New to this community!

[Sparky2004]

I have attended Seneca's firefighting course, but due to an unfortunate medical condition, I've been forced to switch to prevention. I start back at Seneca in January. I volunteer with St. John Ambulance, have worked for the Fire Department Safety Officers Association, and have a good working knowledge of safety, NFPA standards, risk management, accountability, rehab, CIS, and other tid-bits.

I have a vast amount of resources built from networking within the fire services community.

In other words, if I can help a stranger or stop one fire from burning, than my day has not been in vain.

:p

P.S., the attached pic is of me with the love of my life. It's a crappy pic of me but I'll upload photos from my training at Base Borden with my instructors and friends!!

[Red_Devil]

welcome to the community, unforunate to hear about your program switch, sounds like you still want to the job, what about something in paramedics?

[Sparky2004]

I have thought about becoming a paramedic. It's not for me. Reason being is that paramedics spend a certain amount of time with their casualties, too much time for me. I was the first person to respond (first-aid wise) to a climber who fell of the cliffs in the Niagara Escarpment. I was rock climbing there with friends when we heard a scream than a 'bounce'. That was the sound of the guy hitting the bottom. I had brought my first-aid kit, as I usually do during outdoor activities, and made my way to the scene.

I did my best.

He died of massive internal injuries, head and spinal trauma...he was just too broken. Have you smelt death before? It's a sickly sweet smell. That was my first critical incident and it screwed me royally. I went for counselling. I became attached to my casualty, because of the amount of time spent. After,... he had a name, family, friends,...... get what I'm saying? Paramedics spend a fair amount of time with thier casualties. It was too long for me.

Besides, I love the science of fire, the people and the community. It's personal.

[Red_Devil]

Well that a major problem , you cant get attached to the patients, Sounds like you enjoy the firefighting aspect but just for your information the majority of calls for most fire depts are medicals, on avaerge we may have 7-10 calls a day, i would say 6-7 of those are medicals, just so you know being a firefigher isnt all about fighting fires now a days, we do go to medicals and yes we do have patient interaction....just something for ya to think about

[Sparky2004]

I know that there always is a possiblitiy of becoming emotionally attached to a casualty during rescue calls from fire departments. I just don't really know how most handle it, as people I have asked never really get indepth with it. They say 'they just deal with it.'

I just love the big, shiney red trucks that go 'vroom'!! :p

[Leafs Fan]

Hey Sparky welcome aboard, nice pic but I have a question.

That isn't a Canadian " Relish suit" you are wearing at CFB Borden, You an American , cause that looks a lot like USMC woodland camo ?
And I am guessing that isn't a C-7 but rather an M-16?

[Red_Devil]

nice observations there Leafs Fan!

[TiSme]

Hmm ..... not sure on the camo part. But the weapon looks like it could be a collapsible stock C8. But it's been a while ;)

[Sparky2004]

Actually, that pic is from when I went on-set with Ian, as he is an actor, during a film shoot for an American film called 'Soldier's Girl'. It was shot in the northern part of Toronto. I'll ask him the name of the weapon, but it's only a prop, as well as the cameo. Ian is ex-military (CAN), intelligence unit. We are both Canadian.

Ian taught me how to safely shoot two guns the other year during a camping trip in Bancroft. (F.A.C.) A bunch of people were skeet shooting using a single barrel, 12-gauge shotgun. She (the gun) had a pretty good recoil to it. But it was a fun, safe postive experience for me. I clipped a skeet on my first shot, reloaded, then shot again and got another one. Then Ian showed me how to shoot a rifle with a mounted sight. We used pop cans for targets. I felt more comfortable with the rifle, as I could lay right on the ground, as a sniper would, and ping the pop cans off. My aim was much better than with the shotty.

I would like to perhaps join a gun range club someday, get my FAC, and do some target practice. (no sucking chest wounds here)

[Sparky2004]

The gun is an AR-15, made by Colt, with it's barrell permantely reduced(inside) to fire blanks.

(It was a real weapon, and Ian has the licence to carry it on-set, as he is a military consultant)

[FFWannabe]

[i]

Ian taught me how to safely shoot two guns the other year during a camping trip in Bancroft. (F.A.C.) A bunch of people were skeet shooting using a single barrel, 12-gauge shotgun. She (the gun) had a pretty good recoil to it. [/B]

Ahhh, the 12 guage! I used to love mine. We used to go to my grandparents in new Brunswick (Bayfield, not far from the Confederation Bridge) and shoot down the dead trees in the pond developed by Ducks Unlimited when they put a damn in (the family has a lot of property there)! It was great... Ducks Unlimted would come and drag the dead trees every so often while the pond was growing, so we would shoot them down first... great fun, and it made their job easier... and talk about recoil... I was knocked back into the water on the other side with the first shot.. hahaa.. I was just a kid then! :) I grew to love my .22 after that but decided to give it up when the registration came through, I didn't need it and have no place in my home for it (kept it at my Mom's locked away) with my daughter running around. I used to be able to ignite a matchbook from 200 yards... hee hee, the silly things you do (carefully) when you aren't a hunter.

Sue :)