A Typical Day For a Firefighter

A Typical Day For a Firefighter:
Their shift begins at 8:00 am. Firefighters change into their uniform and relieve the off going shift. The in coming shift immediately conducts a thorough check of all personal protective gear, which includes a turnout jacket, pants, boots, air supply and personal alert device. Once the personal protective gear check is completed, the fire truck is checked and equipment is made ready for service. Daily truck maintenance includes washing the truck, cleaning equipment, and if necessary, changing batteries on radios and heart monitors. Firefighters are also responsible for cleaning their station. The crew cleans, mops and vacuums all living areas and bathrooms. After all the routine checks and facility maintenance tasks are done, the Company Officer facilitates a crew meeting. The Company Officer provides the crew an agenda for the day's activities. The firefighter's priority is to respond to fire and medical calls. All scheduled activities are altered depending on emergency incidents. Most of the time firefighters work in the fire department. They do their work wherever they are needed, which is all over, houses, forests, buildings, schools, basically anywhere that could catch on fire. They also help out with going and teaching people about how to prevent fires, and the danger of them. When the firefighters arrive at the station they change into their uniforms, which usually include a button up shirt and pants. When the firefighters are called for an emergency they rush to put on their safety gear, which includes turnout jacket, pants, and rubber boots. All Firefighters work a non-traditional shift schedule during their first six years of firefighting. However, once promoted to Master Firefighter or above, assignments may include a 40-hour workweek in a position outside the fire station. All shifts are 24-hour shifts in an average of 56 hours a week. Starting salary for a firefighter is approximately $40,100 annually. The Average salary for a firefighter is $42,300. College is not required to be a firefighter. If you want to be the chief or master you usually can be promoted to a higher level with years of experience or attending the U.S national fire academy, two years maximum. If you wanted to go to college you should go to a fire academy college. There are no fire academy schools around this area, for that education is nearest in Des Moines, Iowa. Some classes to take to prepare you to become a firefighter is some basic safety class, along with emergency medical technician class. Firefighters need to be able to find out what caused the fire, whether or not chemicals were involved, how to put the fire out with out starting more flames, and how to prevent it from happening again. They need to know if there are any chemicals that could possibly harm an individual in the work or school area. They also need to distinguish from harmful and non-harmful chemicals.