4 answers
Isaiah
Student
Yuma, Arizona
1
Question
Updated
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How is it to be a firefighter and dangerous is it?
I’m Isaiah and I’m 13 I’m from Arizona and I wanted to be a firefighter and all I wanted to know is how difficult it is and the dangers being a firefighter. So if anyone was a firefighter or is I want to know how I can be one and what different types of firefighters there are.
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4 answers
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian-Nutritionist & Software Developer since 1972 🡆 Optimization Of Human Performance: jim.frangos@gmail
6908
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Good Day Isaiah!
Understanding the Role of a Firefighter
Becoming a firefighter is a commendable aspiration, as it involves serving the community and saving lives. However, it is essential to understand both the challenges and dangers associated with this profession.
1. Training and Education
To become a firefighter, you typically need to complete several steps:
Education: Most fire departments require at least a high school diploma or GED. Some may prefer or require an associate’s degree in fire science or a related field.
Fire Academy: After meeting educational requirements, candidates usually attend a fire academy where they receive training in firefighting techniques, emergency medical services (EMS), hazardous materials handling, and rescue operations.
Physical Fitness: Firefighting is physically demanding. Candidates must pass physical fitness tests that assess strength, endurance, and agility.
Certifications: Many firefighters also obtain certifications such as Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or paramedic certification, which enhances their ability to respond to medical emergencies.
2. The Dangers of Being a Firefighter
Firefighting is inherently dangerous due to various factors:
Exposure to Fire and Smoke: Firefighters are often exposed to extreme heat and toxic smoke. Inhaling smoke can lead to respiratory issues, while burns can occur from direct contact with flames.
Structural Hazards: Buildings can collapse during firefighting operations due to weakened structures from fire damage. This poses significant risks of injury or death.
Hazardous Materials: Firefighters may encounter hazardous materials during fires, which can be toxic or explosive. Proper training in handling these materials is crucial for safety.
Physical Strain: The job requires heavy lifting and strenuous activity, which can lead to injuries such as sprains or strains.
Mental Health Risks: The psychological toll of witnessing traumatic events can lead to mental health issues like PTSD among firefighters.
3. Types of Firefighters
There are various types of firefighters specializing in different areas:
Structural Firefighters: These are the most common type who respond to residential and commercial fires.
Wildland Firefighters: They specialize in fighting fires in forests and grasslands, often working in remote locations.
Rescue Technicians: These firefighters focus on rescue operations involving vehicle accidents, water rescues, or technical rescues from heights.
Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Technicians: They deal with incidents involving hazardous substances and require specialized training.
Fire Investigators: After a fire has been extinguished, these professionals investigate the cause of the fire.
In summary, being a firefighter involves rigorous training and education along with facing numerous dangers associated with the job. It requires physical fitness, mental resilience, and specialized skills depending on the type of firefighting one pursues.
The probability that this answer is correct is 95%.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used in Answering this Question:
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) - A leading organization that provides information on fire safety standards and firefighter training programs.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) - Offers detailed statistics about job outlooks, salaries, and job descriptions for firefighters across the United States.
International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) - Represents professional firefighters and provides resources regarding training standards and safety protocols within the firefighting profession.
✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
|==========================God Bless You, Richly!==========================|
|===========================James Constantine===========================|
|===================THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK DIETITIAN==================|
|===================Programming For Your Nutrition Education=================|
|============================~ Since 1972!==============================|
✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
Understanding the Role of a Firefighter
Becoming a firefighter is a commendable aspiration, as it involves serving the community and saving lives. However, it is essential to understand both the challenges and dangers associated with this profession.
1. Training and Education
To become a firefighter, you typically need to complete several steps:
Education: Most fire departments require at least a high school diploma or GED. Some may prefer or require an associate’s degree in fire science or a related field.
Fire Academy: After meeting educational requirements, candidates usually attend a fire academy where they receive training in firefighting techniques, emergency medical services (EMS), hazardous materials handling, and rescue operations.
Physical Fitness: Firefighting is physically demanding. Candidates must pass physical fitness tests that assess strength, endurance, and agility.
Certifications: Many firefighters also obtain certifications such as Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or paramedic certification, which enhances their ability to respond to medical emergencies.
2. The Dangers of Being a Firefighter
Firefighting is inherently dangerous due to various factors:
Exposure to Fire and Smoke: Firefighters are often exposed to extreme heat and toxic smoke. Inhaling smoke can lead to respiratory issues, while burns can occur from direct contact with flames.
Structural Hazards: Buildings can collapse during firefighting operations due to weakened structures from fire damage. This poses significant risks of injury or death.
Hazardous Materials: Firefighters may encounter hazardous materials during fires, which can be toxic or explosive. Proper training in handling these materials is crucial for safety.
Physical Strain: The job requires heavy lifting and strenuous activity, which can lead to injuries such as sprains or strains.
Mental Health Risks: The psychological toll of witnessing traumatic events can lead to mental health issues like PTSD among firefighters.
3. Types of Firefighters
There are various types of firefighters specializing in different areas:
Structural Firefighters: These are the most common type who respond to residential and commercial fires.
Wildland Firefighters: They specialize in fighting fires in forests and grasslands, often working in remote locations.
Rescue Technicians: These firefighters focus on rescue operations involving vehicle accidents, water rescues, or technical rescues from heights.
Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Technicians: They deal with incidents involving hazardous substances and require specialized training.
Fire Investigators: After a fire has been extinguished, these professionals investigate the cause of the fire.
In summary, being a firefighter involves rigorous training and education along with facing numerous dangers associated with the job. It requires physical fitness, mental resilience, and specialized skills depending on the type of firefighting one pursues.
The probability that this answer is correct is 95%.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used in Answering this Question:
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) - A leading organization that provides information on fire safety standards and firefighter training programs.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) - Offers detailed statistics about job outlooks, salaries, and job descriptions for firefighters across the United States.
International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) - Represents professional firefighters and provides resources regarding training standards and safety protocols within the firefighting profession.
✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
|==========================God Bless You, Richly!==========================|
|===========================James Constantine===========================|
|===================THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK DIETITIAN==================|
|===================Programming For Your Nutrition Education=================|
|============================~ Since 1972!==============================|
✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
Ryan Pfeiffer, MA
Firefighter Lieutenant / EMT
104
Answers
Fort Collins, Colorado
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
Hi Isaiah. You asked lots of good questions, some of which are complicated.
How difficult it is varies person to person. If you're less naturally athletic you may find the physical demands of the job are very difficult to overcome. Or, you might be natural athlete and have no struggle at all, but maybe you're not the best test taker and you struggle to pass the certification exams. Being a firefighter doesn't mean you have to be good at everything; you can lean on your teammates for help where you're weak, and help those that are weak when you're able. How difficult it is depends how good you are at being physically strong, fast, and flexible, how good you are at overcoming claustrophobia, darkness, heights, blood and guts, and how good you are at being woken up in the middle of the night, recovering from seeing some of the horrible things that can happen to people, being a team player, working in extreme hot and cold temperatures, etc.
There are many dangers of being a firefighter, and fire itself is actually somewhat rare. We're also exposed to severe weather, toxic gases, bloodborne pathogens, heights, swift moving water, acts of violence against us, etc. etc. Some of the dangers are invisible, like being at a higher risk of heart disease and cancer than the general public. It all sounds scary, but the truth is that the vast majority of firefighters will never be critically injured or killed in their careers.
There are many ways to become a firefighter, and there are several types of firefighter. Firefighters are primary divided into structural firefighters and wildland firefighters. In a big enough city, they may be further divided into smaller categories based on specialized needs, like aircraft rescue firefighters or firefighter paramedics. But even those specialized firefighters usually start off as just plain firefighters first. To become a structural firefighter you typically either need to put yourself through a firefighter academy (such as through a local community college) or get hired by a fire department that will put you through their own internal firefighter academy. There are other ways, but these are probably the two most common ways. I suggest visiting a local fire station sometime and asking them - they'll be happy to talk to you, and they can tell you wants offered and available in your specific community.
Let me know if I can answer any other questions you have about firefighting!
How difficult it is varies person to person. If you're less naturally athletic you may find the physical demands of the job are very difficult to overcome. Or, you might be natural athlete and have no struggle at all, but maybe you're not the best test taker and you struggle to pass the certification exams. Being a firefighter doesn't mean you have to be good at everything; you can lean on your teammates for help where you're weak, and help those that are weak when you're able. How difficult it is depends how good you are at being physically strong, fast, and flexible, how good you are at overcoming claustrophobia, darkness, heights, blood and guts, and how good you are at being woken up in the middle of the night, recovering from seeing some of the horrible things that can happen to people, being a team player, working in extreme hot and cold temperatures, etc.
There are many dangers of being a firefighter, and fire itself is actually somewhat rare. We're also exposed to severe weather, toxic gases, bloodborne pathogens, heights, swift moving water, acts of violence against us, etc. etc. Some of the dangers are invisible, like being at a higher risk of heart disease and cancer than the general public. It all sounds scary, but the truth is that the vast majority of firefighters will never be critically injured or killed in their careers.
There are many ways to become a firefighter, and there are several types of firefighter. Firefighters are primary divided into structural firefighters and wildland firefighters. In a big enough city, they may be further divided into smaller categories based on specialized needs, like aircraft rescue firefighters or firefighter paramedics. But even those specialized firefighters usually start off as just plain firefighters first. To become a structural firefighter you typically either need to put yourself through a firefighter academy (such as through a local community college) or get hired by a fire department that will put you through their own internal firefighter academy. There are other ways, but these are probably the two most common ways. I suggest visiting a local fire station sometime and asking them - they'll be happy to talk to you, and they can tell you wants offered and available in your specific community.
Let me know if I can answer any other questions you have about firefighting!
Cameron Stanley
Paramedic/High school teacher
2
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Cameron’s Answer
Firefighting is a profession that, while statistically risky, is also incredibly fulfilling. The potential hazards range from exposure to toxic chemicals, operating in treacherous highways, to venturing into blazing and unstable structures. Despite these risks, we strive to minimize danger through the use of protective gear, comprehensive training, and keen situational awareness. Even though it's a risky job, the rewards are immense, especially when considering the positive impact you can make on your patients and you're community.
In addition to firefighting, most individuals in this profession are also EMTs or paramedics, making education crucial. Excelling in school, particularly in STEM subjects, is vital. As paramedics, the use of math is prevalent, particularly when calculating dosages for the various medications administered to patients. Physical fitness is equally important; when applying to a fire department, you'll undergo a test to assess your strength and endurance. This job may be challenging, but the rewards and the impact you can make are truly remarkable.
In addition to firefighting, most individuals in this profession are also EMTs or paramedics, making education crucial. Excelling in school, particularly in STEM subjects, is vital. As paramedics, the use of math is prevalent, particularly when calculating dosages for the various medications administered to patients. Physical fitness is equally important; when applying to a fire department, you'll undergo a test to assess your strength and endurance. This job may be challenging, but the rewards and the impact you can make are truly remarkable.
Dr. Kelly Desso
Protective Services
241
Answers
Somers, Connecticut
Updated
Dr. Kelly’s Answer
I work in a department where our FF's and EMT's rotate positions. This means one day, you could be in the back of an ambulance, and the next, you could be on the front lines. While some departments strictly have their teams do FF duties, they are well-rounded when they are certified in multiple areas. I'm on the protective services side and generally enjoy the dispatch side of the work, but each person knows going in that there is an on-the-job risk for different exposures, being struck by something/someone, or otherwise. Surely, we try not to dwell on it because it will cripple teams!
I will say the most unspoken area that people don't mention until later is the medical killers of the profession. Our staff work 24/7, so this means coverage on weekends, holidays, during events, and everything in between. The overtime hours, especially during the pandemic, spiraled many that I know into health issues like diabetes, cardiac issues, and weight challenges. Not all partners are okay with this practice either, leading to higher than normal divorce/single staff rates for the field. Also, the volume of shoulder injuries seemed to have increased, too.
One way I combat the field of security is by being okay with my decisions. If I follow the procedure and best practices, there will not be problems later.
I will say the most unspoken area that people don't mention until later is the medical killers of the profession. Our staff work 24/7, so this means coverage on weekends, holidays, during events, and everything in between. The overtime hours, especially during the pandemic, spiraled many that I know into health issues like diabetes, cardiac issues, and weight challenges. Not all partners are okay with this practice either, leading to higher than normal divorce/single staff rates for the field. Also, the volume of shoulder injuries seemed to have increased, too.
One way I combat the field of security is by being okay with my decisions. If I follow the procedure and best practices, there will not be problems later.