Fire Fighting
They don't just fight fires, they save lives...
All About The Hero's
The definition of a firefighter says "a person whose job is to extinguish fires." But thats not all they do. These heros don't just put out fires, they save other people's lives, putting their lives at risk every day to save another person. Infact firefighters go on calls (rescue missions) for people that have heart attacks, cats in trees, car crashes, hurt people, and sick people. If you need any medical help...CALL THE FIREMEN!
How To Become a Firefighter
To become a a firefighter takes a lot of dedication and determination. Many Fire Departments offer Explorer programs. This means you will get to experience what's is like to be a professional Firefighter though their training and educational program. You can become an explorer at age 15 and remain in the program until you are 21 years old. The program allows you to get an idea if being a Firefighter is really something you want to do for a career. You get to train side by side with the Firefighters and go on ride-alongs on the fire engine. The next program you can go into is a reserve or volunteer program. All departments vary from what they offer and this program is similar to the Explorer program but with a little bit more responsibility. You must be a minimum of 18 years old. Some require you to be 21. It is important that you start getting your education early. Many of the community colleges offer Fire Technology programs. Becoming an EMT and then Moving on to Paramedic school will also become critical once you have had some experience behind you and are ready to start applying to different Fire Departments to become a full time professional Firefighter.
Qualifications
If you want to be a firefighter you first must be...
- Integrity (honest, trust worthy, reliable, accountable).
- Fit/strong
- Communication
- Flexible (work under stress).
- Dedicated (strive for excellence, never settle for mediocrity)
- Work well with others.
- Responsible
- self sacrifice.
Take The Risk?
There are a lot of risks that you are putting yourself in danger and harm. A high risk of getting killed on calls like, getting crushed, burned, and during trainings. Also a high risk of disease by handling blood and any other body fluid wounds or cuts.
Its a Chalenge!
Coming from an engineer from Cal Fire fire department, that the biggest challenges are, the trainings that you have to go through, meeting all the people that go in and out of the station your at (some of the people aren't the greatest), the high risks of getting very hurt or killed, and being away from your family three days to two weeks on fires and just on your normal schedule and lets not forget about the 50 pound gear you have to where will going into a 16000 degree fire. Some times you wont eat for up to 24hours because your on a forest or maybe you have the flue but you go save a child from a burning building.