Berwick, Brandon - Firefighter
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| == Job Duties and Responsibilities == | == Job Duties and Responsibilities == | ||
| - | As stated above, firefighters have to do more then put out fires and save kittens. They have an array of responsibilities while on the job. Aside from building fires they are required to respond to: fire alarm activations, automobile accidents, industrial accidents and even bomb threat calls<ref name=”fire”> 6262 Firefighters. (n.d.). Retrieved December 16, 2013, from http://www30.rhdcc.gc.ca/CNP/English/NOC/2006/Profile.aspx?val=0&val 1=6262</ref>. They are required to inform and educate the community on how to maintain safe fire prevention such as: maintaining a functional fire alarm, having the proper fire extinguishers in the appropriate areas/ locations. They are also required to know how to properly operate multiple fire prevention equipment/ other equipment to aid them in doing their jobs and also stay in top physical form to carry out all of the duties required of a firefighter. The equipment used include: water hoses, axes, aerial ladders/ regular ladders, hydraulic equipment (e.g., jaws of life), and firefighting chemicals<ref name= | + | As stated above, firefighters have to do more then put out fires and save kittens. They have an array of responsibilities while on the job. Aside from building fires they are required to respond to: fire alarm activations, automobile accidents, industrial accidents and even bomb threat calls<ref name=”fire”> 6262 Firefighters. (n.d.). Retrieved December 16, 2013, from http://www30.rhdcc.gc.ca/CNP/English/NOC/2006/Profile.aspx?val=0&val 1=6262</ref>. They are required to inform and educate the community on how to maintain safe fire prevention such as: maintaining a functional fire alarm, having the proper fire extinguishers in the appropriate areas/ locations. They are also required to know how to properly operate multiple fire prevention equipment/ other equipment to aid them in doing their jobs and also stay in top physical form to carry out all of the duties required of a firefighter. The equipment used include: water hoses, axes, aerial ladders/ regular ladders, hydraulic equipment (e.g., jaws of life), and firefighting chemicals<ref name="fire" />. At the station, firefighters are required to maintain and inspect all of their equipment that will assist them in their job (including the fire engine)<ref name=”poop”> Firefighter. 2014, July 1. Retrieved from http://www.prospects.ac.uk/firefighter_job_description.htm</ref>. On top of that, they must familiarize themselves with the local streets, road, buildings, and areas so that they can respond to a call through a safe and speedy route<ref name="poop" />. |
| == Typical Workday == | == Typical Workday == | ||
Revision as of 23:35, 26 March 2015
Contents |
Firefighter (Brandon Berwick)
General Overview
While many may think that firefighters are just people who put out fires and save kittens from trees, they do a lot more at hand then just that, such as promoting fire safety precautions, responding to car accidents and sometimes responding to flood incidences. Firefighters are men and women who risk their lives everyday to keep the community safe. While other people are running away from the danger, they are the ones running towards it.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
As stated above, firefighters have to do more then put out fires and save kittens. They have an array of responsibilities while on the job. Aside from building fires they are required to respond to: fire alarm activations, automobile accidents, industrial accidents and even bomb threat calls[1]. They are required to inform and educate the community on how to maintain safe fire prevention such as: maintaining a functional fire alarm, having the proper fire extinguishers in the appropriate areas/ locations. They are also required to know how to properly operate multiple fire prevention equipment/ other equipment to aid them in doing their jobs and also stay in top physical form to carry out all of the duties required of a firefighter. The equipment used include: water hoses, axes, aerial ladders/ regular ladders, hydraulic equipment (e.g., jaws of life), and firefighting chemicals[2]. At the station, firefighters are required to maintain and inspect all of their equipment that will assist them in their job (including the fire engine)[3]. On top of that, they must familiarize themselves with the local streets, road, buildings, and areas so that they can respond to a call through a safe and speedy route[4].
Typical Workday
Being a firefighter is not a typical 9-5 job. After much debate, in Ontario firefighters now work a 24hour shift. These shifts are staggered throughout the month, so typically a firefighter will work around 8 days per month but they will have to remain at the station for their full 24hour shift[5]. Some firefighters use this much free time to obtain a second job to pay for all of their expenses. Unfortunately people do not decide to stay out of danger, have accidents or prevent fires on weekends, so firefighters do not get weekends or holidays off. They work around 8 days out of the month and 24hour shifts is for overtime opportunities unlikely. With that in mind, there are shift changes, sick days, and potential (though very rare) shifts to be picked up in time of an emergency. The work setting is constantly changing. On some nights, they may be inside the station for most of the night, but on other nights they may be going from call to call. It is a very stressful and difficult environment to become accustomed to. Firefighters are required to work with a group of males and females that they must trust and at times their life can literally be in the others hands. Firefighters are also required to work/ deal with the community and everyone who is in it. As stated above, firefighters are required to use multiple tools on a day-to-day basis. For starters there is their clothing while going to a call. This is known as their ‘bunker gear’. Bunker gear consists of: Protective trousers, boots, protective coat, hood, helmet, work gloves, personal alert safety system, and personal breathing apparatus[6]. Some of the external tools they may have to use are tools such as: fire axe, fire-hose, hydrant, ladders, sledgehammer, jaws of life, pike pole, the ‘Halligan’, water rescue tools (used for floods), and many others[7]. When firefighters are not on a call, they have a schedule of vehicle/ equipment checks, they inspect all equipment, and have to do community education. Firefighters also are in charge of ordering supplies. Each firefighter will have responsibilities divided amongst them that they are to expected to complete. Also they are required to maintain a physical standard while at work with the gym that is usually in place inside the station[8].
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