Hi everyone! Most of you are already familiar with me but for those who are visiting for the first time, please allow me to introduce myself. I am a Firefighter/Medic with training and experience in the following areas; HCP-CPR, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Prehospital Trauma Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Firefighting Operations, Hazardous Materials, Technical Rescue, Water Rescue, Emergency Vehicle Operations, Prehospital Pharmacology, and Medical Terminology. I am here to provide technical support for those seeking to broaden their knowledge of Firefighting and Emergency Medical Services. This board has a wealth of resources to answer any and all questions that may come it's way, so if you need to know, ask and we will help in any way we can!
What are Fire Explorers permitted
by Sarah
What are Fire Explorers permitted to do on a routine call? Specifically (sp) medical calls.
What functions Explorers can perform is mainly covered in the Boy Scouts of America regulations. Most of the depts that have Explorers also have some written regulations on the function of Explorers. In general, Explorers are not to placed in immediate danger. This may mean staying on or near the apparatus at a vehicle accident-on-the-freeway call. It also means that Explorers are not to be used for initial fire suppresion, though some depts bend the rules and allow them to function like vol FFs. Most of what an Explorer can and cannot do is also greatly affected by the confidence that the FFs and officers have in the individual Explorer. Some Explorers perform like and have the skill/knowledge of a rookie paid FF. Those are the ones that usually get to do the most fun stuff.
I agree with Erik in his description of Explorers' roles in the Fire Service. I used to be one in the 80's. My experiences were somewhat different. Medical calls were a no no. We may have been assigned to the Ambulance on Drill Day but never rode on an EMS run. It also depended on the chief of the Department and if he liked the explorers or not. One chief would let us do nothing but clean and maintain the rigs, no riding or handling hoses and stuff and we were basically limited to responding to nothing. Other chiefs allowed us to ride on drill days but not to fires or emergencies. It sometimes has a lot to do with Insurance coverage for the Department, Sarah. Ask around to other departments in your area and see what they have set up and maybe you can take what you've learned from them and put it to use in your Explorer Post. Good Luck to ya!!!
I'd like to hear an "insider's" view of getting heat exhaustion on the job. What does it feel like besides the obvious? Is there a brief window between when you think you're going to be okay and when you're suddenly not okay? Are your coworkers fairly sympathetic, or do you get some razzing? Thanks!
When I've experienced a near heat exhaustion, its onset has been rapid. One minute, I'm feeling fine, the next I'm weak and shaky. Rest (without turnouts on) and some fluids usually takes care of it. Even with the new "high-tech" turnout clothing, it still gets hot in them.
When an FF actually collapses from heat exhaustion, is it considered a "rookie mistake," or is it recognized to be a normal occupational hazzard, or something else? Do they get more razzing or more empathy? Thanks again.
I know this isn't exactly on topic, but I gotta ask. Is anyone out there as disgusted with the firefighting games as I? (This isn't to advertise anything, just spreading some info to help keep fireman entertained)
I've owned 3, I own 2 at the moment. I took one back it was soo bad.
If you're bored and have a computer at the firehouse(we have 2) a good game to pick up to play is Emergency: Fighters for Life. I grabbed it without looking because it said EMERGENCY! It's pretty cool though.
You can send out engines,ladders(No snorkels:( ) ABC defense units, ambulances with doctors(screw up. I call them paramedics)and hose trucks
It's not as good as it should, like for example you can't hook up to a hydrant and u can't stretch lines into a building, but it's still kinda cute and some of the missions are hard!
Anyway, if you share my oppinion on how bad firefighting PC games are, reply and share any good games you've encountered.
I've seen the one that is like DOOM..the first person shooter type deal...wasn't impressed..I own Emergency as well and it is kinda cool..makes you think a bit. The Missions are at times a little complicated, and some of them at times are geared more towards that European style of stuff. I'd like to see what else computer companies can make up. Should be interesting to watch with the glut of all those Cop and ER based games out there.
Being the home grown american firefighter I am, I can't stand European Trucks!
NASTY!
I want my Kenworth!!!!!LOL
It would be cooler if u could do real stuff like operate elevated master streams or stretch lines into a building or atleast have a limited water supply. I'd rather have that and have to hook my engine to a hydrant then have unlimited water!
I've read that the average age of paramedics today is 28, and that most of them hold a Bachelor's degree. What was "typical" in the large metro areas (LA, Seattle) in the mid 1980s? Anybody know or know where I could find out? THANKS!!!!
I was a fire/medic Explorer and Vol.FF in the '80s. In my region, most of the paramedicine was partially a *mother-may-I?* system, where medics called in for most of their treatment guidelines. The average age was mid 20's. The training was close to today's curriculum. A lot has been learned in pre-hospital medicine since the '80s, but paramedicine procedures and protocols are slow to change, as some physicians seem to still have an impeding effect. There are some procedures and medicines used in the '80s that are defunct now (and rightly so).
Well if you remember me I was the one who asked if it was even real to be a teen EMT/ first responder. Well the college that teaches this called me and sent me information about their college. You have to be 18 to TAKE the class and that is for First Responder. Which sorta sucks because until then I am stuck making beds for three years!!! Sorry just slightly maddened at this. Well thanks for telling me these things and for all your help. Just remember you're lucky to be in the state you are in!!!! Never move to stupid state! lol
Unless you think you are already in one, but that's another story.
I'm sure rules vary from state to state and even college to college. But you might want to look into co-enrollment (high school & college at the same time).
Also, you might see if you can audit the course. Which means you're allowed to take the course but you don't receive any "official" credit and you must pay like it's a regular class. It still wouldn't get you certified but it might make those 3 years of bed-making a little easier to take. It may also give you some good contacts and an idea of what areas are important to study so that you'll be able to focus on getting the ones you're allowed to take while you wait those 3 years, so that by the time you turn 18, you're already well on your way in that field of study. You might even be able to clep the course when you're 18, which means you take a final exam and if you pass it, you receive credit for the course without having to actually sit through 3-6 months of classroom instruction again; though I would imagine you would wish to just for a refresher, but you'd still be ahead of the rest of the class because you'd taken it before.
I've worked for a University for 8 years and I've seen colleges break their rules before. It's possible if you write to the Dean, requesting to take the course and you make a good case, you will be allowed to audit it. (And I do mean WRITE, Deans don't think much of phone calls).
I imagine the "18" rule may have something to do with the laws of your particular state, most especially the age at which you're considered a "legal" adult and the fact that you have to be one before you can sign any sort of contract. I haven't had any EMS experience, but I'm assuming some sort of contract must be signed, if only for insurance purposes, even by volunteers. Teenagers have a nasty habit of thinking they're indestructible (not to say YOU fall into that category so it's just as much protection for them as for you.
Just a few thoughts from someone on the college-end, rather than EMT end of things.
Erika,
Thanks for telling me that and I found out there is a possibilty that I can take the course through our local hospital. I guess a person I had talked to said that the college I was looking at wanted you to be at a college level. I am going to call a paramedic and see if it is possible for me to take the courses and then when I am 16 if then I could possibily become certified being that I pass and that they do this at age 16. So thank you for your help from the colleges point of view. Right now I think I'm going to try the hospital and see if there are any paths I can take that way. I've never talked to colleges before so that sort of makes me nerverous... don't colleges look for almost perfect grammer and spelling and things like that? That is another good idea though to see if I could take it as a class but earn anything until I am 18. That would save me some time in the furture I'm thinking. If the hospital doesn't work out I think I will give what you suggested a try. Thanks for the help. I know that something can always happen to you no matter what you're age so. I've seen that and it just seems stupid to me that teenagers thing nothing can harm them. They are mortal and human just like everybody else so if it can harm everybody else I don't know why they think it can't harm them. I guess it's just the whole part of figuring out who you are and growing up I guess. I don't know what else to call it. Even though I am only 15. Well thank you again for your help!
First off, would a FF who had been working a year still tend to be called a rookie if he were the "newest" at that station?
Second, what do firefighters REALLY call their captain. Captain + Last name? Last name only? First name? Cap????
Thank you!!!!
And lastly, have any of you read Heart of a Hero (I think that's the name)? It's about FFs and EMTs; I saw it advertisd on Amazon.com and it looks like a really good collection!
You probably don't want to know what some of the guys call their Captain!:) Here it depends on the Captain--I know one that it is Capt. + last name and one that is just Capt. Don't know if this helps or not.
Terry
Well Cindy it depends... usally after 6 months probation...we usally stop calling him or her rookie...if it stops acting like one...and sometimes up to a year if he is low man on shift. As for your Cap question .. it would be dissrepectful to call a captain by his first name or nickname in public or on shift,around the station or on runs its always CAP or Captain.... Never Toad or Brian....sometimes it does slip... but thats ok.
Yes,I'm looking for an Emergency episode where the firefighters are playing basketball. I've already tried Columbia House. They don't have it.
Also, I'm looking for a person named Cap. They promised me they would get in touch with me soon I hope they haven't broken their promsie E-mail me soon
lori_parrish21@hotmail.com
Hi Lori,
I heard that the episode of E! that you are looking for is supposedly in such bad shape that is unviewable, however if you somehow find a copy of it I would pay you for a copy for myself.
Good Luck an finding one--if you do you can e-mail me.
Terry
Hi,
I've been an E! fan for ages and have enjoyed seeing them again courtesy of TVLand. I too have wondered what happened to this episode as TVLand always seems to skip over it. It seems as if there should be a good master copy of it out there somewhere, as usually the stations that show the episodes are given copies of the original master. So whoever has the original rights to the show should have a decent copy of it. If only we could get our hands on it!!
I too would like to get a tape of this if you or anyone else finds it. I'll keep trying myself. I'm looking into a new e-mail provider right now, so don't have an address but will continue checking in at this great site.
Thank you to the people who helped me! I really want to thank you for that! Today lucky me! Our school had a career fair which is where all different business of out town come and we go and ask questions about things we are interested in etc. Well I asked some hospitals about being a first responder and that age limit. One said 16 and another said 18. So I got a pamplet or whatever and I am sending it in to the place in my area where they teach the class to ask them for positive. I already have some experiences with the medical field because I work at a nursing home. I have been in hospitals and ER's, but I also KNOW that it isn't the same as working in one! So I just wanted to thank you guys. If you want I can keep you posted on how things turn out for me.
i am doing a report on preshospital pharmacology. i need to know the history of it...basically when could EMT's start to administer drugs in the prehospital setting, and what are the types of drugs that they usually have with them on the truck? reply ASAP!!!
so it's just as much protection for them as for you.