New from Florida

[nextwave]

Hi to all. Just wanted to give my story since i'm new here. I'm 29 years old and have a wife of 9 years and 2 kids 8&6. Last summer I decided to pursue a career in firefighting after being urged to by family and friends. I've always thought about doing it but never pursued it. I'm doing it because I want to help other people, plain and simple. I left my job of 8 years in December and started volunteering. I absolutly love it and I'm now in the fire academy and then off to EMT this summer. It feels so right doing this and I'm excited to be doing it for the right reasons. Thanks for having me. Any advice is much appreciated. See ya round the forum.

DB

[fireman4949]

Hi to all. Just wanted to give my story since i'm new here. I'm 29 years old and have a wife of 9 years and 2 kids 8&6. Last summer I decided to pursue a career in firefighting after being urged to by family and friends. I've always thought about doing it but never pursued it. I'm doing it because I want to help other people, plain and simple. I left my job of 8 years in December and started volunteering. I absolutly love it and I'm now in the fire academy and then off to EMT this summer. It feels so right doing this and I'm excited to be doing it for the right reasons. Thanks for having me. Any advice is much appreciated. See ya round the forum.

DB

Welcome aboard DB! Glad to have ya with us.

I was 29 when I started with my department, too.

If you can, and are so inclined, go on to get your medic as soon as possible. It will help in getting hired here in Florida, and will also mean a better starting salary to support the family.

Where in Central Fla. are you? Are you going to the State Fire College in Ocala?

Good luck, study hard and stay safe!




Kevin

[BLSboy]

Where abouts in C. Fla are you?
I attended Florida Fire Training Academy in Melbourne, last year.

[nextwave]

Thanks guys. I'm in Volusia County attending fire school through DBCC(Daytona Beach Community College). I heard a medic cert. is almost a given now adays, I was thinking of getting hired first (hopefully quickly) and then going to get my medic.

[BLSboy]

Yup, becoming a Paramedic is pretty much a given in the state of Florida now a days. However, dont just go form EMT to paramedic without much BLS experience!!
It makes for a bad medic!
That is why I am in Jersey right now, I am gainign good BLS experience before I move back to Florida and become a Medic.
Good luck man, and if you need any help with anything, dont hesitate to PM me!

[nextwave]

BLSBOY, thanks. Yeah I'm volunteering as much as I can now after classes and on the weekends, riding along on the rescue and engine. I was told the best way to learn is from expierence and I have to agree. Medic school is not in the far off future but it's still a ways away. I'm still learning what a nasal cannual is LOL...baby steps, I'm a big sponge right now absorbing every little bit of skills and situations that come my way. Good luck to you in NJ.