| Author | Message | ||
     Firemanjim |
We are in the middle of some ugly contract negotiations with our esteemed city leaders and have been beaten up in the press for our pay and how "little" we do day to day. I read this and it resonated with me. Enjoy! "I Wish You Could Know" I wish you could know what it is like to search a burning bedroom for trapped children at 3 AM, flames rolling above your head, your palms and knees burning as you crawl, the floor sagging under your weight as the kitchen below you burns. I wish you could comprehend a wife's horror at 6 in the morning as I check her husband of 40 years for a pulse and find none. I start CPR anyway, hoping to bring him back, knowing intuitively it is too late. But wanting his wife and family to know everything possible was done to try to save his life. I wish you could know the unique smell of burning insulation, the taste of soot-filled mucus, the feeling in intense heat through your turnout gear, the sound of flames crackling, the eeriness of being able to do absolutely nothing in dense smoke-sensations that I've become too familiar with. I wish you could read my mind as I respond to a building fire "is this a false alarm or a working fire? How is the building constructed? What hazards await me? Is anyone trapped?" Or to call, ""What is wrong with the patient? Is it minor or life-threatening? Is the caller really in distress or is he waiting for us with a 2x4 or a gun?" I wish you could be in the emergency room as a doctor pronounces dead the beautiful five-year old girl that I have been trying to save during the past 25 minutes. Who will never go on her first date or say the words, "I love you mommy & daddy" again. I wish you could know the frustration I feel in the cab of the engine, squad car, or my personal vehicle, the driver with his foot pressing down hard on the pedal, my arm tugging again and again at the air horn chain, as you fail to yield the right-of-way at an intersection or in traffic. When you need us however, your first comment upon our arrival will be, "It took you forever to get here!" I wish you could know my thoughts as I help extricate a girl of teenage years from the remains of her automobile. "What if this was my daughter, sister, my girlfriend, wife or my friend? What were her parent's reactions going to be when they opened the door to find a police officer with hat in hand?" I wish you could know how it feels to walk in the back door and greet my parents and family, not having the heart to tell them that I nearly did not come back from the last call. I wish you could know how it feels dispatching officers, firefighters and EMT's out and when we call for them and our heart drops because no one answers back or to hear a bone chilling 9-1-1 call of a child or wife needing assistance. I wish you could feel the hurt as people verbally, and sometimes physically, abuse us or belittle what I do, or as they express their attitudes of "It will never happen to me". I wish you could realize the physical, emotional and mental drain or missed meals, lost sleep and forgone social activities, in addition to all the tragedy my eyes have seen. I wish you could know the brotherhood and self-satisfaction of helping save a life or preserving someone's property, or being able to be there in time of crisis, or creating order from total chaos. I wish you could understand what it feels like to have a little boy tugging at your arm and asking, "Is Mommy okay?" not even being able to look in his eyes without tears from your own and not knowing what to say. Or to have to hold back a long time friend who watches his buddy having CPR done on him as they take him away in the Medic Unit. You know all along he did not have his seat belt on. A sensation that I have become too familiar wit h. Unless you have lived with this kind of life, you will never truly understand or appreciate who I am, we are, or what our job really means to us...I wish you could though. BTW,got into work this morning to find that the crew I was to replace were in an accident responding to a fire,totalled the engine, but all are OK, except for bumps and bruises. Happy 4th!! | ||
| Ulywife |
"I Wish You Could Know" Thanks for sharing. I had chills from the first sentence. Our police, fire and emergency responders are not paid nearly enough for the jobs you have. Thank you is not enough for the jobs that you do, but I'll say it anyway "THANK YOU". I worked for 2 police departments and dispatched during my last assignment. People on the outside sometimes have no idea of what really goes on behind the scenes. | ||
| Mm128 |
This is VERY TRUE!!! I graduated College a few years ago with an ACCOUNTING/FINANCE Degree. I joined the City Police Department and worked for 3 years. Now I am with the University Police Dept as an Investigator. I am now getting my Masters in Business. Its a TOUGH life.... I have lost little ones that I have done CPR on and it SUCKS!!!! But... its not the pay... Its the fact of knowing that "WE" are serving and are willing to go to that call. Thats what its ALL ABOUT. ** that and driving REAL fast w/ lights and sirens is pretty cool tooo...  Everyone be safe, Matt (LEO SOUTH GA.) | ||
| Doncasto |
Smoke-eater . . . Well and thoughtfully written. I think each and every one of the "city leaders" should spend a few days crawling through the smoke . . .seeing only with their hands . . .choking and retching on toxic fumes . . .in 100 degree summer weather in full turnouts. They might not be so quick to question the "why" . . . Don Casto Boulder, Colorado | ||
| Djkaplan |
"Our police, fire and emergency responders are not paid nearly enough for the jobs you have." You could double their pay and it wouldn't be enough. My father retired from his federal job in his mid 50's and became an EMT in the county he retired to. He eventually became the head of emergency services for the county before retiring again at 65. The time he spent as an EMT was the most fulfilling job he's ever had in his life. | ||
| Tq_freak |
Jim, you are totally right. Granted you have seen a lot more then me, being older and paid, I have been a Volly for 7 years now, and even in 7 years I have done and seen stuff that most of my friends will never understand. I really hope the local gov pulls there Sh*T together and you guys can get a better contract. PS, How bad was the accident? is everyone healing fine? and if you don't mind me asking who's truck was it (E-one, Pierce, etc) and how did it hold up. | ||
| Dongalonga |
Jim thanks for this post as a LEO I really appreciated it. The pay doesnt matter I can afford to live and that is all that matters because I love going to work everyday. Keep up the good work brothers and sisters the world needs more of us. | ||
| Buellfighter |
My father passed away in the same circumstance mentioned in in the third paragraph. My brother arrived at the scene before me and said the paramedics were trying everything to revive him although he/they knew it was to no avail but I appreciated it so so much for my mothers sake knowing everything was tried. Thank you fire and policemen for EVERYTHING you do! | ||
| Road_thing |
Thanks, Jim. rt | ||
| Hootowl |
"I think each and every one of the "city leaders" should spend a few days crawling through the smoke . . ." I think they should spend a few months getting paid what a firefighter/LEO gets paid and see if their story changes. | ||
| Hootowl |
that goes for teachers and military too. | ||
| Sparky |
That's a touching post, FMJ. Bless you for all you do. Makes my job seem trivial by comparison. My wife is in similar circumstances wrt contract negotiations but it looks like a grocery strike is inevitable, damnit. I hope your deal works in your favor. Sparky | ||
| Firemanjim |
Pierce engine, frame looks untouched but body from cab back is toast,all 3 guys just bruised,thank goodness. | ||
| Oldog |
my arm tugging again and again at the air horn chain, as you fail to yield the right-of-way at an intersection or in traffic. When you need us however, your first comment upon our arrival will be, "It took you forever to get here!" I see it time and time again here in Wilmington, Its sad but True, It's that "It's all about me" attitude} Jim Thanks loads for all you do | ||
| Lake_bueller |
Hey FMJ...if they order a new Pierce, maybe I can get some pictures during construction or completion. The factory is only about 40 minutes away in Oshkosh, WI. | ||
| Court |
If I were closer, it'd be interesting (and I'd love to be one to do it) for one of your friends who've known you for years to convey to these myopic folks how dedicated you are to your job. During the few minutes when your friends are not teasing you, I've seen the heart and dedication you have for the work. Over the years I've become less taken with what folks do as the heart they put into doing it well. If I were ever in a situation that I needed a professional Fire Fighter coming to rescue me, all kidding aside, I'd want you amongst their number. My sense is that you are not the sole dedicated member of your group. Best of luck with the negotiations. Court | ||
| Daves |
Thanks Jim We all need a reminder now and then of what you and other heroes ( I mean that) do on a daily basis. Lake, I thought they made the Pierce trucks in Appleton? | ||
| 98s3sns |
Great read Jim! We just settled recently and thankfully our Mayor is FF friendly,though that didnt stop some of politicans and press at times to berate us.My favourite was one who called us "pampered pole sliders" I wish all could be a little more understanding. | ||
| Blake |
Beaten up in the press you say? Send us their names and addresses. This is an easy fix. | ||
| 12x9sl |
Dave, you are right-Shanda's cousin works on the bodies there as a welder. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Yeah, we rode by the factory enough going back and forth from your old dealer at Homecoming last year, Dave. | ||
| Sooner |
Jim, we need to get together sometime. I work with the Brentwood P.D., and am only a little ways from you. Thanks for the post, I for one am thankful that most people will NEVER know what we see and experience. Their worst day is our every day. God bless America. | ||
| Ducxl |
There's CERTAINLY a lot to be said about our first responders.The fire and police do very difficult jobs. But with all of the outsourcing and strain on the budgets of cities and towns it's difficult to continue the unabated accumulation of sick days'.No co-pay or no-pay health insurance.Free health care after retirement for life.Our municipalities are writing checks without the funds to back them up.Where does the money come from? Working for the state is the most coveted job there is. | ||
| Firemanjim |
No co-pay, free health care for life--I wish.And I do not work for the state,but bust my ass for a city whose leaders seem to think little of our efforts. I am lucky in that I have not had any serious injuries but I see guys alot younger than me getting retired out due to injury. And all of those minor ones are really starting to catch up to me, I worry about being able to enjoy my retirement. | ||
| Mm128 |
Jim, Wait till you find out what your CITY MANAGER makes salary wise..... I did here.... Damn... Mine is a SMALL town.. about 100,000 people total amongst 5-6 counties... He pulls in OVER $150K a year.. and SECRETLY wrote in ALL types of EXTRAS that most have NO idea about... The city leaders are CROOKS.... I am just waiting for the opportunity to LOCK one of them UP. Matt. |
