My boyfriend wants to be a firefighter, but I've read many dangers about this job online. It is said to be among the most dangerous professions. I want him to do a job that will not threaten his life. 😢🥺
Is firefighting a dangerous profession?
Superb Opinion
- 302 opinions shared on Education & Career topic.
This is the start of my 41st year in the fire/ems service.
While there are inherent dangers with any job, changes in the fire service have helped a lot, yet there is still a ways to go.
Line of duty deaths have gone down, but building construction has gotten worse, and the materials that are used in modern houses and pretty much all synthetic, so the fumes from those are so much worse, but there have been some very good advancements in SCBA units.
The odd and most troubling statistic is that most injuries occur in the firehouse, not at a fire scene.
That said, drivers are way worse than before.
Every year there are firefighters killed while on accident scenes.
Almost every month you read about cars hitting parked fire trucks at an accident scene.
We use the largest piece of equipment we have to block our work area at an accident.
I did a presentation for my teaching degree on firefighter safety.
It started off with congratulations on becoming a firefighter.
You have just shortened your life by 7 years.
The number varies depending on the audience size, but I think it was around 20 people, but 7 of you will become alcoholics and or drug addicts.
Many of you will get a divorce.
The stress of the job, will you be able to go to the bathroom without a call coming in, will you be able to eat a meal in a normal fashion, sleep deprivation, now PTSD has reared its ugly head.
What most men and women firefighters go through is something you hope you never have to go through, what you see on a daily basis, every bad call you go on, they never go away, the ghosts in your head that never leave, yet you don't talk about it. That has gotten better over the years.
Now there is critical stress debriefing.
For some sadly it is too much and there are way too many, (even 1 is too many) suicides every year from what has built up over the years.
Then you get the people that ask you what the worst call is that you have ever been on was.
Now I look them straight in their eyes and tell them that you want me to relive my worst day on this planet for your entertainment?
My wife knows when I have had a bad call, and just gives me space.
I told her a long time ago that I can tell you, but I can't untell you.
So to spare her any details I don't talk about certain things.
That is what my brothers and sisters are for.
We have a unique bond, we know what we all go through, so we understand what it is like.
We develop what is called gallows humor.
If people heard us making jokes about things, they would think we are the most uncaring assholes on the planet, but that isn't true.
It is a release mechanism, and it is a very healthy one, just not to be shared in public, you wouldn't understand.
But that said, given the chance to do all over again I wouldn't hesitate an instant to do it all over again.
The bond we have with each other, placing our lives in our partners hands and they are doing likewise, the comradery we have is like no other.
Being a firefighter isn't something you do; it is something you are.
You go into the gates of hell kick ass and comeback to do it another day.
You hold an elderly person's hand and tell them they will be fine, even when there is nothing you can do for them, as they take their last breaths, but they were not alone. You were there for them; they were not alone. Hearing the sounds of a once quiet baby cry in the back of the bus is the best sound you can ever hear.
People don't call us because they are having their best day ever.
They call because everything around them has gone to shit and then we come in and try to make it better.
Sadly, we can't save everyone, no matter how good our training is, how much equipment we have, sometimes it is out of our hands.
But you will not find a group of people that will sacrifice everything they have for a total stranger, give until they can't give anymore and somehow find the strength to keep giving more to help someone out, without a thank you because they are not able to say it, but months later when they show up at the station to shake your hand, give you a hug and not let go because they would not still be here without you, there isn't a better feeling in the world than that.
A random plate of cookies shows up at the station makes your day a bit brighter.
Giving a kid a chance to blow the air horn or turn on the siren can lift your spirits from a shitty day to a great day.
Just the look on their faces says it all. For that moment you can remember that you were once that kid, now you might just be helping that kid decide what they want to be when they grow up.
It makes everything else seem not to matter.
It is for everybody, no, but for those that are able to do the job, family support can mean everything.
It takes a special person to deal with this, and I think it can be harder on our loved ones than it is on us. There are dangers with every job, some greater than others. Just driving to work now with distracted drivers, road rage, can be a challenge. It is hard to let someone do something inherently dangerous, but to not let someone do what they feel that they are destined to do can make their lives miserable. We need people to step up and take our places. Someday I won't be able to do the job, all I can do is pass on my knowledge to a class of probies and hope it sticks, so they can do the same thing many years from now. Without people like him that want to join the ranks who will be there to answer the call when you or a loved one needs help? People dial 911 and expect someone to show up, they don't know how it happens just that it happens yet what do they do when no one shows up, then what do they do?
I don't know if I helped his cause or not, but I am glad that I was able to do what I was call upon to do. I cannot think of anything else I could have done with my life that could have ever given me the satisfaction that I have in what I have accomplished over the years. Not too many people can say that they have made a difference, yet I work with an amazing group of people every day that do and have made a huge difference in other people's lives.
Most Helpful Opinions
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Yes, it IS very much a dangerous profession, but... the proclivities of your adversary are WELL KNOWN and can be somewhat mitigated. Cub Scouts teaches the "fire triangle" fuel, oxidant and heat. Disrupt this pyramid and the the fire 'dies'.
The two most hazardous aspects are the unknown fuels / accelerants and that moment of 'flash over' wherein the structure or vehicle becomes completely involved and the very oxygenated air becomes a fire storm AND One's ego writing checks One's skills can cash. Knowing WHEN to know you're out-matched is crucial!
What Girls & Guys Said
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23Opinion
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The best way to describe it is what I heard a guy say about the army.
The job is a furnace that will melt him. The good news is he gets to choose the mould he is poured into.
Either he will be drawn into his flaws or his best qualities. Any dangerous job will do that. And an emotionally dangerous job can do it just as much as a firefighter or a soldier. -
Yes it is dangerous they also see a lot of very fucked up stuff. I know that you are worried about him and rightfully so. But you should not be stopping him from doing what he wants to do.
Someone has to do the job...
- 531 opinions shared on Education & Career topic.
You have every right to be concerned and he has the right to do what he believes in. Firefighting is a very important job that saves lives and property. Support his choice.
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It is more dangerous than many jobs, but men are discriminated against in corporate jobs now so most men are probably better off taking riskier work that pays decently and doesn’t require massive college debt.
- 2.3K opinions shared on Education & Career topic.
yes it is dangerous. Working in a big city is probably more dangerous but there have been many firefighters who have lost their lives in house fires or other smaller blazes.
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its dangerous to a point but pretty noble at the same time, firemen usually keep in good shape and have a solid work ethic (no, im not a fireman!)
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„You can get killed walking your doggie!“
- Lt. Vincent Hanna, Heat - 639 opinions shared on Education & Career topic.
Definitely dangerous. Fire isn't something to messed with but he also would have teammates to help him.
He will never be alone when fighting fires.
- 765 opinions shared on Education & Career topic.
It is very dangerous, and also very necessary. I live in Southern California where we have terrible brush fires and the best firefighters in the world. We are very grateful to them.
- 1.3K opinions shared on Education & Career topic.
Yes, firefighting is a dangerous job but it can save many lives too.
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It's extremely dangerous and has a very high cancer risk. If he's going to do it make sure you support him with a healthy antioxidant rich diet.
- https://www.youtube.com/embed/jvsIeNW8PUw
Chernobyl firefighters
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Yes, it is dangerous.
That is what men do.
Do not try to turn your boyfriend into a soy boy. -
Potentially hazardous yes, not dangerous as such, same as riding a motorcycle imho,,,
- 513 opinions shared on Education & Career topic.
Not really and it is a great job with excellent benefits and a lot of time off.
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Yes, but it is a noble job that someone must do
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Yep, its in the top five of the most dangerous professions.
- 507 opinions shared on Education & Career topic.
gee is jumping out of an airplane without a chute
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It can be. But that's what men do.
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Definitely a dangerous profession.
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