[Sarah Silence]

Hi all!

I'm new to the board, and I just wanted to make a Hello post/share some excitement.

Next Monday, I start the first day of EMT classes, which I'm taking as a prequisite to an Associate's in Fire Science. The good thing about the Associate's is I can test for a department at any time. I've been working towards getting to this point for awhile, and am so exicted that from here on out, I'm on the Firefighter's Path.

Suffice to say, I'm really excited about finally getting everything going. After getting my EMT cert, I plan on doing a Fire Academy, which is required for the Associate's, and which I'm sure is going to kick my arse 7 ways till Sunday. But, DAMN, I can't wait!

So, how did all of you become FFs?

[baileydonk]

Hi Sarah,

I joined my local volunteer department a little over two years ago. I didn't know what I was getting myself into!!! I did not know that it was going to be the life-changing experience it has been for me. I wish I had discovered the fire service in my younger years (I'm 38 now) - I surely would have made it a career.

Last year I went through the local ROP Fire Academy (kind of the "pre" academy, geared more toward high-schoolers and recent high-school grads who are thinking about entering the Fire Academy). It was a great experience for me - I think I got more out of it than most of the kids, because I put more into it.

The hardest part for me was throwing the extension ladder... Every single day for three weeks, I stopped at my station on my way home from work and practiced. I can't believe how hard it was at first. I was working out every day, I was stronger than I've been in my life, but still I had to start with the baby ladder and work my way up. And if there was any wind - ugg. The guys were really supportive, and there's a funny story about that. I was telling my mom how supportive the guys were being, how they were always telling me "You can do it" and "It just takes a lot of practice" and "It's not brute strength, it's technique, you'll figure it out"... Well, my mom (who knows me way better than I thought she did) said "There's your problem! If they were telling you that you COULDN'T do it, you'd get mad and you'd get that ladder up just to show them!" So, I told my friends at the station to start ridiculing me instead of encouraging me. From then on, when they would see me out practicing with the ladder, they would stick their heads out the window and yell "You suck!!!"... which would make me laugh and drop the ladder. Anyway, I eventually did get the hang of it and now I can put the ladder up no problem and actually have energy left to climb up it and work on the roof.

EMT class should be a great experience for you. I just got my NR-EMT cert a few weeks ago. There's not that much to it, really - air should go in and out, blood should go round and round without too much leaking out The hardest part is just learning to think clearly and calmly under pressure - the pressure of your classmates watching, your proctors judging you, and your patient being scared.

Sharon

[ewright]

I am in your same position right now. I start EMT on Wednesday and then plan on doing the Fire Academy after that. I already have my BS and MS so I am starting the Fire stuff a bit late. My husband is trying to get into Fire Academy right now and he is having a really hard time beacause there are so many applicants. Make sure you start applying ASAP to fire school and to multiple places. Good Luck with everything!

[Sarah Silence]

[stevielyn]

I tried to get into our local fire station after my friend was badly burned in a fire. They told me to come back when i was 18, so i did. It took alot of courage to walk in there. I enjoy it for the most part. I took Fire 1 and then did EMT. The fire academy was so much fun that i wish i could go back. I out beat all the guys in the physical part, but the written tests weren't easy. haha EMT was alot harder for me. The hands on is so much fun, in my opinion. I didn't pass the class by 1 point. I ended up not going back to retake the test, big mistake. I'm not good at written tests.
Good luck in the class!