my lifting of the 150 lbs and 110 lbs that my mechanics
were superior. The radiologist just seemed weird when he came back for
the 4th x-ray. Anyways, I’ll just sit tight. Thanks.
CB Reply: I understand. Don't worry until it's time to worry. It's
not time to worry yet. Knock it off before you self-destruct.
JS: The last and only thing I will say is I don't know if I passed the
muscular-skeletal test. I was asking how my results were and they kept
saying that they only collected the data and did not interpret it! They
collect the info and send it downstairs. (I presume to the doctor's
office).
CB: Please. Go have a glass of wine or something.
JS: Anyways, I’m trying to relax.
CB: I'm having a hard time believing you. Keep me informed.
Then finally from JS: Sorry for the delay. I finally got the word last
week... Job offer!!!!! Start the academy Sept. 6th. You were right
every step of the way. Thanks again for all the advice and support. JS
At this point candidates usually tell me all their worries evaporate
like the morning due on corn field in Kansas.
This warmed my heart:
Capt. Bob, Just a quick note to say thanks for the information on
expungement on your website. I've been searching for weeks to get a
handle on this. Your writing and explanations were superb.
As a younger single man, (14 yrs ago) I made some poor decisions on a
weekend ski trip/bachelor party. Unfortunately I got a DUI, fortunately
no damage or no injury to anyone.
I'm not a fire fighter, (but the thought has crossed my mind.) I'm a
simple businessman just trying to survive corporate battles. I got to
tell you the support that you provide to these guys actually pulled my
strings.
I have no doubt these guys cherish you, the sense of pride is awesome.
Thanks Again, WA
CB: Just happy to be of service.
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If someone asks you what you need to help you get a firefighter badge,
tell them you want our new Gold Package!!! Check it out here!:
http://www.eatstress.com/goldpackage.htm
==========================================
Wait! Captain Bob wants to give you a 10 day test drive of
selected inside secrets how to get a badge. Learn more here:
http://www.eatstress.com/testdriveintro.htm
Bottom line getting a badge is all presentation skills!
Check out
http://www.eatstress.com/faq.htm for the FREE 101 Inside
Secrets How to Get a Badge!
==========================================
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Ask Captain Bob any questions
E-mail Mailto:captbob@eatstress.com
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The secret Formula to get a badge here:
http://www.eatstress.com/formula.htm
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3. Robs Corner
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Cut and Paste
Have you noticed over the years, the news doesn’t report events as much
as they report opinion polls? You don’t hear about how the president is
doing as much as, what the public thinks about what he is doing. And
you can get totally different results depending what news channel you
are watching.
I find one of the biggest problem people have while preparing for either
entry or promotional tests is conducting their own polls. It is a good
idea to make sure you are on the right path, but once you do that, you
need to make it your own. I get calls for people that are just as
confused as they could possibly be. They have gotten so many opinions
that they now have a contradiction to everything the other people told
them was right. In all of this opinion collection they never come up
with their own stuff. They are trying to blend these other people’s
opinions into something they can use. Your oral interview is not an
exercise in cut and paste.
I talked to guy I work with who was going for captain. I knew the
people he had talked to and I could tell when he was repeating what each
person had told him to say. The problem with this is the people you
talk to are telling you what they would say if they were you, and they
are not. I asked him when I got to hear him talk. He said that is what
he had been doing. I told him that I knew him and his style and none of
what he said fit him. It was like watching a person who talks with
their hands try not to.
When we are interviewing you for a job, we are trying to get an idea of
who we will see on the job. If you have constructed your responses out
of other people’s stuff, it doesn’t sound natural, and it will be hard
to give you a chance. I would say you would get a better score if you
were slightly off base and delivered it comfortably, while being
yourself, than to nail it and sound like you have memorized it from a
book.
You need to dial yourself into the correct answers and directions to
take with the oral board questions, and then make them your own. There
are most likely several hundred correct answers to a customer service
question, or to “Why do you want to be a firefighter”, let us know your
answer, you’ll be glad you did, and so will the panel.
You can find new powerful information on Captain Rob’s new web site
here: www.myfireinterview.com
CAPTAIN ROB (Thank you)
NRTC@SONIC.NET
http://www.myfireinerview.com
You can read more of Rob's wisdom by visiting
http://www.eatstress.com/robs_corner.htm
Captain Rob is Captain Bob's Son. He does all the entry level coaching
by phone nationwide. You can contact him direct with your questions or
set up a coaching appointment at 707-869-1330. or e-mail Rob at
nrtc@sonic.net
For more on entry level coaching visit
http://www.myfireinterview.com/private%20coaching.htm
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4. Promotional Level Skills Tip
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Stories Get Badges!
Your success in an assessment is going to be all about presentation
skills.
We encourage candidates in the assessment centers to lace their answers
with personal life experiences. Since no one else can tell a candidate’s
life experience stories, they can’t be placed in the mold of a profile.
They become unique, fresh and convincing. It’s not uncommon to have
several candidates from a department (we keep this information
confidential) go through our program competing against one another and
get their promotional badges. Why? You can’t tell one from the other in
the promotional process because they’re using their own stuff. Not a
profile robot “clone” of everyone else.
If you have all the education, experience, and the burning desire to get
that next badge, and you’re still not getting promoted, having to cool
your heels in your current position waiting for that next test (not a
bad idea), you have be asking yourself, "Why?"
You can talk all you want about what we do here, how you want it or
think it should be, but the candidates you are reading about in our
material are a lot like you. They simply got positive results by putting
simple techniques into action. The big difference is they figured out
how to maximize the points in their assessment centers and oral boards,
are puffing their chests out with a new badge and taking home that raise
that will go way into retirement.
They did it by lacing their answers to questions and segments of the
assessment center with personal life signature stories that related to
the topic to delivered the point! Since scores are calculated in
hundredths of points (82.15, 87.63, 90.87, etc.), the goal is to keep
building on a few hundredths of points here on this question, a few
hundredths there on that answer, with a signature story, gaining a few
more hundredths with their signature personalized life experience
stories at the appropriate time, delivering the all-powerful “Nugget”
answers that no one else can tell, and pulling away from the parrot
salvo-dropping clones. What’s a “Nugget”? A “Nugget” is an answer to a
question that’s going to get you the top score possible on that segment,
satisfy the panel and cause them to go onto the next question.
Before the clone candidates realize what has happened, these candidates
have added on extra points to their score, placing them in a position
where they couldn’t go around them to get a real shot at the badge. Just
being 1-2 points out of the running can decide whether you will promoted
or not.
As one successful candidate wrote: "I died on two lists. I wasn’t going
to let that happen again!" — Steve.
Another candidate wrote: "Captain Bob, I wasn’t real excited with all
this creating stories stuff we did during our coaching session. Well,
I’m a believer now. The scores just came out. I’m No. 1 by three full
points. Imagine, me No. 1!" — Jeff.
The toughest thing for candidates to do in an oral is to be themselves
on purpose. Your stories establish a natural bridge between you and the
panel in segments of the assessment center. When you're yourself, you
become conversational because you are on your own turf. This alone can
lower the stress and the butterflies. Every one has butterflies. The
trick is to get all the butterflies to all fly in the same formation.
That can make the difference.
Promotional Badges:
Hi Capt. Bob;
I would like to express my thanks for your tips and suggestions.
As of October 1st I will be the Deputy Chief of my department, thanks in
part to your board interview tips.
Again Thanks
Mike Moses
Prospect Road and District Fire
Nova Scotia
Canada
Captain: To put it in context, on the captains’ exam given in 2000, I
was seeded in the low 20’s after the written exam. After the oral
assessment I sat at number 70. On the most recent test I was number 22
after the written and finished number 24 overall after the orals.
Thanks again.
Then, I got your promotional package last year when I was preparing for
the Captains assessment for Dallas, TX. I made Captain on the first
list in August 2004 and just got my transfer to one of the busiest truck
companies in the city. I feel that the information in your products was
vital as I was preparing. Thanks for any help you can give.
Paul Julian
Capt. Bob,I wanted to let you know to add another badge to the
collection. As of this morning I have been promoted to the rank of
Captain with the Reno Fire department. I finished #4 on the list.
I made great use of the materials I purchased from you and your
correspondence was very helpful as well.
Thank you again, your product it was great!
In brotherhood,
Owen Hardy
Captain Reno FD
For more on our promotional program visit
http://www.eatstress.com/promo.htm
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5. New Badges
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Dear Capt. Bob,
I got my badge the first time out!
As I prepared myself for the oral board, I wanted to make sure that I
did everything I could to be ready. How could I have looked myself, or
my family, in the eyes if I had not prepared properly for the oral
interview? Everything that you said happened. The questions, the
panel, the format, and the Gold Nuggets happened just as the Gold
Package laid out for me.
The department was preparing to hire six new candidates but they were
not sure when they would be hired due to the construction of a new
station. I took the oral in the morning and the Chief called my home
that evening. The Chief said after the interviews were over, he had
gone to the city manager and asked for permission to hire one candidate
as soon as possible. The candidate that was number 1 on the list and
the one that he wanted to hire was me.
Some people might say, that I got lucky. I say "luck is when preparation
meets opportunity" (gold nugget) Thanks for the Badge, Greg Boyd
Well Bob it finaly happened my family and I were on the beach last week
spending one more day before school when out of the blue my phone rang
it was Eric from Mississauga's HR he was calling to offer me a position
in the fall class, if I wanted it!!!!
I start my training on Sept 19th. I could not have done this with out
your help Captain
Thank you from my whole family Cal and Sandra, Jake, Coleby, Logan,
Emmalia, Andi and Clark
Capt. Bob, This is Chad again from Grants Pass, Oregon. I ordered your
package a while back and tested for the fire department here, I’m
officially in now. I made it all the way and it does feel like I won the
lotto. Your book, cd, and dvd package helped tremendously. It brought my
confidence level way up going into the oral. Thank you so much.
Sincerely, Chad
Hello--It was five years ago that I first visited Firecareers. It was
how I found and landed my first job at a small career department, and
served for four and a half years. The entire time I wanted to make the
lateral move to my hometown dept.--a larger city, more opportunities,
Paramedic and tech. rescue opportunities...But I was a bone head. I
thought because I was already on the job elsewhere, I could waltz
through the process, and to some extent I did--all the way to the
Chief's interview twice, but never got the call. Laterals, my advice to
you is this: we are our own worst enemies...you think you are a good
judge of your interview skill, trust me you're not. Don't be a bonehead
like me and go through the process twice before getting help from
professionals like Captain Rob and Captain Bob at eatstress.com. Think
this is some baloney sell out advertisement? Well, all I can say is
after five years of trying, my recruit academy starts in two weeks. You
be the judge.
Matt Powers
Capt. Bob,
Wow... I never thought the day would come, but it did! I am 34 years
old and just recently found out that Fire and EMS were my lifes calling.
Went to school, got my Medic card and my Fire card, both about a year
ago. School was tough and long, but I thought that was the hard
part...boy was I WRONG!!! I tested my first time at a rural department
and passed the written and went to the Oral Int., does Hiroshima ring
any bells? The term "BOMBED IT" doesn't even come close. I think well on
my feet and can improvise pretty well, so i figured I would be fine.
After 2 tests, and no call backs, I stumbled onto your site and got the
gold program. What a difference that made on my scores. Three (3) weeks
later I tested for another department and out of 96 people I was #3!
Unfortunately, they only took the top 2. The next test I placed #1 on
the list but I was past the age requirement, by 14 months. Let's face
it, I was getting frustrated and was about to give up! Well, I'm glad I
didn't! Today I was called and offered the position of Fire/Medic on
nearby department,#1 out of 112! It has finally paid off and it is the
best news of my life so far. Hope is the anchor for the soul!!! I'm glad
I didn’t give up!!!
I would like to say to those fellow candidates: Lets face it, most
people will pass the written and most people will pass the physical
agility. We all know what is coming and we prepare for it, we study the
math, English, look through the textbooks. We run, cycle, climb stairs.
When it comes to the Oral Int., "Hmmm, I can just wing it", Don't know
why, it is some type of bizarre mystery. (Hell, I did it 2 times.) YOU
CANNOT JUST WING THE ORAL INTERVIEW, YOU WILL NEVER BE SUCCESSFULl!
Trust me, please! You are going for a job that it highly competitive
and desirable, make an investment and GET AN EDGE ON THE COMPETITION!
Capt Bob knows what he is talking about, the steps work. Get a package
from him, ANY PACKAGE! Study it, follow it, use it. Get those nuggets
and watch the reviewers stop and look at you like ''WOW, did you just
hear that?" When it works, and it will, STAY ON THAT WINNING PONY! Capt.
Bob is giving away the winning lottery numbers and all you have to do is
buy a ticket. Oh yeah, one more thing, GET A TAPE RECORDER! Use it, use
it, use it. You will never know how bad you are until you
hear it yourself.
In closing, I would like to think you Captain Bob! I have never met you
in person, but you are like the angle on my shoulder! I would have made
it eventually (I think), but you made it a lot easier for me.
Thank you so very much for helping all of us, especially me, and make my
dream come true. This is like winning the lottery for me!
God Bless
Michael Schultz
Columbus Ohio
Just a quick update on my son, Nick.
He received "official" word from HR in West Palm Beach last week that
his start date is Oct. 24th!! I will be throwing him a surprise party
this weekend to celebrate... He wouldn't even let me discuss it with him
prior to the official notice...
thanks again for your program.... it is really helpful!!
Anne
....coaching is just a tool, it was not meant to give the candidate the
correct answers on what to say, it was meant to be solid in answering
the questions and sound unique. I in fact met with Capt. Bob and used
his program, and after just 2 interviews I was in. I used his approach
with my answers. Good Luck... Steve
Captain I spoke with you in the past even though I never purchased your
program. I got great pointers from your website that put me in the
position to score 100% on the oral. I did start the academy in MD. Les
A very quick note to let everyone know that I have successfully made it
on to the Anchorage Fire Dept. and am currently in the Academy.
Expected graduation date is December 16th, 2005 with a one year
probation after that. I am more busy now than I was in Paramedic
school, but this time I have my wonderful wife and daughter to support
me right here in the same city (and house even). More information to
come later as time permits. Thank you all for your wonderful support.
It's 11pm, today was day 2 of the academy, and I'm exhausted. Good
night! --Brent
Capt. A year ago I made the decision that I was going to leave my
current profession and try and obtain a job as a Firefighter in my home
state, CT. This was a big change in professions and I was not really
sure how to go about this and what to expect. A friend of mine turned me
on to firehouse.com and told me to read the hiring and employment forum
and post questions. I have found this site to be extremely helpful and a
valuable resource in my strive for a new profession.
For all those who are trying to get hired on a department it truly is
the Oral interviews that get you the job. You have to take the time and
research the types of questions that will be asked and be able to sift
though the B.S. to get the real question being asked.
I did not purchase ANY information to help me on my trek nor have I ever
talked to CAPTBOB other than on this forum but I did read Capt BOB's web
site in its entirety. It has a lot of useful material on it and one of
the most helpful things for me was to take the 30 most used oral
questions and write out answers to them. Then I thought about all the
ways these questions could be asked differently but still need the same
type of answer. When I went into my oral interviews I was prepared and
ready. I only took three tests and the first test I took I did not do
well in the oral because I did not prepare. The next two tests I took I
scored well on my written and after my oral was in the top 10 both
times. I attribute this to the help on oral questions I received on this
forum and the material I prepared from sources off this site.
On October 3rd I start the academy in CT and just wanted to extend a
sincere thank you. Thanks Ant
More badges here:
http://www.eatstress.com/badgesnew.htm
To see how candidates have improved their position in gaining a badge
visit
http://www.eatstress.com/newpage152.htm
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Check out the current "Bonus Nugget" oral board tip
http://www.eatstress.com/bonusnugget.htm
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6. Humor
DARWIN AWARDS NEWSLETTER - September 2005
--------------------------------------------+---+-+---+-+-+-+-+
The Darwin Awards salute the improvement of the human genome
by honoring those who contrive to remove themselves from it. This honor
is generally bestowed posthumously.
--------------------------------------------+---+-+---+-+-+-+-+
Darwin Award: Surprise Attack Surprise -- CONFIRMED
3 January 2005, St. Maurice, Switzerland
It was the first week of a weapons refresher course, and Swiss Army
Grenadier Detachment 20/5 had just finished training with live ammo.
The shooting instructor ordered the soldiers to secure their weapons
for a break.
The 24-year-old second lieutenant, in charge of this detachment,
decided this would be a good time to demonstrate a knife attack on
a soldier. Wielding his bayonet, he leaped toward one of his men,
achieving complete surprise.
But earlier that week, the soldiers had been drilled to release the
safety catch and ready their guns for firing in the shortest possible
time. The surprised soldier, seeing his lieutenant leaping toward him
with a knife, snapped off a shot to protect himself from the attack.
The lesson could not have been more successful: the soldier had saved
himself and protected the rest of the detachment from a surprise attack.
The lieutenant might have wished to commend his soldier on his quick
action and accurate marksmanship. Unfortunately, he had been killed
with one shot.
Reference: Blick <http://darwinawards.com/darwin/darwin2005-03.html>
--------------------------------------------+---+-+---+-+-+-+-+
Darwin Award: Damned if You Do... -- CONFIRMED
6 September 2004, Romania
A Pitesti man with a metal ring stuck on his penis was being sought
by doctors, after he fled the hospital consumed by panic.
The unidentified 42-year-old claimed he had put the ring on his penis
after losing a bet during a drinking game at a pub. He was subsequently
unable to remove the ring. Embarrassment kept him from seeking
immediate medical help, but after two days, unbearable pain overcame
unbearable shame, and he took his smelly and discolored penis in for
treatment.
Doctors told him that gangrene had set in, and his life was in danger.
The blood supply had been cut off for too long, and there was nothing
they could do but remove his penis, so that the necrosis did not spread
to the rest of his body.
The manhunt was ongoing. "There is no way he can escape going under the
knife," said a doctor. "He must come back to the hospital and accept
this." The man's only consolation is a guaranteed Darwin Award, one way
or the other!
Reference: Daily Record (UK), Ananova
<http://darwinawards.com/darwin/darwin2004-06.html>
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Darwin Award: Playing with Elephants -- CONFIRMED
28 January 2005, Pendang, Thailand
It's no secret that elephants are big. Elephants eat hundreds of pounds
of food a day just to maintain their weight. Indian elephants are nine
feet tall at the shoulder, and the males have tusks that extend over
three feet. They're so powerful that in Southeast Asia they are used to
haul massive tree trunks with their tusks, work performed by heavy
equipment in other countries.
It's also no secret that teasing an animal can make it mad. Teasing a
nine-foot-tall animal that can carry a tree with its three-foot tusks
may not be a good idea. Yet that was the very idea that formed in
Prawat's head, when he saw a herd of five performing elephants chained
to trees outside a Buddhist temple.
While the owner waited inside for an entertainment permit, Prawat, a
50-year-old rubber-tapper, offered sugar cane to one of the ever-hungry
elephants... then pulled it away. Then he did it again. And again.
And again.
The game was great fun for Prawat, but the elephant quickly tired of it.
The last time Prawat withdrew the treat, the elephant swung his massive
tusks and gored him through the stomach. He died on the way to Alor
Star Hospital.
Reference: The Star (Kuala Lumpur)
<http://darwinawards.com/darwin/darwin2005-02.html>
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Honorable Mention: Oops, Did It Again -- CONFIRMED
31 July 2005, Darwin, Australia
A 30-year-old resident of this aptly named town of about 60,000, nestled
in the Northern Territories on the Sea of Timor, just wanted to go home.
But he was thwarted by two circumstances. First, he lived in an
upper-level unit in a high-rise apartment building, and second, he had
locked his keys in the apartment.
It was around 4 a.m. Some people do their best thinking in the wee
hours of the morning, but our protagonist is not one of them. He
concluded that his best course of action was to scale the outside of the
building.
He managed to climb a short distance before he fell. Luckily, a parked
car was beneath him to cushion the blow with its roof. He pulled
himself off the shattered windshield and, unwilling to give up after one
small setback, again set out to scale the wall.
This time he reached the third floor before falling. He was less
fortunate than before, as he landed on his head, yet also more
fortunate, as this knocked him unconscious and saved him from a third
attempt.
He survived the fall, and was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital for
treatment.
Lest outsiders get the wrong idea of Darwin, Australia, we include a
comment from a sergeant on the Darwin Police force: "It doesn't happen
every day," he said.
Reference: The Australian, Gold Coast Bulletin
<http://darwinawards.com/stupid/stupid2005-02.html>
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Honorable Mention: Catching the Boat -- CONFIRMED
28 September 2003, Vancouver, Canada
William, a 36-year-old carpenter, hoped to become a stunt man. He had
a brilliant plan. During the Vancouver Film Festival, movie people
jetted in from all over the world. He would bungee from the Lions Gate
Bridge, gracefully descend to the deck of a passing cruise ship, and
disengage from the bungee cable as smoothly as James Bond, to the awe of
the ship's passengers. Producers would marvel at his work, and discuss
over
cocktails who would hire him for their next film.
Stunt men have the advantage of working with stunt coordinators, who
carefully plot out each acrobatic feat with unerring accuracy. But
William was a do-it-yourself man. He planned for over two years,
checking the height of the tides, boat schedules, and deck layouts. He
even lined up sponsors and recruited assistants. But, as it turned out,
he could have used a stunt coordinator.
The stunt began perfectly. William took a swan dive off the bridge,
trailing the bungee cord behind him. He felt it grow taut as it
stretched and began to slow his descent. The tennis court of the cruise
ship drew nearer. And nearer. And nearer...
He slammed into the deck, hurtled into a volleyball net, bounced against
a deck railing, and found himself flying once more into the air,
watching the cruise ship sail away.
Although he had failed to make his James Bond entrance, "people on the
boat loved it," he told a reporter. "They were screaming, yelling,
waving." A witness, however, described the reaction as "shrieks of
horror."
William dangled above the water for a few minutes, confirming that no
bones were broken, and making a mental note to use a shorter bungee cord
next time. A water taxi positioned itself beneath him, and he
gracefully
descended to its deck, and smoothly disengaged from the bungee cable.
William is still waiting to hear from the movie producers.
Reference: AP, cnn.com
<http://darwinawards.com/stupid/stupid2003-07.html>
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Personal Account: Watch Where You're Going
I hired several laborers to prepare two garden areas for me. They
needed some supplies, so I showed them the location of ice water and the
bathroom, and left to obtain the supplies. Upon my return, I noticed an
ambulance in front of my home, along with two police cars.
The police informed me that the neighbor had called 911 to report
a naked man screaming and running around the yard next door.
As it turned out, one of the laborers had needed to answer the call of
nature. Rather than use the bathroom I had shown him, he went into the
woods behind our house, dropped his trousers, and squatted down --
right on top of a huge nest of hornets.
He was released from the hospital after about a week, having learned
a very painful and nearly fatal lesson: always watch where you're going.
<http://darwinawards.com/personal/personal2004-05.html>
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Personal Account: Brake Care
Summer 2001, USA
I am a keen mountain-biker, and was the proud owner of a fairly
expensive mountain bike. My bike was fitted with 'V' brakes, which are
extremely effective, though prone to squealing.
My dear brother decided to have a ride on my bike one day, while I was
out. He noticed the squealing as he cycled down the hill we live on,
towards the invariably busy crossroads at the bottom. Being a helpful
sort, he headed back home and proceeded to pour a generous amount of
3-in-1 oil onto the brakes, before once more setting off down the hill.
The oil worked! The only reported squealing came from my brother, as he
slammed into the side of a moving VW Beetle. To this day he sports an
impressive scar running from his eye socket to just past his ear. And
yes, the bike was totaled.
<http://darwinawards.com/personal/personal2004-04.html>
==========================================
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http://www.eatstress.com/hotlinks.htm
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==========================================
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Information Products on How to Get a Badge.
Web site: http://www.eatstress.com
Over 300 pages of helpful
information.
Phone: 888-238-3959 local 925-846-3959 Fax: 925-846-9650
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