I have been running on our local volunteer ambulance service for just over 2 years. I have seen more in my 2 years of running than most will see in their lives. Also, I have been active in our local volunteer fire dept. for barely over 1 year now. During the summer, I work wildfires around the state. Currently, I am enrolled in MSU-Billings College of Technology, majoring in Fire Science and minoring in Paramedic. Both are Associates Degrees, and will hopefully benefit me in the future.
My grandmother and mother were both in EMS, and my father served in our local Fire Dept. Both are volunteer services, no pay per calls, but the pride of being part of something not everyone can join, the gratification you feel after helping someone, possibly saving their lives is like none other. I could do this for no pay for the rest of my life, but I might as well make it a career.
Why I Love Fire/EMS
Being a firefighter was always my dream, plus the adrenaline of rushing into a burning building and being of service to my community
Top Issues Facing Responders:
Speaking from a volunteer perspective, the biggest issues would have to be recruitment and training. Our ambulance service is having trouble getting enough staff to respond to a call. People these days want something in return for anything they do. They refuse to get out of bed in the middle of the night to help someone in need for free. And the training is just as bad. Hardly anyone shows up for training and complains that they don't have enough CE's to continue running on the service.
Check out the some of the Groups, I have started up "Close Calls" an area to tell your story of what you did and should not of so others learn. "Roll Calls" this is another group that allows you to tell us about your station and district. "Trainers Corner" is another area that you can read about issues other trainers have or deal with. As well if your not a trainer you can ask questions or state concerns you have. If you have a hard time locating them just go to my site and look at the bottom left hand corner.
Comment Wall (1 comment)
You need to be a member of My Firefighter Nation to add comments!
Join My Firefighter Nation
Enjoy, be safe and remember we all come home.
Mace