Introduction
A Firefighter rescues and protects people, property, or the environment.
The firefighter responds to various accidents. In all cases, the handling of fire equipment is essential, as well as first aid, on-site or in an ambulance.
Firefighters are the first civil protectors to ensure safety in the event of accidents of all kinds.
A risky job but eminently useful for the protection of people and property against many perils.
Responsibilities
- Provide basic first aid to injured or injured people, whether they are victims of drowning, burns, falls, road accidents.
- They are often the ones who make the first diagnoses before medical emergency services.
- Evacuate people who are victims of disasters (such as floods, earthquakes, fires, etc.) or
- Evacuate people who are victims of domestic problems (such as gas leaks, people or animals stuck at height, etc.) as quickly as possible.
- Regulate traffic and secure access to high-risk areas such as road accident sites, buildings in danger of collapsing, or even high-risk industrial sites
- Put out forest fires and all kinds of fires using appropriate equipment: water tank, fire hoses, fireproof suits, and helmets.
Education and Training
To become a firefighter in the United States, you need a minimum of a high school diploma.
However, to be promoted into positions such as chief or deputy chief, firefighters need to acquire a bachelor’s degree in fire science.
Firefighters undergo a series of training with and without simulations.
They are trained on the use of equipment or tools used in firefighting.
New firefighters work closely with experienced firefighters when on the job. In the United States, firefighters are also expected to be licensed. Although, this varies among different states.
Salary
The average annual salary of firefighters in the United States is $52,500. This, however, ranges between $26,940 and $93,790. Firefighters may work with the local, state, or federal government and their salaries vary accordingly.
Qualities
- Altruism is the first quality of the firefighter. His job requires him to take more interest in the life of his neighbor than his own.
- A great availability is also requested from this professional to be always ready for emergencies.
- Responsiveness, courage, and prudence are all necessary qualities in the exercise of this profession.
- A good physical condition is necessary to practice this profession.
- A great coolness is essential to the firefighter
- Good resistance to prolonged effort.
His responsiveness is one of his strong points, but he must not, however, jump in blindly impulsively and rather take a step back in an emergency to assess each situation and assess the risks that would encourage caution.
Career Developments
Successive grades are accessible by seniority and by external or internal competition.
The firefighter can specialize in mountaineering, caving, diving, canine officer (dog handler).
Different ranks punctuate the career of firefighters modeled on a military model.
From men of rank to officers, these ranks are accessible to professional firefighters by external and internal competition depending on the degree of seniority.
It is also possible, after two years of practice, to specialize and work in specific intervention groups:
Work Environment
Firefighters must be 100% available, on the alert 24 hours a day, ready to jump at the slightest alert and leave in an emergency with their team to the scene of an accident or disaster.
Finding themselves daily in high-risk areas or situations, the firefighter demonstrates great bravery and unfailing altruism.
The dangers are inherent in his function, which necessarily imply a certain sense of sacrifice for the lives of others, sometimes even putting his own life in danger.
Job Opportunities
There are different statuses for the profession of a firefighter.
Firefighters may work with the local, state, or federal government
The vast majority of the other firefighters are therefore civilians, either local public service professionals or volunteers carrying out the function on an ad hoc basis, in addition to another main activity.
Conclusion
Although firefighters are traditionally associated with fires and their extinction, their scope of action in the field is much broader.
In general, they intervene as quickly as possible at the location of any emergency call or alarm concerning the safety of property or people to restore security by deploying resources adapted to the situation.
The missions of firefighters are difficult and painful and also present significant risks. The frequency and nature of their interventions, the action, and prevention strategies make them use different means depending on the areas: sea, mountain, industrial sites.
