Many times we don’t make it, whichever the case. I’ve seen people collapse in front of my eyes, some severed limbs and other stuff. More often than not there is going to be people who don’t get out in one piece, or at all. I remember this one highway crash where one of the bodies ended up all squashed under a truck wheel… it was not a pretty sight.
If you want to get into saving lives, know you will see a lot of them lost. And it will not be pretty.
Edit: I only have thanks to everyone who upvoted and gave awards, and to the 50 comments, tbh, I don’t think I can answer them. Live, care for others. Don’t let the world get you down, life is hard, but it can also be better.
Planning to become a firefighter myself, do you mind if I ask if that is why you left? Would just be smart of me to get a full picture of what kind of stuff I’d be in for, assuming I do get in.
Your comment is spot on. I’m not a first responder, but I am an ER nurse. Often times it feels like there are a lot more losses than wins. It’s amazing when skill and sheer luck meet and you are a part of something amazing, but so often everyone does their best but the dice falls another way and there is no joy. You’ve definitely gotta aware that there’s two side to that kind of work. And one of those sides is pretty painful.
At first you might be filled with anxiety and fear during your first pediatric code. Later, you'll become proficient and they'll call you to help provide the kind of quality care the situation demands. You'll be an expert. Finally, years after, you'll forever remember the sound of wailing and the lamentation of parents. You can recall the sensation of your fingers pressing against the cold lifeless bodies of innocence. You might even tuck those memories away because to even recall them is to filled with sadness.
To any EMS, first responders and healthcare professionals. Debrief and debrief often.
It’s so unreal to me that you guys have taken the time to read my comment, and even more unreal that you’ve given an award. You have honestly made my day brighter and when I’m back at work tonight, you lovely folks will not be far from my mind. I can’t say thanks enough!
My old man started with my towns volunteer department when I was about 10. I always thought it was really cool and wanted to volunteer when I got older. I found it strange about a decade later when he started going to church, as he was never really a religious man. Couple years ago, when I moved to my forever home, I found a department that was still volunteer that I could join. Before I was able, man stopped me in the parking lot of a grocery store. I was driving my dad's hand me down truck and it still had all his ems stickers and even his dispatch number. This fellow and I talk for a good 45 minutes about how he used to volunteer and all of the mental health issues that go into it. After that I decided I'm not mentally cut out for that, and my dad's new found religiousity made a whole lot more sense. I wish I could help, but honestly I don't think I can do it.
Currently in paramedic school, then on to fire. This is something I’ve been thinking about a lot. I’ve seen the worst of the worst on the internet, but that’s just a screen. Not ‘real’. As much as I tell myself I’m up to it, I can only assume there’s no telling until you get your first few gruesome calls.
piggybacking off of this because my brother’s an EMT/RN/firefighter (he started firefighting at 16 years old, he’s now 24), same goes for his wife. he tries to keep work at work but sometimes he can’t help but bring it home. it’s very sad.
Thank you for your service. My father was a career firefighter in the military and as a civilian later. He has terrible PTSD from what he went through on the job. He's retired now and enjoying it, but rarely does a day go by that he doesn't mention all the guys who didn't make it to retirement. Take care of yourself.
My brother is a flight paramedic and has also been on and off of an ambulance for over 10 years. He always drives home the same notion that you encounter some horrifying things as a paramedic that you can’t be prepared for. The ones he has the most trouble letting go of are those that involve children. The stories he’s told me about children were enough to cause me mental anguish and I wasn’t even there…
This is so true. My father was a career fireman. The fucked up shit he’d show me or tell me about would make me flinch. Cannot imagine seeing most of it in person.
Yes thank you for your service! You're a hero, for real. I hope you have a strong support network for your mental health too. Seeing that kind of thing sounds very traumatic.
My dad drove wrecker trucks when I was really young. I can only ever remember him commenting about two things: the late night calls and the stuff you can’t unsee
If you want to get into saving lives, know you will see a lot of them lost. And it will not be pretty.
While I'm not saying it's the same by any means, it's similar with animal rescue.
In social media you see these happy-go-lucky stories about strays who recover and go on to get adopted. They don't tell you about the incredible amount of death and suffering you will see. They don't tell you about the puppies dying of poison or preventable diseases as an everyday thing, or animals strangled and thrown in the garbage by humans.
There are more reasons than that to stop a career like that: E.g. PTSD, injury, burnout, other career and lifestyle choices, etc. there’s absolutely no need to be so rude.
Yeah, I re-read the thread today and realised I misread his original comment. He was just being crass, and not rude, and I’ve edited a comment in a different place to acknowledge that.
edit: forgot to add, you make a good point, thanks for pointing out my mistake
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u/jery007 Aug 13 '21
Can you imagine being a firefighter who tries that but missed. Oh man, what a hell of a job