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Barry
- 60, Male
- Fairmont, WV
- United States
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Barry's Page
Profile Information
- Type of Organization
- Fire/Rescue Department - Volunteer
- Job Function
- Training Officer, Firefighter / Paramedic (or Other ALS), Driver / Engineer
- Years in Fire/EMS:
- 28
- Primary Fire/EMS Department:
- Grant Town Volunteer Fire and EMS
- Years With Department/Agency
- 21
- Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations
- I began my EMS career with a now defunct EMS agency known as the Rivesville Emergency Ambulance Service. I have also volunteered with the Rivesville Volunteer Fire Department, and currently also volunteer with the Bunners Ridge Fire Department.
- My Training:
- EMT, Paramedic, CPR, various hazmat, confined space rescue, various levels extrication, structural firefighting, all of the "ABC" classes, EVOC, multiple officer classes.
- About Me:
- I am just me....although that usually means being a busy me. My family is the love of my life, with a wife and four kids whom I love dearly. But emergence services is my passion. Aside from the obvious though I am also into NASCAR, riding my Harley Ultra Classic, fishing, camping, softball, hunting, riding my four wheeler....pretty much anything outdoors.
- Day Job:
- I am a general manager for a metals recycling company.
- Relationship Status:
- Married
- Why I Joined Fire/EMS
- I began in EMS while I was still a senior in high school. I new a couple of the EMT's from my town, and took my first look inside of an ambulance while it was on standby at a football game. I've been hooked ever since, volunteering for many years as an EMT, before going on to become a paramedic. I still volunteer, and work part time as a medic.
After a few years as an EMT, I started to realize that the fire side needed people as well, and began to volunteer as a firefighter.
I also spent 3 years as a 9-1-1 dispatcher in two counties, as well as selling fire equipment for a short time.
I absolutely love both aspects of emergency service, and will probably to both until I am to old and feeble to life the hose or cot! LOL
- Why I Love Fire/EMS
- It is in my blood. As aggravating as it sometimes can be with all of the issues we have, it is still a VERY rewarding thing that we do!
- Top Issues Facing Responders:
- One of the top issues in our county is the ever decreasing numbers of volunteers. We have many fire departments which have the same people answering nearly every call, which will eventually cause burnout. And lets face it, some of these people won't be around forever. We need new blood. But in todays world, how can you convince a 20 something year old, or someone even older, to give of their time for free, to get the basic training to become an EMT or firefighter, then tell them that the state or federal government wants them to spend hundreds of hours to get MORE training just to work for free?
Then, on top of that, we ask them to spend hours each week, cleaning trucks, doing maintenance, attending business meetings, and raising money, all to fight someones fire...for free!
Another BIG issue, not only in our county, but others across the country, is the huge problem of agencies not cooperating with each other. This may be one fire department not getting along with the neighboring department, EMS not working closely with fire, dispatch wanting to tell departments how to run their daily operations, or government agencies not providing the support we need to operate efficiently.
Barry's Blog
UTV grants and info
Posted on March 17, 2009 at 1:39pm 2 Comments 0 Likes
I am working to try to secure funding for a UTV for our department, to be used county-wide, for wilderness rescue, (usually involving an ATV accident in the woods), and fighting brush fires. I have researched a lot on the internet, and talked to several vendors. But what I really want is feedback from those who use them daily.
First, what BRAND of UTV seems to work best for everyone? Our application will mostly involve very hilly terrain and woods, although in most cases there should… Continue
First, what BRAND of UTV seems to work best for everyone? Our application will mostly involve very hilly terrain and woods, although in most cases there should… Continue
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Chief William Sharp
Southern Oregon Coast