Firefighter

Firefighter

arringnl

32 Years Experience

Goose Creek, SC

Male, 54

Currently serving Jasper County Fire Rescue in south Carolina along with Charleston County EMS.

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Last Answer on June 29, 2022

Best Rated

Hi, I'm only 16 as of yesterday and I know I have much to look forward to but one thing that has kept roaming my mind is College/University. I would like to know if college is beneficial to my future position or should I go straight to Fire Academy?

Asked by Nicole Ortiz about 9 years ago

can you do both? As online college degree in fire science?

What medical level do you think firefighters should have to be certified at (if any)? (Basic CPR, certified first responder, EMT, or paramedic). Is a well-trained EMT/FF better than a so-so p-medic/FF who is only certified in order to get the FF job

Asked by 123 over 9 years ago

As the saying goes Paramedics save lives, EMT save paramedics. I have seen lousy paramedics over the years that is for sure. But either level is part of an team. So that can go either way. My personal opinion is that a FF should be a minimum of EMT since the majority of calls these days are medical.

When you go to a scene,and there is a ups truck involved,and it was on fire, and there's. Stuff that didn't catch fire , like money or other stuff , do you guys hold on to it ,till another ups truck comes . plus do they have to pay you guys.to get it

Asked by Judy over 9 years ago

No it gets turned over to Police Dept and no they do not have to pay for it since it is theirs anyway

why do you see some vol. firefighters such as (auxilllary ) or newer members carrying differ fire pagers than the normal small Motorola ones . Are they used for a deferent purpose ?

Asked by alias almost 10 years ago

do not have a clue.

I recently got a full volunteer fireman's uniform from 1989 and I'm wondering since Kevlar can degrade could it still be flame retardant.

Asked by chris ward over 9 years ago

It is not in compliance with NFPA regulations for duty uniforms that are worn under the bunker gear due to age and degradation.

do vol. firefighters have to do physical endurance test and if so what types should i train for to get ready for the Acdemy ?

Asked by ... almost 10 years ago

Depends on department requirements and state certification requirements. My dept does not do physical endurance tests prior and during employment. Is this a good thing, technically no. A firefighter has to be in shape for hard work and hot environment. Example are community did a Silent Walk on 9-11 in memory of the firefighters that were lost in the WTC collapses. The event had the firefighters wearing all of our gear including SCBA and walk 2,5 miles across our main bridge and the 2.5 miles back. Temperature was 85 deg plus significant humidity which is common here. Many of the firefighters such as myself prepared for the event for weeks exercising in full gear getting body accustomed to the long hours working in gear. The ones that didn't was shown to them yesterday morning by the effects of the walk. Being fit, not necessarily olympic level is required to perform your job just due to the working conditions that we operate in. There is the CPAT test that are conducted and by doing a google search it reveals what you need to do and you will be able to judge your current fitness as a starting point.

Why did you decide to become a firefighter?

Asked by Carrie over 10 years ago

1. There was an instilled desire to help others which probably came from being active with Boy Scouts and a Explorer with our police dept. I obtained my EMT which led into firefighting.

2. Working a 3rd day can be taxing even if you don't run a calls it is the mental wear of the 24 hr shift that is the most tiring. Holidays, Birthdays, school activities with your kids sometimes have to be missed due to working which can be frustrating.

3. There are numerous hazards from fires, collapses and car accidents. We are in dangerous locations as you may have witnessed on the news of a firefighter fall into a roof while fighting a fire. We have been killed while working in the street at accidents. So it is difficult to point your finger at the most dangerous things that we come across.

4. We do not have Sgts we have Engineers. These positions are obtained by time on the job, testing both written and practical exams.

5. Become an EMT first and volunteer with a Fire dept or Rescue Squad in your area.

6. The satisfaction of helping others and knowing that they call you when they know that you will take care of their problems.

7. Probably saving a 2 yr. old that had fallen in a pool and we brought him back.

8. I do not have a particular specialty since we are all trained to do the same but I guess you could say that I enjoy EMS the most.

9. Changes in Construction- Things burn faster and hotter, Increased EMS responses with no increase in resources, and increased cost of equipment makes it hard to obtain.

10. Study. Workout, Sleep, Run Calls.