Type of Organization

EMS/Rescue Squad/Hospital EMS - Paid

Job Function

EMT - Basic, EMT - Paramedic (or Other ALS), Driver / Engineer, Other

Years in Fire/EMS:

7

Primary Fire/EMS Department:

Hart, Michigan

Years With Department/Agency

4

Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations

Oakfield Township Fire Department from 2000-2005

My Training:

FF I, FF II, HAZMAT Awareness, HAZMAT Operations, HAZMAT Technician, MFR, EMT-Basic, (current EMT-Paramedic student), EVOC, various WMD courses, various ICS course through FEMA and Texas A&M, CPR Instructor, Fire Prevention and Safety Coordinator, and I'm sure there are a couple others I am forgetting about.

About Me:

(see "Why Did You Become Part of The Emergency Services")

Day Job:

EMT- Basic (for a couple more months then it will be Paramedic)

Relationship Status:

Divorced

Why I Joined Fire/EMS

I joined the fire service back in 2000 because I, like many other kids, had a fasination with fire trucks when I was growing up. But as I got older I started thinking about what can I do to make a difference in the community. Well the first step was when I joined the fire service. I was in for a suprise after completing fire classes when they told me they were going to send me to classes for MFR. Well when they was done is when it all took off for me. I just recently completed a paramedic course, became a CPR instructor, on the HAZMAT Team in our county and most importantly, I became the Fire Prevention and Safety Coordinator for the fire department which I am on now in May of this year.

Why I Love Fire/EMS

the satisfaction you get from knowing you did what you could to help someone out in their worst time of need.

Top Issues Facing Responders:

One thing that I am currently in the process of reconstructing is our departments Fire Prevention Program. We, the fire service, need to focus strongly on getting the word out about fire prevention and what to do in the event a fire should occur. I just finished up doing research for a "Smoke Detector Check and Distribution" program which we are starting as part of the FPS program and in 2005 over 3000 people died in house fires. That is 3000 to many if you ask me. There are many aspects which contribute to those statistics, but through education we can cut those numbers down.