[ewright]

I will be doing EMT in the Fall, my husband will be doing firefighting in the fall. Are any of you married to other firefighters? If so, how do you work out time together? How do your schedule fit?

[Nancy]

Hi!
I'm an EMT/volunteer firefighter, and my husband was in the Army (just retired!!) and also is a volunteer firefighter. Long story short, I met him while he was a recruiter, moved out to Ft. Riley after he got back from Iraq, and we got married last year. When I moved out here.) I already had my EMT and joined the FD my second day here. After a couple of months, my husband got interested in it.
Our volly dept. got a grant to offer Firefighter 1 and 2 classes for free for firefigters in the county, so we took both of those last year. During Fire 2, he also took EMT at the same time in addition to being an active duty soldier. So I'm VERY proud of him. He's not great at school-type stuff, but he hung in there He also made Lt. in December.
So now he's retired and on the hiring list for Tucson. He wasn't selected for the July academy, and we heard a rumor of a class going through in October for those who already have EMT. So we're hoping that's true. Meanwhile, we're both looking for fire/ems jobs in the Tucson area. So we don't really know yet how our scheduals will fit just yet. I may go pt fire or ems if he gets Tucson so we can spend more time together.
Good luck with your EMT class!!!!
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[Karen Leming]

My husband is a firefighter and so am I. We are different ranks are at different stations and have different shifts. We see each other about 3 days a week. When raising the boys, there was always someone there to watch over them. We have thought about going on to the same shift but we like our particular shifts and have been on them for many years. Sometimes time away from each other can be good too.

[Kelly]

I am a firefighter/ paramedic and am married to a Chief Officer/ EMT.
He is the fire marshall and is on call pretty much 24\7.We work for the same department. He works Monday thru Friday and I work shift (24 on 48 off).He is not allowed to directly supervise me. We see each other every day, even if only for a few minutes. Our time together is on the weekends or weekdays when I am off duty and he gets home.We also have 4 kids between the two of us, not all live with us. He is the caregiver at night when I am gone and we use a sitter during the day for the younger 2 kids. It is nice being married to someone who knows exactly what your career includes. We are proud of each others accomplishments and have worked hard to get where we are today. Good Luck.

[smitty088]

Dear FF,

I am glad to hear you discuss your schedules so candidly because I am married and have two children and not being a firefighter yet I can not fully appreciate the schedule of a firefighter.

So I want to make sure I am being realistic. My husband works 9-5 M-F and I have grandparents as a backup for daycare during the week. I live in Washington state and I am trying to see how a real schedule would go. If I managed to get on at a station close to home.

I possibly could work a 24 hour shift and then have 48 hour shift off then 24 hour shift on and then have 48 hour shift off? Is this typical for most stations?

Realistically I could have my husband watch the kids 24 hours or their grandparents and then I would be home with them 48 hours. Does that give you a 56 hour work week?

I like the idea of having two full days off then going back for one day.
Is there any additonal time meetings? I know their is a lot of social interactions for extended family?

I really hope I can get on at a station that is the closes to my home in Seattle. I am sure I can work 24 hour shifts. Can someone explain their basic routine throughout the day at work?

I like to do crossword puzzles, read, study, paint, do word searches. I also like to knit, draw and write. Of course I know you have to exercise.
So during the slower hours do you basically do all housekeeping first-
dishes, mopping, sweeping, wash trucks, cook and clean bathrooms. And then community work like help with car seats, blood pressures.

Then I understand their is a set bed time and you respond to calls whenever. I don't believe I would have a difficult time getting up because I am a light sleeper. I am trying to be as realistic as possible...do most of the females have their own sleeping area? Or does it depend on location?

I know some bunks are separated by lockers or some kind of barrier. Can someone in Washington explain this? and most restroom situations? I appreciate everything is quick get donned, get going, no time for primping and looking beautiful. But you do have to look presentable.
What is considered acceptable for black women short hair, cornrows, curl does certain hair chemicals present a danger? Do you have to wear contacts?

I know there is a whole battery of physical, pyschological and mental testings. And they look for certain personalities that will fit well in a particular firehouse? How do you learn to culturalize yourself to fit the role? Are can you? Are do you believe you basically would have characteristic that fit a firefighter? Does anyone know of a job assessment testing for adults that would let you know if firefighting is the perfect career choice? How do you determine if is for real?

I know a combination of specific qualifications of skills, knowledge and brawn. Any advice would help. Thank you.

Tia
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TT

[fuegodiva]

I am a full-time FF, and my husband was also. I had been 7 years on the job before he was hired. Since then, we have worked just about every schedule possible, including complete opposites, without any days off together (thankfully for only a year). We managed by doing swaps and creatively taking vacation time. The most important thing is to be flexible with your plans and activities, and to understand that you BOTH have to make concessions. We worked like that for about 5 years. He has since moved on to take a position as a state fire investigator. Now he works full-time days, and I still work 4on/off.

This, of all is probably the hardest, because it leaves only the occasional weekend. We are used to it, and it is not an issue now, but it did take some getting used to. We have never worked for the same department, and would not, given the choice. But I do know a few people who do (within my own department), and though the cannot supervice each other (he's a Lt.) the are allowed to be on the same group, but never at the same house. It seems to work okay for them, and they are pretty happy with the arrangement.
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What one thing would you do if you that you could not fail?

[smitty088]

Thank you Fuegodiva. I appreciate you explaining the need for flexibility, compromising and being accomodating to each other's schedules.

I see my husband and the kids each evening. However, time for just me and my husband is every other weekend.

From your response to my question I can see the importance of my husband's being totally comfortable with me having an unpredictable work schedule .......

Tia
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TT