There are some 254,000 firefighters around the world that work every day to rescue people and property from fires. This profession is increasingly in demand. The firefighter intervenes in various situations, whether it is to save people during domestic incidents, gas leaks, burns, and drowning, or to intervene in natural disasters and traffic accidents. A firefighter works in difficult and arduous conditions and must adapt to various environments. Therefore, this profession requires excellent physical skills. Knowing how to handle fire equipment and first aid procedures is essential. If you want to pursue a firefighting career, here are some useful tips to get you started.
LEARN ABOUT THE BASIC APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
If you want to become a professional firefighter, you should have an excellent secondary school diploma and completed vocational training. In many cases, the maximum age should not exceed 35 years. This position often requires a silver swimming badge and a class B driving license.
Since this is civil servant training, you have to do another professional training before being admitted to training as a firefighter. But here, too, there are differences from state to state. In some states, you need a medium-level educational qualification. You have to go through a selection process to start your training as a firefighter. It also includes a medical examination. You must be fit enough to practice the profession of firefighter responsibly.
SET THE RIGHT EXPECTATIONS
What exactly do firefighters do, and how to become a firefighter? These are the fundamental questions that everyone asks, but it’s essential to set the right expectations before you step into this career. During your training as a firefighter, it’s challenging to cope with the individual situations that await you. You should be clear about this in advance because you provide quick and qualified help in emergencies and danger as an officer in the middle fire service. So, if an accident happens somewhere, you and your team will be on-site first. You are also responsible for securing, fighting, and eliminating sources of danger, such as fires or leaking chemicals. You need to know that, as a firefighter, you will not only put out fires but will mainly carry out first aid measures or medical emergency rescue measures.
Without the desire to learn, nothing works. All fire brigade members have to attend training services and further training courses at regular intervals to update their knowledge of firefighting and lifesaving skills. It is so important because there are constant new technical developments in this area too. Only those who are familiar with it can act correctly during an assignment.
SHOW EFFORT!
In addition to good health, an essential prerequisite for this job is unrestricted commitment. Firefighters must be available day and night to be there immediately in a fire or other disaster and help the residents. It is essential that the teams are well coordinated and that everyone can rely on the other. It is the only way that the mission can go off quickly and without errors.
BECOME AN ALL-ROUNDER RESCUER
After car accidents, the fire brigade is often the only way to rescue people trapped in the wreckage. The rescue workers use special tools to free the victims. Every firefighter can then provide first aid to the injured because that is also part of the training. You will even rescue animals from emergencies and return them to their owners.
Even if it’s a natural disaster like a flood or earthquake, firefighters must be at the forefront. After heavy rain or floods, some basements have become underwater. The fire brigade has special equipment for this, which transports rainwater outside in no time at all.
LEARN NEVER TO BE IDLE
Even when there is no action taking place, the firefighters are not idle. They maintain the fire engines, the buildings, protective equipment, and the devices so that they are always ready for action. After all, every second can count for the next alarm.
You do not necessarily have to become a professional firefighter. Almost all smaller communities have a volunteer fire brigade that you can join. Otherwise, youth fire brigades are a good entry point.
KEEP TRAINING AS A FIREFIGHTER
There are various ways to work for the fire service. For the basic training, the future firefighters must complete a preparatory service at a fire brigade school, which lasts between nine months and two years. Afterward, there is still the possibility of further training to become an operations manager or equipment attendant. Civil servants in the higher technical service undergo a two-year training course in their work communities. This time split into practical and theoretical sections.
Advanced firefighting training opens doors to many future opportunities. There are different special units in many fire departments. The spectrum ranges from height rescuers and divers to experts for fighting ship fires. There is also training to become a turntable ladder machinist, a boat driver, a control center dispatcher, or a guard trainer.
CONCLUSION
If you too want to be a hero, save lives, and do something good, training as a firefighter is just right for you. As a firefighter, you are not afraid of risking your own life for others, and you can deal with stress without having nightmares for weeks. Like rescuing people, this is an extraordinary experience because it is entirely different from other professions.
