I think one of the reasons is that the professional’s responsibility is saving people. To do so, their selves have to be alive. That’s why they need to make sure they are safe before saving others.
1917年,史称哈利法克斯爆炸。哈利法克斯码头上一艘装满军火的轮船着火,全码头的人很快知道轮船的危险,纷纷迅速撤离。45岁的火车调度员Vincent Coleman 逆流而返(呵呵,有点像四川地震时的救灾部队,群众往外走,他们往里边闯),回到他的办公室。他知道有两辆满载旅客的火车正在朝哈利法克斯开来,他回办公室向火车发电报,警告他们停车。当时情况十分危急,Coleman知道等自己发完电报,得到对方回复,生还的可能性很小,因此他的电报加了一句道别:“Munition ships on fire. Making for Pier 6. Goodbye.”