Firefighter/Paramedic

[edash]

This is what I ultimately would like to do as a career (ff/paramedic), so my question to y'all is, is there a way to be both in the Navy? I am interested in becoming a HM, but is it possible to somehow tie in firefighting within the Navy?

[0311_DoC]

Every sailor is a fire fighter in one form or another. you will get damage control classes while in boot. but as far as being a Corpsman and a Paramedic. you need to look at the SPEC OP communities. SARC, Seal 18 Delta etc... I don't know of any fire fighter/ Corpsman jobs that are combined as one.... I could be wrong though...

[edash]

hmm..interesting..thanks for the information..

[dvldocjoe]

Damage Control Teams and its members are assigned to certain lockers onboard ships and will typically form up the fire teams by assignments from the Damage Control Center which is commanded by the XO of a ship in times of need.

[Doc_Stevens]

When I came out of Lab Tech Basic, I was stationed at Boone Clinc, NAB Little Creek Virginia. Not sure what the Navy's stance on this now is, but I did do some volunteer work with the Virginia Beach Fire Department. Was a member of their Rescue Dive Team and worked on the ambulance quite a bit.

[tact.medic]

Spec Ops will not guarantee you a Paramedic Cert. While getting all the high speed classes an education would be awesome ultimately you should be trying to test for the National Registry Exam. You need to be an EMT first, so if you don't have that certificate, start working on it pronto.

If your not planning on making the Navy a career, then make sure that you not only get all the schooling and training you can from your time in but the civilian equivalants too. ;)

[tact.medic]

I forgot to add, check where you plan to live after your time in the Navy. Some places do have FF/EMT or FF/PM and some places don't. Check with your local fire/ems dept.

[dvldocjoe]

Most fire departments now average more EMS calls than fire suppression. Some areas use private ambulance companies Like AMR or Rural / Metro (two largest) who go to fire and rescue calls. Some fire departments have converted to partial paid shifts or fully paid crews with volunteer suppliment. You can check with each state's EMS office to find out what you need for your area since some states don't accept National Registry.

[tact.medic]

I can vouch for dvldocjoe- My department is one of the largest in Central Florida and we run way more EMS calls than we do fires. I like to say (and this pisses off the good ol'boys) that were an EMS dept that fights fires, LOL.

For instance every one of our apparatus is ALS, sometimes the whole crew on an engine or tower will be manned full of paramedic/FFs. Its kinda amazing really.

I am fortunate because I worked EMS way before I joined the fire service, and I worked for the largest Fire Dept in the US of A. They work totally different than my current department, since only a few of their apparatus even runs EMS calls and only as first responders (less than an EMT). That Dept has its own EMS division that strictly works in Ambulances (none of the EMTs or Paramedics, is a Fire Fighter) this has caused a lot of anomosity and strained work relations in that dept.

As Joe said check your local state for their SOPs, but if you have the chance to take NREMT or NREMTP test go for it, after that challenge the states test (where your stationed) it looks good on your resume if you have multiple certificates ;)

LMK if you need help.

[8404]

tact;

My father was a 'fireman' from the mid 1960's until his retirement. The department he worked for in Northern California, made a change and required all of their fireman to obtain their EMT licensing. It's a shame that not all of your fireman have EMT training.

The department must have changed, if there is animosity amongst the firemen brethren. In the old days, regardless of EMS or regular fireman, the camaraderie they exhibited was unprecedented.

[tact.medic]

tact;

My father was a 'fireman' from the mid 1960's until his retirement. The department he worked for in Northern California, made a change and required all of their fireman to obtain their EMT licensing. It's a shame that not all of your fireman have EMT training.

The department must have changed, if there is animosity amongst the firemen brethren. In the old days, regardless of EMS or regular fireman, the camaraderie they exhibited was unprecedented.

Unfortunatly the Dept i worked for has over 11,000 Firefighters (no there is no typo on the number) and over 3000 EMS professionals. EMS used to be its own dept but was "merged" (more like hostile takeover) into FD. The EMS professionals were offered a lot of stuff such as cross training, and even having a chance to join the ranks af the Fire side. Unfortunatly the FD Union decided that instead of playing nice they were dead set with anything EMS. Also the FD decided it was going to place a cutoff age on the hiring practice, this effectivelly (sp?) took out over 75% of the EMS guys who wanted to go to the fire service. Oh yea there was a lot of hate and discontent back then.

This is part of the reason I left that dept. I relocated to Orlando and got a job at the first (and the main dept I wanted to work for) and only place I applied for. There was no age discrimination, and they REALLY liked my EMS resume.

I still miss working up north, it was way busier and had real calls. If your a Trauma Junkie this is the place to work. But now that I'm older and (kinda burned out on the trauma) working for Orlando has been a blessing :D

Either way, check your local state, and see what their SOPs are regarding EMS and the Fire Service. I suggest you only Vollunteer as a very last resort and only to build up your resume ;)

[edash]

i know here in washington where ive been a ff/emt for a lil over a year, most departments require their ffs to have their emt-b certification due to the fact mentioned; we deal with a ton of ems calls..

[Da-Chief]

tact, I just got to know.. have you had any "MOUSE" calls?
;-)

Later
D/C

[dvldocjoe]

Hey, I did get one out of our nation's capitol involving a stud and a ring stuck together down under while on a blind date in a car .... pm for the details as it is X rated.