What does a firefighter actually do?

Introduction

When most people think of firefighters, they picture flashing lights, burning buildings and firefighters charging through smoke with hose lines. While those moments are certainly part of the profession, they represent only a portion of what firefighters actually do. Today’s firefighters are emergency medical providers, rescuers, educators, problem solvers and trusted public servants. Every shift brings new challenges and no two days are very the same. If you’re considering a career in the fire service, understanding the full scope of the profession is the first step.

emergency medical response

One of the biggest surprises for many aspiring firefighters is that a large percentage of emergency calls involve medical emergencies rather than fires. Depending on the department and community firefighters may respond to: Heart attacks, strokes, difficulty breathing, traumatic injuries, motor vehicle accidents, falls, pediatric emergencies, overdoses, cardiac arrests to name a few.

In many departments every firefighter is also trained an as EMT or Paramedic, allowing them to provide lifesaving medical care long before a patient reaches the hospital.

Key takeaway: helping people often begins long before a fire is involved.

Fire supPressi0n

Although structure fires occur less frequently than many people expect, they remain one of the