Former Rescue....

[RIjake]

Woops, after I posted I realized that this thread is former Fire. I'm still serving.

[RIjake]

I've got 18 years in the fire service. Started as a "call man" in Mass. then went career in southern Maine and shortly thereafter got hired on my current dept. One of the larger cities in RI. I'm a EMT/C and FF2 and currently assigned as an engine backstep. Also I serve on one of the state's 6 HazMat teams which is run and quartered at my department. I do a little USAR on the state EMA team too.
So far I'm liking this forum, I just stumbled across it this morning!

[Rick]

10 years as a smoke eater/EMT in NY and now 4 years in a rural FD here. Not as active as I once was due to health issues but once its in your blood its there for good.

[jmarine]

i am also going to go on this even though i was military i am now a vol. firefighter and a nremt basic

[FrogTacos]

Its been awhile since anyone posted here...

I took a BEMT class right out of high school - planning to go Paramedic. I decided to take a different path, got married, had 2 kids. Youngest is 10 now, and its time to follow my dream. Im going to the local college Thursday to take the standard entrance idiot exam. Will sign up for the EMT class (its been long enough, I definitely need to take it again) on Friday. After that, God willing, I will be accepted into the Paramedic AAS program.

[kenno]

FF EMT, got sick of the head on collisions between logging trucks and small cars.

[mountainman28713]

on the med sled/meat wagen/ems hole mobile/ as we "speak", just had to swap out units because our first one had a "prolapsed driveshaft" when it went-it was a noisemaker!!! Started on the BRT-big red truck when I was 15 as a vollie and went to the USMC when I was 18. Started as a paid FF when I got back from a 15-monther in Iraq and have been doing both ever since. I am tired of the med-sled though, its time to go back to fed service and finish my last 9 years and have three retirements locked in. Local/State/Fed gov.

[firemanphob]

I've been on the local volunteer fire dept. for 31 years and been a first responder for around 20. Always loved it and served in almost all ranks but a couple of years ago I went back to firefighter. I just work too many hours on my regular job to be able to put the time in to be one of the top officers so I took my name out of the hat. Still make all the runs when I am not at work and will continue untill I can't handle it anymore.
Mike

[Badfoot]

Fireman

ex vol fireman did it for 7 years 3 depts 1 year as dispatcher had to quit because of health miss it Badfoot

[unswydd]

As the 'supply guy' in our rural department, I wanted to be sure we're prepared for potential additional calls should the flu become a problem here in Michigan. (Already one confirmed in our state.) I realized that we won't have enough N95 masks and protective gowns for our firefighters if our runs increase greatly. So I've ordered a bunch more of each. (One supplier already sold out of masks.) We've also instituted a policy that the Incident Commander will allow only those absolutely necessary to have patient contact or to be inside the house with possible flu patients. Protecting ourselves and our families as best we can!

they're certainly blessed to have you Lady_banjo! They'd be left wanting if you were'nt thinking ahead. I hope we have one of you here in IL!!!

[lady_banjo]

And thanks to YOU unswydd for your post and your thanks!

[lady_banjo]

As the 'supply guy' in our rural department, I wanted to be sure we're prepared for potential additional calls should the flu become a problem here in Michigan. (Already one confirmed in our state.) I realized that we won't have enough N95 masks and protective gowns for our firefighters if our runs increase greatly. So I've ordered a bunch more of each. (One supplier already sold out of masks.) We've also instituted a policy that the Incident Commander will allow only those absolutely necessary to have patient contact or to be inside the house with possible flu patients. Protecting ourselves and our families as best we can!

[unswydd]

I don't do any of it. I was just reading the posts and what an impressive lot you are.
M hat is off to you and a big thank you for all you do!

[JHtheFireman]

Thank's Big, there's been a couple of times I'd have to step back and take a breath from the fd but then there's the time's you can't keep me away from that place lol, but thanks for the advice, would love to hear more from anyone who has any, I love learning new stuff about the job and listening to people's personal experience, so it's much appreciated, thanks, ---jess

[Big_Saw]

I'm 19 been in the FD for four years and Certified here in SC for about two years as 1152-Interior firefighter, 1 year as hazmat ops First responder, certified in auto extrication, and I am going to school for EMT-Basic, and am probably going to go on through to paramedic. ----- Just thought I'd share ;)

Kudos, man.....helluva good field to be in....best advice I can give you is: remember to separate the job and the life, and don't let either consume the other...... ;)