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Firefighter Ride - a- long
I want to thank all of you for responding to my last post. I couldn't give you any feedback because my internet was down. But I wanted to let you know that I am still pursuing a career in firefighting.None of my family or friends are firefighters so its kinda hard to get the support that one might get from a firefighter family. But I wanted to be a firefighter since I was 9, when I first walked in a firehouse, so I do not want to give up on my dream.
I was able to contact my local fire chief, And he said that they do NOT have ride - a - alongs for firetrucks but they do let people ride in a ambulance. My ultimate goal in life is to be a paid firefighter paramedic. So do you think it will give me a good feel for the fire service to ride in a ambulance, or should I go to a different department and go on a firetruck?
Also like I said before my goal is to be a career firefighter paramedic. So I am willing to go the extra mile to be a paid firefighter ( which you have to in todays compition). So my second question is what can I do to give me a better chance at becoming a paid firefighter (besides volunteering first) I heard geting a fire science degree is good, but the closest college that offers that is 80 miles away. There is a college that offers fire prevention, is there a difference between fire science and fire prevention?. Which is better to take? can you take fire science online? is it harder to take it online compared to in a classroom?
Sorry for how long this post is, But thanks in advance.
I was able to contact my local fire chief, And he said that they do NOT have ride - a - alongs for firetrucks but they do let people ride in a ambulance. My ultimate goal in life is to be a paid firefighter paramedic. So do you think it will give me a good feel for the fire service to ride in a ambulance, or should I go to a different department and go on a firetruck?
Also like I said before my goal is to be a career firefighter paramedic. So I am willing to go the extra mile to be a paid firefighter ( which you have to in todays compition). So my second question is what can I do to give me a better chance at becoming a paid firefighter (besides volunteering first) I heard geting a fire science degree is good, but the closest college that offers that is 80 miles away. There is a college that offers fire prevention, is there a difference between fire science and fire prevention?. Which is better to take? can you take fire science online? is it harder to take it online compared to in a classroom?
Sorry for how long this post is, But thanks in advance.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Eric Gregory on
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Regarding fire service ride alongs I doubt that you'll find a departmet that does do ride alongs. The fact is if there's a seat on the truck it needs to be given priority for any firefighter over any ride along. The reason ambulances can do it is because they almost always have just 2 crew and there's seating for more than 2.
Riding in an ambulance might get you some exposure to fire service in that they may respond to the same calls. For example, in my area ambulances respond to all structure fires to support the fire service and we also both respond to any accident with injury.
If I were you I'd askt he chief about coming in and spending some time at the station. Help wash the trucks or sweep the floors and maybe in return some of the firefighters on the department would teach you how to use some of the tools. depending on the department they might even let you play with a hose during training or something like that.
Good Luck.
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Permalink Reply by Gregory Borg on
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Brandon, My Department, Spokane Fire, does ride-a-longs all the time, we have medic students, politicians, FF from other departments, family members. We also have a high school program and the participants do get a ride-a-long. You must be 18 but if you get up this way you will be welcome. My Engine responded to 3,700 calls least year (the department had 22,000), last shift we had 14, so riders usually get a good look at what we do. Spokane is not that far to go, also check with Portland, I have done a ride-a-long with them when I was at a fire training class there.
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Permalink Reply by RJ SEIPLE on
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Don't give up on your goal. It would not hurt to ride along with the ambulance, it will give you a chance to experience the EMS side of the fire service, which is alot of what fire departments do now. Plus the ambulance that we have on the department that I am with goes to structure fires with us. But I would continue trying to find a department that does offer ride-alongs, but I have to tell you most do not, because of liabilities.
Now as far as what you can do to help you. Get on a volunteer department and get your firefighter certifications. A Fire Science degree would not hurt you. I am currently going through the Fire Science Program with Kaplan online university. It is an awesome program, and you can do it from you house, or where ever you have access to a computer and internet.
You could also go talk to the chief about coming up to the station and helping out, sweeping floors and various other chores. It will give you a chance to interact with the firefighters, which in turn might lead to an opportunity for you to be involved in some of there daily training.
Just my thoughts. GOOD LUCK.
RJ
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Permalink Reply by Patti Walz on
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Sign up for academy, and do ride-alongs for EMT. The moment they accepted my application I was riding with the guys, even though I had no academy training I was working right along side my partner. I learned hands on, and when academy started up 8 months later I was ahead of the game. I drilled with my guys and learned how to throw a pack, tie my knots, set up ventilation, take a hydrant, pull a pre-connect, etc long before classes started. If we went to a scene I was kept out of the hot zone until I had finished academy. That just gave me the chance to work on switching out bottles, running the pump, or helping with rehab. I continue to do ride alongs with the EMTs at the main station so that I can keep my skills sharp.
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