Juggling College and Protecting the Community

Since the legal age to become a firefighter in most states is 18, many teenagers have to wait until after college to volunteer with a fire department of ambulance service.  These departments rely on young people to do the work since they are best fit for the jobs we do.  Now, college students are volunteering with fire and EMS departments close to their college to volunteer in their spare time.

Many colleges nowadays have on-campus EMS of FD service where students can volunteer when they don’t have class.  Becoming a firefighter or EMT has its perks for many majors and minors.  If you ever thought of going pre-med, becoming an EMT or Firefighter is an excellent opportunity to gain insight to the industry and get real life experience.  Many Pre-Med students across the county continue to volunteer because they feel it the least they can do for a community while gaining experience, it’s truly a win-win.

The following videos are of college-based Fire Department or EMS units.  These students are always proud of what they do and are always recognized as leaders of the community.   If you are a college student and are interested in becoming a firefighter or EMT during college, you should first contact a local FD or EMS agency to see if they are recruiting volunteers.  Also check with your college/university to see if they host an on-campus agency, many do.  The only advice I have for college students wishing to volunteers is to make sure you have the time commitment and want to volunteer and help other.  If you do, I highly recommend it.  We need you! 

The Gift of Life: NYC Style

I wanted to share this remarkable video of New York City Firefighters and Paramedics delivering a baby in the back of a livery cab.  While many outside the city may believe this is a rare occurrence, you might be surprised that this happens fairly often in the big apple.  Of course, mom and child are doing great after the effort of many emergency services personal, including NYPD officers and FDNY Firefighters and Paramedics.

Learning how to deliver a baby is part of the basic information that is given to firefighters and paramedics while they are in initial training.  In New York State, delivering a baby is covered in the Emergency Medical Technician – Basic course.  With all this new medical technology, we are able to deliver babies is safer and more efficient ways.  We are able to hook the baby up to a life-pack and watch the baby’s heart rhythms.  If anything is abnormal, we can deliver care in the back of an ambulance and call the doctors at the hospital to give them information so they can be ready when we arrive.  Many fire departments and ambulance services have had the grateful opportunity to deliver a baby.  Most remember these deliveries for the rest of their life; it’s always a big accomplishment.

If you ever walk through a fire department or ambulance service, you may find several baby pictures on the walls.  Those baby pictures, with note attached, are not from the department’s members, they are of the baby they have delivered.  Every crew takes pride when they deliver a baby in the “Outside World” (off a hospital).   We, the emergency services world, are always prepared to help you.  So please don’t hesitate to call us.