And so then I became a firefighter....

[Harpoon]

Yup. I'm a nut.

As part of my desire to become an EMT (and eventually a paid paramedic) I signed my sorry butt up with the local fire department.

At some point I have to do "on the job" training and the best way to do that is through a local department plus they'll cover a LOT of your expenses along the way plus most professional paramedics are also volunteer firefighters and started out that way...


So after a mound of paperwork and clearances and background checks and approvals and vetting and more approvals and board voting, I'm now number H227 on the rolls of the JS Lambert Hook and Ladder Company in the Fredonia Fire Department.


Ohhh... Ahhh...


Ok, whatever.

Anyways, tonight I reported for a department drill, basically a chance to play with the big toys and teach the newbies how to do what they do.

So after talking to a few folks in the hall and doing a few more introductions I get directed towards a room where extra turnout gear is stored with instructions on what to pick out and such. Then it's hop in the back seat (one of those open, rear facing seats you see on fire engines) and buckle in and we're off into the warm, drizzly night.

About ten minutes later we pull into the parking lot of a vocational schools facility and everyone hops out. I rode on an older pumper (the department has 3 including one that is only 2 years old) and we parked next to a fire hydrant. First order of business, how to hook up to said fire hydrant.

Got a brief explaination/demonstration of how it's done by the assistant chief who was running the exercise then all the equipment goes back onto the engine and he picks out two trainees to set it all back up.

I was the first guy picked.


Weeee.... I'm a firefighter.....


Was pretty nifty. We also set up one of those portable water reservoirs and talked about how to run the lines in and out of it before packing up and heading back to the hall. Then we had to hose down all the trucks we used before we were done for the night and I could whizz off to work (I was an hour late, whoops, though I told them I would be ahead of time.)


Sooner or later (hopefully sooner) I'll be issued one of those pager things that chirps, whistles, and beeps before some detached voice tells everyone in the room there's an EMS call at such and such... I've also gotta fill out yet more paperwork for insurance coverage and I'll be issued a "blue card" so I can have one of those flashing blue lights in my car.

I gather I'll also have the opportunity to shell out $500 (one quarter of the total price) for a set of turnout gear, the stuff firefighters wear when they go into burning buildings to rescue the kittens...


Maybe I'll even be full of myself enough to get someone to take a photo of me in the gear to put on here as an avatar or something.

Or better yet, a shot of me hanging out the back of a fire engine.



Heehee...


For the record, I'm aiming towards EMS stuff, emergency medical services. Doing the rescue calls and what they call, "scene support" during fires. I've still gotta finish the EMT thing and pass the tests for certification, but that's independent of my status with the fire department.

I have no real intention of going inside burning buildings unless ABSOLUTELY neccesary or I do it as a photographer rather than a firefighter. I've done that one before. =)


Some how though, I have a feeling Dr. Mee would be screaming my head off right now though if he knew what I have gotten myself into...


But then, maybe he'd think it was cool and take it as a compliment to his work in saving my life. If it wasn't for his efforts, I wouldn't have even been able to think about doing such crazy stuff....

 

[Ross]

While you make it sound almost comical, you know your in some serious stuff. Hopefully you won't get seasoned by tragedy on the first call out. I know I shouldn't think like that, but whenever the page goes out, you never know what your walking into.

Becareful out there!

Oh yeah, I'm sure Dr. Mee would rip you a new one if it would do any good.

 

[hensylee]

congratulations. I am proud of you. I once did the ambulance billing in another county so associated with the fire depts and EMTs. It was so rewarding. There is a fraternity there that isn't found many other places except maybe police and military. I associated with volunteer fire dept here in our county and find the same thing. They always need all the help they can get. Bless you.

 

[Karlynn]

Harp you are a great example. No time like the present. Live your dream. Don't put off to tomorrow what can be done today. And all the other sayings!

Congratulations. And behave!

 

[Glenda]

Congratluations! I think it's wonderful that you are following your dream. We need more people like you. I think it would be a very rewarding and challenging profession, but take care of yourself and be very careful.

 

[gadgetman]

You don?t know how great it was to read your post. I?ve been a Volunteer Firefighter for over 6 years now. Here in Georgia you have to receive 60 hours classroom training and pass a Georgia sanctioned test to receive your MOD1 certification. You then receive "hands on" training with a Volunteer Fire Department. I?ve been very active up until last spring when I started experiencing the shortness of breath, etc. I restricted myself to only operating equipment and setting hoses. I felt that due to the SOB I should not try entering a fire scene.

After informing my Fire Chief of my pending operation his first comment was ?You can?t be a firefighter with heart problems??. Here in Georgia, as well as much of the US, the number one killer of firefighters is cardiac/stress related. Of course, most if not all, happen with guys (and ladies) that were not aware they had a heart problem. My Doctor feels that after I recover from the Open Heart Surgery I will be able (and even feel physically able) to resume all my activities, including being a Firefighter.

Welcome to the Firefighter Brotherhood and good luck in your training. Hope this leads you to your dream of EMS.

 

[catwoman]

Harpoon:

Congratulations! Stay safe out there...

 

[tommy]

Harpoon....a very noble calling.

If it wasn't for his efforts, I wouldn't have even been able to think about doing such crazy stuff....

That's my perspective.


Yes, we want a photo of you in your "work clothes". Better a photo hanging around the fire house than a photo hanging in the post office.

 

[Harpoon]

Ross: "Thankfully or not," I've already seen some pretty bad "calls" as a newspaper photographer including a nasty car wreck with kids involved (they were all buckled into their car seats and safe, mother wasn't so lucky but she was drunk too...) and two deaths by train in the same day...

Granted, I haven't been as close to these things as the responding firefighters would have been, but I've been plenty close enough.

On the other end of the scale, I've seen some really cool stuff done by firefighters and paramedics. Helping people, not so much "saving lives" is what keys me in. I've always had that streak in me, the desire to be helpful in some way. It used to be in running a public access TV station, putting local high school sports on TV so parents and grandparents could watch in the comfort of their livingrooms instead of under a cold, driving rainstorm or packed shoulder to shoulder with obnoxious teenagers... Now I'm doing something with even more of an impact. My eventual goal is to be paid as a paramedic for the work along with doing my photography stuff, but this is a big step.


And I'd like to think that if Dr. Mee knew WHY I was doing it, that in part it's in honor of his efforts and a testament to what he did for me, that he'd approve.

Albeit, somewhat unwillingly of course... =)


gadgetman: I'm very familiar with the "brotherhood" among firefighters and it's a cool thing. It's not really the reason why I'm doing this, sort of a fringe benefit maybe if I do well enough to be welcomed in. I had to get clearance from my cardiologist to do the stuff I'm doing on the EMT side though our local fire department will take just about anyone off the street and put them SOMEWHERE even if it's just flagging traffic a few hundred yards away from a car accident. I know a lot of places require phyiscals and even physical fitness tests, I think it varies from department to department, region to region, depending on the demographics and availability of willing manpower. I'm sure the requirements (outside of the obvious formal education) for the paid firefighters is much more rigorous than what I went through.


hoksacktom: Most of the photos I see in the post office are of wanted felons.... No one's caught up to me on that front yet. Can't be a wanted felon if no one knows I'm responsible....

Ooops! Was that out loud????


I promised my son I'd bring him down to the firehall some time and let him try on a helmet and jacket. He wanted to do that really bad when his pre-k class got to visit the department during Fire Prevention Week but he wasn't picked to try it on. Of course I'll get a photo of him dressed up... =)

 

[Ross]

I'm sure you have Harpoon. It takes on a whole new meaning when lives are in your hands as a rescuer vs photographer. Just saying I hope the first call out is not something devastating. Friend of mine had just gotten his Paramedic cert and very first call out was a MVA on mothers day involving father, mother and son. Mom was driving and was decapitated. A nurse happening through at the time of the accident stopped to help and had a massive heart attack on the spot when she saw what there was to see and died on the scene. It screwed the whole crew up for months. They all were in counciling to deal with their feelings and a few didn't make it back.

 

[Granbonny]

I have a question

I have a question

Why is it, that the firetrucks..go with all the 911 calls. Like, I have seen a firetruck sitting along the side of a fenderbender ..on our highways?... I was out of town last week, but heard that my next door neighbor, was having chest pains, and his wife called 911. The local fire department came with their truck, too? Neighbor told me this...Is it because they think maybe that gas has spilled out on the road?..but, why come into a neighborhood with every 911 call?Like my neighbor?..Yes, he was taken by ambulance to hospital...Just a false alarm...Home now and doing good....Bonnie

 

[bvdr]

Congratulations, Harpoon! I think you are going to make a wonderful EMT. For years I volunteered on one of our county rescue squads. I always kept my EMT credentials up to date and look back at that time of my life with much satisfaction. We were still very rural, had no paid personnel, and had to do much of our own fund raising. We were divided into three teams and therefore were on call 1/3 of the time. Night calls were often the worst. The camaraderie was superb though regardless of the hour. I think you will do great. You definitely already have the mandatory sense of humor needed to survive!

 

[Peggy in Alaska]

Great!

Great!

Harpoon:

Good luck with the new position.

Peggy

 

[Phyllis]

I believe the fire engines go on every 911 call in case they have to knock down a door to get access to the house or apartment. Good luck, Harpoon. We all respect your position and hope we never have to call on you.

 

[Ross]

Most often the truck is rolled as a first responder to the scene since the firefighters play dual roles of firefighter/EMT/Paramedics. They are there in case they are needed as additional personnel and to provide first on the scene care until the ambulance arrives on scene.

 

[Jewel]

Many Congrats Harpoon!

Many Congrats Harpoon!

While I agree with Ross - and unfortunatly have had too much experience with fires and firefighters - I salute you (and all who serve)!! You are amazing - and you should do 2 things

1) change your picture on this group to the one in the new uniform

2) don't use your "tagline" in your new calling

Many congratulations and thanks for sharing the good news

 

[Abbanabba]

Way to go Harpoon!! My partner's father and sister are both volunteers for the Australian version (CFS - Country Fire Service) and they have beepers to alert them when there's help to be needed. This may be fighting fires, clean-up after a car wreck, directing traffic, etc... It's a wonderful thing to do, but it can be devastating and I admire anyone who would volunteer to be involved in such a worthy venture.

We've had some nasty fires down under in the last couple of days in which at least 10 people perished. Fortunatley none of them were the fire crews or volunteers, which sadly happens all too often, but there were quite a few children (school holidays) and it seems most people were trapped in their cars trying to escape. My partner's family have been right in there helping with the clean up as they live quite close to where this has all been happening, in fact they have friends that live in the area that was affected, but thankfully they all escaped unscathed.

Anyway, I admire not only that you are volunteering, but that you are doing so with your medical background. Most people would be happy to use that as an "out". I hope it all goes well and you keep us posted on your adventures.

All the best
Anna : )

 

[Phyllis]

"Most often the truck is rolled as a first responder to the scene since the firefighters play dual roles of firefighter/EMT/Paramedics. They are there in case they are needed as additional personnel and to provide first on the scene care until the ambulance arrives on scene."
Thanks for the clarification, Ross. Down here in FL, you always see the firetruck arrive first and then leave as soon as the ambulance EMT gain access- I always thought they were there in case there was a problem getting in as there are so many seniors living alone.
__________________

 

[Harpoon]

Granbonny:

Many fire engines (the ones that first respond anyways) have some basic life support gear and a few basic EMT's on board.

Most "smaller" departments, that is the ones that aren't in big cities, only have one or two rescue vehicles. Our department happens to have an ambulance and a rescue truck. When the number of vehicles is limited, they tend to put emergency medical gear on multiple trucks so that if their ambulance is at one scene taking care of someone who is having trouble breathing, another crew can be dispatched to the school playground to treat a kid with a broken leg...

Ross:

That would be a quick end to a career... I'm kind of a mind that if I could handle what I went through when my tricuspid valve failed, I could handle anything right now. Whether that's true or not is yet to be seen, but that's where my mindset is right now.

Tonight we did some more "practical skills" practice and one of the instructors started grilling me about where I was taking a distal (above the foot) pulse. He kept telling me I couldn't get a pulse there and I finally snapped back saying that the nurses at Cleveland Clinic checked my pulse there every time they checked my vitals, several times a day every day for well over nine weeks and I KNOW where I can get a pulse on the foot like I was doing.

Then I told him what I found for a pulse and he checked (on the wrist, "radial") and told me to move on....


Now if only some of that experience at CCF rubbed off on me for taking blood pressure readings. I need a lot of practice on that one. Got a BP cuff and stethescope on loan for the weekend to practice on my family and friends..........

 

[Harpoon]

Oh yeah, seems to me my tagline is still appropriate, even as an EMT...