Become a Firefighter and Help Others

by Bill May

Why would anyone want to become a firefighter? Well, I can tell you that it's not for the money.

Although a firefighter's salary will pay the bills and put food on the table, it will not place you in an extremely high tax bracket. In fact, a lot of full-time firefighters work an extra job on their days off. A person does not become a firefighter just for the money.

Secondly, people do not decide to be a firefighter because they want a stress- free job. Responding to 9-1-1 calls that often involve literal life or death situations does not bring about calm and serenity. Likewise, crawling through a burning building full of super-heated gasses and throat-choking smoke is really not the most relaxing day at work.

Sure, every job has some stress, but nothing compared to that of a firefighter. The desire to be a firefighter is not due to the relaxing work environment. While we are on the subject, people do not become a firefighter because it is a healthy profession.

Each year, approximately 100 fire fighters die in the line of duty. About half of these fatalities are due to heart attacks. Both stress and extreme physical exertion contribute to these statistics. Finally, nobody becomes a firefighter because they will be able to spend more time with their family once they join the fire department.

Most members of the fire service are on a 24/48-hour shift. Working a firefighter's schedule means spending a third of your life at the fire station. Because of the constantly rotating shifts, a firefighter ends up being away from home on nights, weekends, holidays, anniversaries, birthdays, etc. Being a firefighter often creates a huge strain on family relationships.

So, after pointing out some of the negative aspects, why would anybody still want to become a firefighter? Because firefighters help people.

When we think of the many ways in which a firefighter helps others, one of the first things that come to mind is fighting fires. We have all seen the TV shows or movies where a heroic firefighter saves someone from a raging inferno.

Although the Hollywood depiction of what a firefighter can actually do is often exaggerated, the truth remains that when it comes to being trapped in a fire, a firefighter is definitely your best friend. Even if the fire does not require the saving of a life, firefighters still have a crucial role in helping others.

A quick extinguishment of a house fire will help to save treasured items that otherwise could never be replaced. Family heirlooms and personal photographs are just some of the items that fall into this category.

And don't forget the pets. To some people, their beloved cat or dog is considered to be a member of the family. There are countless stories of how firefighters have rescued an animal that would have otherwise succumbed to the smoke and flames.