Type of Organization

Fire/Rescue Department - Combination

Job Function

Firefighter / EMT-Basic

Years in Fire/EMS:

15

Primary Fire/EMS Department:

Clear Lake Fire Department

Years With Department/Agency

13

Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations

Nora Springs Ambulance Service, Nora Springs, Iowa

My Training:

Fire Fighter/NREMT-B

About Me:

Volunteer Firefighter
Paid EMT-B part time
for the same department

Day Job:

Environmental Compliance and Safety Coordinator - full time

Relationship Status:

Single

Why I Joined Fire/EMS

Everyone says the same thing to help people and that is the primary reason - but I do love the action

Why I Love Fire/EMS

THE RUSH of beating the beast we all know as FIRE

Top Issues Facing Responders:

Training Recruitment Training. The number of career and volunteer firefighters has dramatically dropped over the past 10 years while the training requiremnts are getting more stringent. More efforts need to be put into recruiting the "right person for the job" not necessarily someone's "buddy" from down the street and the continuied efforts to increase training and firefighter safety. Get rid of the HERO attitude and get down to the job of firefighting.