EMT or firefighter?

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Permalink Reply by Stephen on August 31, 2009 at 3:58am

i think you should go for it. you'll quickly find out if it's for you or not. you'll never know until you try i was the same wasn't sure about volunteering. best thing i ever did. and you can always do both if you can find the time. got one guy in my brigade that's an paramedic as a day job and volunteers as well.

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Permalink Reply by Margaretta Williams on August 31, 2009 at 1:20pm

Volunteering is definately the way to go. Im glad to hear you enjoy it. Being a paramedic sounded like alot more work for advanced airway and IV's and so having 3 boys I decided to stay with just EMT. My teacher said all the time, "BLS saves lives!" He is a paramedic/FF as well. I guess now its time to start jogging again and for push-ups and sit-ups! lol Your right, I wont know if I dont try =)

PS The morning I found out I passed my final test (the NREMT) a fire started in my kitchen! lol kind of ironic....

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Permalink Reply by Stephen on August 31, 2009 at 9:56pm

can't argue with that kind of sign. good luck in what ever path yoou deside to do.

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Permalink Reply by Jean Hall on August 31, 2009 at 4:01am

Sounds to me like you're the kind of person who can do anything she sets her mind to. I'd go with whatever seems most satisfying to you.

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Permalink Reply by Margaretta Williams on August 31, 2009 at 12:59pm

Your right, I give 110% when my heart is in it. I spent 20-40 hours a week reading and studying going through the EMT class and ended up graduating at the top of my class. I really thought I would get hired on as an EMT so its weird how I got denied. You gotta have a perfect driving record and I own a lifted suburban and a camaro! LOL hello tickets =O There is no room in the EMS field for people who dont give it their all, I hope I truely can.

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Permalink Reply by doug on August 31, 2009 at 6:50am

i say go for it there's only one way to fine out if its for you

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Permalink Reply by Margaretta Williams on August 31, 2009 at 12:49pm

ur right, there is only 1 way! its just walking through the doors......

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Permalink Reply by Becky on August 31, 2009 at 10:09am

If you think that it is something that you might want to do, then nothing should stop you. I was the same way- not the healthiest or strongest, but I joined, and realized that I absolutely loved it. Trust me, there is something for everyone to do in the fire service. If you aren't able to do a certain thing, like run a chainsaw for example, then I'm sure your company will find something else for you to do on a fire scene. It is a very enjoyable thing to do, you just have to be committed enough to put in the training. I think that you should go for it. You'll never know how well you can do in the fire service until you try. I wish you the best of luck with your goals. Have fun and stay safe!

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Permalink Reply by Margaretta Williams on August 31, 2009 at 12:48pm

Im so happy to hear that you love what you do! I want the same thing. Its weird because the doors keep shutting in front of me being hired as an EMT and opening for firefighting. Well its a good way to keep healthy and in shape and most of the calls are medical anyways. I will hopfully be going to the FD sometime this week, so I will update what happens. I appreciate the reply and thank you!

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Permalink Reply by Shanna Davis on August 31, 2009 at 11:33am

There is no way you'll know whether firefighting is for you or not until you try it.
I certainly don't want to discourage you from doing it but I also want to be straight forward about it.
Its hard work. If you are thinking about doing this as a career you will need to keep up with the men. You will need to be physically very strong and mentally strong to handle it as well.
If you are not in the best physical health then you better get there. That part will be a constant process. It doesn't get any easier as you get older either.
If you're going to do this as volunteer you still need to be in reasonably good health and most departments put you through a physical agility test before they put you on.
Rolls of hose are heavy, you need to be able to lift them. Extrication equipment is heavy, you need to be able to lift it and use it. You can't always stand back and let the guys do it because its heavy.
FF can be discouraging for a woman because it is tough. I had all the desire in the world to do it but the reality of the situation for me was being in my late 40's I couldn't physically do it, not as a career. I do volly but I probably really shouldn't be anymore. On volly depts. the guys are usually the ones that want to be right in the middle of the action so I tend to take on the support roles such as filling SCBA bottles, shuffling tools to them, rehabbing, etc.
I encourage you to follow up and look into giving it a try. You really won't know for sure how you feel about it until you try.

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Permalink Reply by Margaretta Williams on August 31, 2009 at 12:41pm

I really appreciate the honesty. There arent too many women firefighters out there so I respect the fact and look up to the women that do! My children are finally all in school so now its my turn. I was hoping to gain some strength through volunteering and see if its for me before I take the CPAT. The Loomis FD has their own test but he said it was harder than the CPAT, lol I like the fact that you said there can be a job for every firefighter. Im no petite woman by far being 5'10 and I know I can be stronger. So ya I just need to grow some ***** and go down there LOL Thank you so much for the reply!

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Permalink Reply by dwn164 on August 31, 2009 at 2:22pm

I'd say go for it...I'm not in the greatest of shape either, I belong to a local Technical Search and Rescue Team, a member of three fire companies as well being an Emt and as wellas a Wilderness Emt as well. Go for it

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