Fire Extinguisher : 101

A Tribute to Firefighters

This site was voted:

by onlinefiresciencedegree.org
(scroll to 74 on the list)

The men and women, who risk their lives daily to keep our homes and communities safe from the damaging and potentially fatal effects of fire, deserve a special tribute. Firefighters are often overworked and underappreciated, yet instead of complaining, more often than not, they tell you how much they love their job. Do we realize how conscientious and dedicated these public servants are to their communities?

Firefighting Career
Individuals who seek out a career in firefighting do not do so to become wealthy. Considering the personal risk and sacrifices firefighters make on a regular basis, their salaries are relatively meager. According to 2008 statistics, a firefighter’s average hourly pay was a mere $21.97. A full-time professional in the career of firefighting can expect to make between $22,000 and $50,000 per year, while others are not paid at all. Many volunteer firefighters provide their valuable services at no charge - just wanting to give back to their towns and cities while receiving on-the-job training.

Needless to say, fighting fires is intense, difficult, and very dangerous work. Firefighters exercise daily and participate in special training drills to ensure that they are physically ready to meet their arduous tasks when the alarm sounds. These brave individuals often need to walk into a burning building to rescue those who are trapped by the fire. They expose themselves to toxic gases, falling roofs and walls, and of course, the powerful force of fire itself. While saving others, their personal safety is on the line.

Emergency Medical Services
It is sometimes necessary for firefighters to provide emergency medical services during their rescue operations, especially when they find victims suffering from smoke inhalation, and/or unconscious. If emergency medical assistance (EMT) has not yet arrived on the scene, it will be up to the rescuer to attempt to bring the person back to consciousness. Those that have been hurt often need to be calmed, reassured, and consoled until the ambulance arrives.

Heroic Traits
Doing the important work of protecting lives and property from devastating fires takes more than just training and physical competence. The job requires a strong character comprised of incredible courage, self-discipline, a passion for serving others, and decision-making skills in the midst of emotionally-charged situations.

Firefighters typically possess interpersonal and social skills as they need to work closely with their colleagues in order to form a united team. Because of their shared attributes, the common obstacles they face, and the numerous hours they spend training together, these professionals often establish bonds that rival those typically found amongst siblings.

Firefighters work very long hours, sometimes living at the fire station for days at a time. They are committed to their jobs and take the work of protecting their communities and each other very seriously. They often volunteer their precious time to schools and other organizations in order to help educate others about the dangers of fires, how to prevent them, and what to do in the event of a fire. Kudos to our firefighters!