Bowtech_archer07 Posted November 27, 2010 Report Share Posted November 27, 2010 There is a certain amount of speeding etc that is tolerated by the police, but it's a fine line. As Bug said, safety is the most important thing. If you truly want to become a firefighter for the aspect of helping people that is great. But I agree with Ben that maybe you should go to some meetings, meet some of the guys (and maybe gals), ask a ton of questions and see if they would let you come to trainings and observe and things like that and see if it's really something you want to do. Our department is small enough that I was going on fire calls, mostly field fires and some rescue squad calls when I was 10 with my dad. Thats is part of the reason I knew I wanted to become a firefighter. Yes it's an adrenaline rush. Yes it's good camaraderie. But it's helping people that needs to be your main goal man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunt or be Hunted Posted November 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2010 There is a certain amount of speeding etc that is tolerated by the police, but it's a fine line. As Bug said, safety is the most important thing. If you truly want to become a firefighter for the aspect of helping people that is great. But I agree with Ben that maybe you should go to some meetings, meet some of the guys (and maybe gals), ask a ton of questions and see if they would let you come to trainings and observe and things like that and see if it's really something you want to do. Our department is small enough that I was going on fire calls, mostly field fires and some rescue squad calls when I was 10 with my dad. Thats is part of the reason I knew I wanted to become a firefighter. Yes it's an adrenaline rush. Yes it's good camaraderie. But it's helping people that needs to be your main goal man. Yepp, Going to go there sometime next month. Thanks for you're help Kyle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowtech_archer07 Posted November 28, 2010 Report Share Posted November 28, 2010 Yepp, Going to go there sometime next month. Thanks for you're help Kyle. Np, hope you like it and get as involved as you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flintlock1776 Posted November 28, 2010 Report Share Posted November 28, 2010 Good for you. Get the training. Listen more than talk. Ask questions; ask for help. Learn and participate. Do not be Gun Ho or a Chatty Cathy. If you get through FireFighter Training 1 and higher, great. If you find it was not to what you expected, do not fret. Be happy to have tried. If it does work out for you then you will find yourself amongst a special fraternity. Put the wet stuff on the red stuff and watch your Brother's back. Let us know how you did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oo_buck Posted December 1, 2010 Report Share Posted December 1, 2010 one more...... started 3 or 4 yrs ago.... wish I'd started sooner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted December 2, 2010 Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 All the advice on emergent response is spot on!!! Dead responders help no one. I can't speak for the fire side of public service but being an EMT and now EMT-IT for over 15 years, the education and continuing education for EMS is life altering. I had nearly 200 continuing ed hours in the last 2 years. That is 5 weeks worth of my time spent making sure I am prepared to help someone else. There seldom is the pat on the back or simple thank you. Usually it is.........what took you so long or why can't/didn't you do more? Public Service is just that, service. You do it because it is a calling. FYI......Public Service on the volunteer side is many times frowned upon by full-time paid departments. Be aware that this annomosity exists in some areas/regions. Don't ever feel that because you are a volunteer that you are less professional than full timers. In EMS the training/certifications are exactly the same!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted December 2, 2010 Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 Spent 10 years volunteering with an ambulance here, 9 of them years I was an EMT. I also spent 18 years as a volunteer firefighter. I miss doing both! But things changed when the family responsibility became more important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunt or be Hunted Posted December 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 All the advice on emergent response is spot on!!! Dead responders help no one. I can't speak for the fire side of public service but being an EMT and now EMT-IT for over 15 years, the education and continuing education for EMS is life altering. I had nearly 200 continuing ed hours in the last 2 years. That is 5 weeks worth of my time spent making sure I am prepared to help someone else. There seldom is the pat on the back or simple thank you. Usually it is.........what took you so long or why can't/didn't you do more? Public Service is just that, service. You do it because it is a calling. FYI......Public Service on the volunteer side is many times frowned upon by full-time paid departments. Be aware that this annomosity exists in some areas/regions. Don't ever feel that because you are a volunteer that you are less professional than full timers. In EMS the training/certifications are exactly the same!!!! I understand that. You mostly have to go through the same training as a full time Firefighter... Right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted December 2, 2010 Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 I understand that. You mostly have to go through the same training as a full time Firefighter... Right? Not everywhere do fire departments provide EMS care. Many times paid full or part time departments combine fire and ems. It is a misnomer that "firefighter" also means "ems". Somewhere in the last 15-20 years the two terms have become synonymous but aren't. I can't speak specifically about fire training like firefighter 1, 2 or beyond. I believe those are certifications. Correct me if they are not. Specifically in EMS, and specifically in Wisconsin, EMTs of all different levels are licensed and mandated by the Department of Health Services. You must take a state sanctioned refresher course plus add ons every 2 years to maintain a license. You lose your license if you don't keep everything up to date. This is mandated for the license level, regardless of volunteer, paid on call, part time or full time career. These are a lot of the aspects of public service that folks should check out and get informed about so that the "bells and whistles" appeal of volunteering takes more of a back burner. Does this make sense? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunt or be Hunted Posted December 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2010 Not everywhere do fire departments provide EMS care. Many times paid full or part time departments combine fire and ems. It is a misnomer that "firefighter" also means "ems". Somewhere in the last 15-20 years the two terms have become synonymous but aren't. I can't speak specifically about fire training like firefighter 1, 2 or beyond. I believe those are certifications. Correct me if they are not. Specifically in EMS, and specifically in Wisconsin, EMTs of all different levels are licensed and mandated by the Department of Health Services. You must take a state sanctioned refresher course plus add ons every 2 years to maintain a license. You lose your license if you don't keep everything up to date. This is mandated for the license level, regardless of volunteer, paid on call, part time or full time career. These are a lot of the aspects of public service that folks should check out and get informed about so that the "bells and whistles" appeal of volunteering takes more of a back burner. Does this make sense? Yepp! I get what you're saying...Sorta. Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad dryden Posted December 4, 2010 Report Share Posted December 4, 2010 Was one for 3 1/2 years and loved the heck out of it till I moved on the other side on the county and had to travel 20min to the fire station and my ex hated my pager because it was so loud. You do see some rough stuff for sure ive worked it all from tanker fires to motor-cycle fatalities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff Posted December 6, 2010 Report Share Posted December 6, 2010 missed a call lastnight...wifey at work.....house burt down to the ground...no one hurt thank god. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunt or be Hunted Posted December 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2010 missed a call lastnight...wifey at work.....house burt down to the ground...no one hurt thank god. I'm thankful that everyone made it out safe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowtech_archer07 Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 missed a call lastnight...wifey at work.....house burt down to the ground...no one hurt thank god. Same here, I missed a call the other day. House was fully involved by the time the primary dept. got on scene. We were mutual aid. We didn't have a chance. No one hurt though. One thing mentioned above Jeremy is that you will see some nasty stuff. I know this sounds kind of... sadistic, for lack of a better term, but I think it must be said and you must consider it. As a firefighter you will respond to traffic accidents and often times, I respond on EMS calls here on our dept. just for lifting assistance. I have seen 2 fatal traffic accidents and the first time you see death it will hit you hard man. I know it did me. My first fatal accident was 3 years ago and we had another one in August and it still got to me. I don't think you ever get immune to it, but you have to learn how to deal with it. I would recommend doing some serious soul searching even after you have gone to several meetings and talked with several of the guys (and possibly gals) and think about if you think you could handle it. I hope you can and you join and learn a lot and enjoy the camaraderie that comes from being a part of a dept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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