Firefighters spend their shifts preventing injury and saving homes, buildings, and other structures from destruction. This is an essential job for the community that many citizens hold in high regard.
Firefighters often work long hours within unstructured schedules, making a balanced life challenging. In addition, firefighters witness traumatic events that can have devastating consequences.
You Save Lives
Firefighters are often first on the scene of accidents, suicides, and acts of violence. They extract mangled people from automobiles after crashes and comfort their families when their loved ones have died.
They also teach the public about fire prevention and safety. One family wrote to the local paper thanking firefighters for a presentation they gave to their children. The child learned about stopping, dropping, and rolling when the home was on fire and how to get out and to a meeting place.
However, firefighters also experience long-term health problems, including cancer and heart disease, due to exposure to toxic chemicals and overexertion on the job.
You Help People
So, how do I become a firefighter in Texas? Firefighters don’t just save people from dangerous situations, but they also spend a lot of time educating the community about safety. This is one of the reasons firefighters are considered public servants, and many people admire what they do for society.
Firefighters have a high level of responsibility that can sometimes overwhelm them. One of their mistakes may cause others to lose their lives, and discipline is essential in this field.
It’s common to miss birthdays, holidays, and other important events with family members. However, this can benefit learning self-discipline and teaches you to focus on what’s essential in life.
You Have a High Level of Job Security
Firefighters are an essential service for their communities, and as such, they are likely to stay put. This career is also a great way to ensure your family is financially covered, as most fire departments offer extensive health care and retirement benefits.
However, this job comes with high responsibility since people’s lives could depend on your actions. If you’re not a person who can handle that kind of pressure or make mistakes, then this is probably not the right career for you. Also, you won’t always have a set schedule and can miss important events in your family’s life due to working on shifts.
You Have a Sense of Community
As full-time government employees, firefighters get access to some great benefits. That includes health and life insurance programs for themselves and their families.
Firefighters save cats from trees and rescue animals that fell into lakes, dogs in wells, and raccoons out of maintenance holes. This kind of community spirit makes firefighters love their jobs so much.
The recruitment and selection process varies by region and fire department, but there are some phases that almost all of them include. It’s a good idea to research these phases in detail before you start working towards becoming a firefighter. That way, you’ll be ready to go when the time comes.
You Have a Sense of Humor
People with good humor are generally better equipped to deal with stress. They can laugh at their mistakes, stay positive in difficult situations, and develop empathy for others.
They also can rise above ego-related sentiments like pride and resentment. They understand the difference between witty banter and mockery that is used to degrade.
Researchers have linked humor to positive well-being and an even more robust immune system. It’s no wonder that Twain once said, “Laughter is the best medicine.”
You Have a Lot of Downtime
Unlike some other jobs where mistakes don’t lead to fatalities, firefighters know that their every move has the potential to cost someone else’s life. That fact alone is one of the many reasons why people love and admire this profession.
Firefighters also use their downtime to complete projects assigned to them by their platoons. For example, they often work on completing their training and cleaning their equipment.
As a result, they will be unavailable for family events such as their son’s soccer game or daughter’s piano recital. If this isn’t something you can deal with, then a firefighter career might not suit you.