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The term off duty for volunteer fire/EMS personell
When is it considered off duty when the person is a volunteer? I have been asking myself this and was wondering what everyone else thought.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jonathan on
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When you're outside your jurisdiction and/or scope of training. I passed by a wreck earlier but it wasn't in my area and PD was already on scene. I went on vacation a few years back to Disney World and saw someone have a heart attack and I was balls-to-the-wall running over to help but 4 other firemen had already surrounded him (they were all on vacation form across the country) and then the RCFD was on scene and took command. Just goes to show, on-duty or not firefighters always have that urge to act and perform to the best of their abilities to help others.
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Permalink Reply by Rusty Mancini on
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I heard a old Chief say once:
If you have consumed alcohol beverages: your off duty!
If your doctor has you on narcotics: your off duty!
If your wife says, your not going: your off duty!
other then that, your on duty!
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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on
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As a Volunteer you are ON-Duty as long as your available in your response area. Whether your at work or involved with some personal time and can not respond is intirely up to you or your employer. As a full time paid Chief my only time off-duty is when I'm out of town and away from my response area.For most paid Firefighters they work a shift and go home. They are off-duty unless called back in. As a Volunteer you are voluntering your time. Your only obligation to respond is in your heart an ability to do just that, RESPOND.
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Permalink Reply by Papa Boner on
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In my town you're only on duty if you respond to the call, at the station, or on F.D. business, other than that your off duty.
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Permalink Reply by Norm Tindell on
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I like that, Rusty. Pretty well sums it up. Also I agree with Jonathan when he says you should always be willing to help, but if help is already on scene might as well just melt back into the crowd. I've been in that same situation. Willing, but not wanting to be in the way either.
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Permalink Reply by Roy Walker on
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When I'm out of my area if you are the best qualified individual I have no problem responding. Easy enough to hand off when the responsible jurisdiction arrives. I believe when to take time off has been well covered. Daytime when I know manpower can be a problem I have stopped identified myself and offered services if the situation seemed serious enough. It was usually appreciated. When I'm in my own jurisdiction I always try to respond unless as mentioned previously I OCCASIONALLY have other commitments.
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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on
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You are off duty the day that you resign from the Department....At least that is the way I see it....I cannot imagine someone that has the training that could make a difference saying...."Oh well, I'm off duty." I alway try and stop by scenes if I am driving through(No, I don't chase calls or cowbot it) and ask....Do you need some help ? Usual reply is no, but thanks for stopping and I go on my way...once my Chief called me aside and mentioned that such and such Department called him to mention it...thought I was in for one of those dreaded oh Shit's...but he thanked me and shook my hand..said something like being a credit to the Department....Always rember don't barge in, ask, and if they say that help isn't needed then go your way...it isn't your sandbox...it's theirs....another note...it takes at least 3 attaboys to cancel out 1 oh shit....Stay safe...Keep the Faith.....Paul
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Permalink Reply by blair4630 on
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True. It's easy sometimes to get sucked in...especially when you're young and single.
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Permalink Reply by Ron King (Fire Chief) on
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I feel I am on duty at all times 24/7 365. Unless way out of town.
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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You know, the term ON-DUTY is a mindset to the actuality of being ON-DUTY. What I mean is that it is easy to "think" one is always on duty, but the reality and actuality is far less than perception. Chief Sharp mentions "For most paid Firefighters they work a shift and go home. They are off-duty unless called back in." While this is true compared to the actual duty, the mindset of a career FF is much like that of a volunteer. I will still help and render aid if off duty, I still attend trainings and synposiums during my off time, I may be called in for a large incident to backfill etc.
Chief Sharp goes on further and says "As a Volunteer you are voluntering your time. Your only obligation to respond is in your heart an ability to do just that, RESPOND." This is also true, but what should be noted are the words "ability" and "heart". First let's look at "ability", as mentioned there may be times one can NOT respond, like being at their FT job, school, drinking, under influence of meds, etc....the ability may not always be there. The second word is "heart", well face it, how many can honestly say they respond to every call that comes over the pager? It can be quite easy to selective respond to calls and why you may get more people for a structure fire than a lift assist or sick person. Along with that for both is the attendance of training, you have at times those who are not able to attend, and times you have those who don't want to attend, and even times a combination of both.
So my point is that it is easy to say "I'm always on duty" but it really isn't the case, is it? See, as a career FF, I MUST respond to every call I am toned out to. I MUST attend every training while on duty. I MUST do inspections, pub ed, tours, etc during my work day, in the end I can't pick and choose what I want to do, respond to, etc. Yes, as a career FF I'm "off duty" at the end of my shift, but my mindset is still that of the job. So basically, if one is always "on duty" then that means they will respond to EVERY call that comes in, they are there for every fire inspection, pub ed, and training that comes along. Otherwise, in actuality, it is still a selective response, one may carry a pager, but if you don't respond, attend the training, pub ed, inspections, you really are not always on duty then are you?
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Ralph firefighter 101 should include a coarse on etiquette. I always assess the situation and if there appears to be enough resources on hand I move along. If it seems help is needed I will find out who's in charge , identify myself, and see if they want my help, if so what can I do. I do a mean impersonation of an I V pole if that's what's required.
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Permalink Reply by FETC on
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Well John, we both have debated this before and no need to fire everyone up here again. Yeah I am only on duty when I am working shift please.... Some throw that around or wait "it's only about the money" and have never have worked a day of "shift" work. People that do, often use the big city assumption, (not allowed to return for anything) where many small towns or city firefighters might work shift and be allowed to return for station coverage for every additional call while off duty.... isn't that the same committment? So I say never assume someone else's mindset... but I offer a counter point to ponder
I know many volunteer firefighters who will selectively respond to calls if it is convenient to them. The routine BS calls that get multi re-toned, etc. The "always on duty" volunteer status is BS even for a chief... they too have time away from calls, family committments, dinners with a frosty beverage once in a while? or even take vacations.
So tired of these threads.
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