Racing heart syndrome

I have been doing the volunteer fire thing for about 4 years now and I still seem to get a big dose of "racing heart syndrome" every time the tone goes off even for the little things. We get about 300 to 350 runs a year so I would have thought by now I would have started kind of getting over that. I dont mind it at all I just wandered if there was alot of people in the same boat or not. I really would like to know if theres anybody out there with 10 or 15 plus years in this boat.

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Permalink Reply by Finn Volunteer on February 23, 2009 at 4:06am
Been in business 11 years, in 2 firehouses and still calls make my heart pump. Addrenaline rush..

All the tactics an addresses runs trough my mind, It eases off when im getting gears on in engine, just try to cool my self, gettin g my toughs to accident..
Permalink Reply by Dustin J. Millis on February 23, 2009 at 4:34am
I've only been in two years and my heart gets pumpin real good when I hear the word "fire" or "accident" when the tones trop. We run alot of EMS and 95% of the time, its really nothin to get worked up over so I've settled down alot on EMS runs. But yeah... If were rollin then engine or the rescue, I really have to calm myself down on the ride there.
Permalink Reply by Tony P on February 23, 2009 at 4:52am
If the adrenaline doesn't rush, at least to some extent, then maybe you'd be a risk on the fireground. Adrenaline is what makes us peak, it's the 'fight or flight' reaction, we need it in stressful situations. However, and it's a big however, it must not be allowed to control us. I've been doing this for over seven years, current Brigade averages just under 300 calls a year (no medical). The adrenaline still surges for me for every call, I take a few deep breaths, I walk out to my car, I make sure that I drive off normally, obeying all the laws. Before I've driven 200 metres I have control, not the adrenaline.
Permalink Reply by Finn Volunteer on February 23, 2009 at 4:58am
No EMS by us here, careers does them all. MVA´s are rare, but few in year.
Mostly major fires and automatic calls.

Just calm down and relax, stress levells will rise when on scene, and there you must be clear minded, for you and you comrades.

Just responding as much calls as possible, so it comes like routine.. Some mind practice would help, think about worst case calls and how to work in them..

When here´s been long quiet time, and then rings a big one. I do have shaky hands and wobbling knees.
Permalink Reply by Chief 29 on February 23, 2009 at 7:27am
18 going on 19 years and the rush still shows up when the call comes out. The difference is how it is controlled and that definitely comes with time.
Permalink Reply by Fire Chick on February 23, 2009 at 7:58am
i have only been in like 4 years, but i still have it and i know alot of ppl that still have it and and they have been in depts. for 20 plus years..
Permalink Reply by Kimberly A Bownas on February 23, 2009 at 8:51am
Sam, I have been an Active firefighter for 17 almost 18 years and when we get an auto accident or a fire my adrenaline starts pumping and my heart starts racing even now. I am only 5 years as an EMT and some of the calls we get I get the same thing but not as often as on the fire side of things. So to answer you question yes I still get the heart racing thing with certain calls.
Permalink Reply by John on February 23, 2009 at 8:54am
Nope I still get jacked up and then if its at night I am up for a couple hours after the call.
Permalink Reply by Sam on February 23, 2009 at 2:05pm
To all, it's good to hear Im not the only rush junkie out there. I've learned to control it for the most part but when we get the good ones you know the kind when you are enroute and can see smoke from a long way out you are already saying " O' S*** " I normally try to take a few extra deep breaths before getting off the truck and get my thoughts togather and start thinking about what I need to do to be safe and efficient and try to follow my orders as best as possible and let training and common sense take a lead. Its good to hear the feed back thank you to all.
Permalink Reply by Gordon "Gopher" Runer on February 23, 2009 at 3:26pm
I have only been in it for a few years now and the biggest thing is using that to your advantage. The body's fight or flight kicks in and it allows your body to perform at its peak performance. Just today I was in town and saw big black smoke and it kicked my adrenaline even before the tones went off. I suffer from bad allergies and the adrenaline opened up my airway so i could breathe. Its a useful tool when you can control it and it doesn't control you.

Gopher
Permalink Reply by Sara Posey on February 23, 2009 at 4:10pm
Yes, my adrenaline rush is so bad that I get so excited that I usually end up needing to use my Albuterol for my asthma (mainly due to allergies) on the way to a call, especially MVA's or fires. I am trying to learn to control getting that excited... granted, I am still a "noob". I even get excited with other companies get called out... you couldn't pry the scanner away from my hands till the event is over.
Permalink Reply by John Rulli Jr. on February 23, 2009 at 4:53pm
Gota love the RUSH! My adrenaline goes through the roof on working fires and MVAs with entrapment. It's not so bad on the other calls but I still get the rush after 12yrs. I take a couple deep breaths to calm my self down as needed.

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