I grew up watching shows like Emergency! and CHiPs, but I never thought about making a career out of it. Flash forward a great many years; today I'm a volunteer, firefighter and EMT, and I quit my day job to do this full-time now. It most certainly is an adrenaline rush, great fun, and I get the chance to make the difference in somebody's life.
If I help out just one person only in my lifetime, it's all worth it.
I don't get a monetary paycheck from my department --- I get a whole lot more. Just the satisfaction of knowing that we've made a difference in a lot of people's lives. Plus the department is my second family. We keep things in perspective: Family, job, school, volunteerism - in that order.
Yup, that's me.....I am funny about things like responsibilities.....1st my Dad beat that into me as a smart ass kid and what he didn't have time to finish the Army took care of....I love Firefighting, I love my Department and those in it...I have gone to hell and back with many of them....but, I have responsibilities and bills to pay.....FAMILY must come first..then the job, and then the Department....A MAN does what a MAN has to do for his family
I don't know most of the time, I feel as if we lost that one. Even though we poured all we had in it. Its alot of work for no pay and I have seen things I wish I could unsee.
Its in my blood it's what I was meant to do, Nothing more or less.
seriously, i love to help people but the rush i get is freekin great! the lights, sound, fire, whatever... i love it and when i see a succesful call played out i sleep good...
done alot, been everywhere, but this is the most rewarding thing i feel i've done with my life next to being a dad...
I'm so proud of my nephue who got me started, he's at the 10 in L.A.