Free teas / coffees for on a shout firefighters?
Discussion
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hstewie said:
hstewie said: McDonald's get "blasted" for not giving stuff away, OK a few drinks cost them nothing and it's a st PR, but likely due to a lack of thinking by someone on the counter.
However, do the fire service really not make provision for this kind of thing?
Seems odd to send firefighters out where they're likely to get very hot (and therefore thirsty?) with zero provision for it when they may be miles from a McDonalds or anywhere similar.
Is that normal?
Whilst I agree McD's should have provided teas and whatnot and I reckon it's, as has been pointed out, an authorisation and lack of common sense problem, couldn't the fire HQ make a quick phone call to a local restaurant saying to feed and water them and we'll settle up later?t PR, but likely due to a lack of thinking by someone on the counter.However, do the fire service really not make provision for this kind of thing?
Seems odd to send firefighters out where they're likely to get very hot (and therefore thirsty?) with zero provision for it when they may be miles from a McDonalds or anywhere similar.
Is that normal?
Surely if fire personnel are on site for a prolonged period of time, there's procedures in place to keep them fed and watered?
Noodle1982 said:
Troubleatmill said:
Noodle1982 said:
Jasandjules said:
Noodle1982 said:
Why on earth should McDonalds, or any other shop for that matter, provide free hot drinks to fire fighters?
Say that out loud, nice and slowly. See how it sounds.....So far nobody has actually answered it.
And I'm sure we all have better things to do.
For me - The downstairs loo toilet seat needs to be tightened up - a much better use of my time.
valiant said:
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: McDonald's get "blasted" for not giving stuff away, OK a few drinks cost them nothing and it's a st PR, but likely due to a lack of thinking by someone on the counter.
However, do the fire service really not make provision for this kind of thing?
Seems odd to send firefighters out where they're likely to get very hot (and therefore thirsty?) with zero provision for it when they may be miles from a McDonalds or anywhere similar.
Is that normal?
Whilst I agree McD's should have provided teas and whatnot and I reckon it's, as has been pointed out, an authorisation and lack of common sense problem, couldn't the fire HQ make a quick phone call to a local restaurant saying to feed and water them and we'll settle up later?t PR, but likely due to a lack of thinking by someone on the counter.However, do the fire service really not make provision for this kind of thing?
Seems odd to send firefighters out where they're likely to get very hot (and therefore thirsty?) with zero provision for it when they may be miles from a McDonalds or anywhere similar.
Is that normal?
Surely if fire personnel are on site for a prolonged period of time, there's procedures in place to keep them fed and watered?
Troubleatmill said:
It boils down to this- if you simply cannot grasp why - then no amount of random strangers on an internet forum will ever change your mind.
And I'm sure we all have better things to do.
For me - The downstairs loo toilet seat needs to be tightened up - a much better use of my time.
You could have answered my question in less words than what you've typed there.And I'm sure we all have better things to do.
For me - The downstairs loo toilet seat needs to be tightened up - a much better use of my time.
Gareth79 said:
Just after my father retired from the fire service they started up a catering team and he worked in that for quite a few years, they disbanded it just after he retired from the team. I think before it was in operation they had a contract with one of the voluntary services, and now I think they are using pre-packed food and drinks.
Thanks 
I'm genuinely staggered if a fire wagon doesn't have a few 6 packs of bottled water or some kind of food/drink provision on it as standard.Noodle1982 said:
Exactly this.
Failure to prepare by the fire service has caused this issue not a local business that refuses to give out freebies.
Freebies that would, in effect cost them practically nothing.Failure to prepare by the fire service has caused this issue not a local business that refuses to give out freebies.
McD's couldnt buy the positive PR they would have gained from giving out a couple of dozen cups of hot flavoured water.
Of course at big incidents an official catering wagon should be deployed..
However I don't know if this one fits the necessary deployment or callout criteria.
Perhaps it was just under some threshold or there was an availability problem.
However common sense or astute management by the MCD outlet would have gained good PR and free advertising.
In the post incident fire brigade press release the senior fire officer could have said well done chaps and thanks to Mcdonalds for providing refreshments.
Or the senior officer could have sent a minion to the restaurant to say.
Can you help us with refreshments for the troops? If they offer to do so free then great. If not just agree for a bill to be sent to FB hq later.
However I don't know if this one fits the necessary deployment or callout criteria.
Perhaps it was just under some threshold or there was an availability problem.
However common sense or astute management by the MCD outlet would have gained good PR and free advertising.
In the post incident fire brigade press release the senior fire officer could have said well done chaps and thanks to Mcdonalds for providing refreshments.
Or the senior officer could have sent a minion to the restaurant to say.
Can you help us with refreshments for the troops? If they offer to do so free then great. If not just agree for a bill to be sent to FB hq later.
Noodle1982 said:
Bigends said:
They used to send a welfare uni / mobile canteen out for prolonged jobs. Staff shouldnt have to scrounge from local businesses
Exactly this.Failure to prepare by the fire service has caused this issue not a local business that refuses to give out freebies.
I'm amazed how not one of them had a wallet/method of payment available. If you go in and the manager says 'guys these are on the house' when you go to pay is fine, rocking up expecting them for free isn't IMO.
Bit of a storm in a teacup though.....
Thats What She Said said:
McD's couldnt buy the positive PR they would have gained from giving out a couple of dozen of cups of hot flavoured water.
Where I struggle with the way the media report these things is it's a bit like when a security guard at Tesco's or wherever punches a customer in the face.There's a large difference between any kind of official policy v what a member of staff on minimum wage or just having an off-day may take it upon themselves to do.
Thats What She Said said:
Noodle1982 said:
Exactly this.
Failure to prepare by the fire service has caused this issue not a local business that refuses to give out freebies.
Freebies that would, in effect cost them practically nothing.Failure to prepare by the fire service has caused this issue not a local business that refuses to give out freebies.
McD's couldnt buy the positive PR they would have gained from giving out a couple of dozen cups of hot flavoured water.
People are reacting to the secondary issue when it's the primary issue that needs addressing.
Why are fire fighters being sent to jobs not properly equipped?
I think McDonald’s should give free drinks to firemen putting out a fire but it’s probably not as easy as it sounds.
Do the police get free stuff in McDonald’s or elsewhere? What about nurses or doctors or the rnli or the armed forces?
Should the firemen get free stuff if they’re actually on a break while from putting out a fire, what if they’re going to work?
What if you ran a coffee shop near a fire station and firemen came in every day wanting free stuff on the way home from work?
I’m all for supporting firemen or nurses etc but what do people think is reasonable?
Do the police get free stuff in McDonald’s or elsewhere? What about nurses or doctors or the rnli or the armed forces?
Should the firemen get free stuff if they’re actually on a break while from putting out a fire, what if they’re going to work?
What if you ran a coffee shop near a fire station and firemen came in every day wanting free stuff on the way home from work?
I’m all for supporting firemen or nurses etc but what do people think is reasonable?
Noodle1982 said:
Thats What She Said said:
Noodle1982 said:
Exactly this.
Failure to prepare by the fire service has caused this issue not a local business that refuses to give out freebies.
Freebies that would, in effect cost them practically nothing.Failure to prepare by the fire service has caused this issue not a local business that refuses to give out freebies.
McD's couldnt buy the positive PR they would have gained from giving out a couple of dozen cups of hot flavoured water.
People are reacting to the secondary issue when it's the primary issue that needs addressing.
Why are fire fighters being sent to jobs not properly equipped?
I would imagine the average fire does not take so long to put out and why they were therefore working in shifts.
Perhaps they had water in the trucks and had drunk it already and had nipped up to McDonald's whilst on a quick break.
Sure the average fire figher doesn't consider food or drink whilst putting such a massive fire out, other priorities come first.
Perhaps they had water in the trucks and had drunk it already and had nipped up to McDonald's whilst on a quick break.
Sure the average fire figher doesn't consider food or drink whilst putting such a massive fire out, other priorities come first.
Bigends said:
The approach should have been to the restaurant manager either by staff present or by the control room explaining the situation and setting a 'tab' up for later payment. Shouldnt have been individuals rolling up and asking for free drinks
Bingo. I have and would again supply refreshments to emergency personnel who are stuck on a job but for them to expect to get something for free doesn’t sit right with me. Good on the customers present for paying for them, next time someone needs to leave a debit card in the glove box!Noodle1982 said:
I'm open to have my opinion changed on the matter.
So far nobody has actually answered it.
For the same reason they should do so for police officers and ambulance drivers. These are the people that can risk their lives to save yours and the lives of those you love. So far nobody has actually answered it.
If you don't think such people deserve special treatment, well, that is tragic.
Troubleatmill said:
It boils down to this- if you simply cannot grasp why - then no amount of random strangers on an internet forum will ever change your mind.
And I'm sure we all have better things to do.
For me - The downstairs loo toilet seat needs to be tightened up - a much better use of my time.
It is a valid question IMO. And I'm sure we all have better things to do.
For me - The downstairs loo toilet seat needs to be tightened up - a much better use of my time.
These guys are at work, just like loads of us day in, day out, working long shifts. We have to pay our way in the course of doing our jobs.
Tins of beans are the same price in Tesco for Lawyers as they are for "hard working NHS staff". Where's the Tesco haters?
Now, a cashflow issue of no cash in uniforms is something people could help with, McDs included, but it is also something the Fire Service Management could deal with, too and they're not being blasted in the press!
If you cant grasp why the question is valid, and actually come up with a coherent answer, more fool you. FWIW, I think the McDs could have helped them out a bit int he circs, set up a tab etc, but I can understand easily why people would think, huh, they're just doing their job, why should they get free s
t when I have to pay for mine when i'm doing my job? Anyway, they getting f
king good discount down Brewers Decorator Centres! 
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