Duties of  a NFR Firefighter/Medic
 

A Quick Look at the NFR Firefighter/Medic

Norfolk Fire Rescue is a cross trained dual role Fire Suppression and Emergency Medical Services Department whose goal is to hire the best applicant for each Firefighter/Medic or Firefighter/Paramedic position. NFR looks for highly motivated, highly interested, and highly committed Basic Life Support or Advanced Life Support Technicians who are willing to cross train in Fire Suppression through the Tidewater Regional Fire Academy (TRFA) to become a Firefighter/Medic.

The duties you will face as an NFR Firefighter/Medic can at times be glamorous and full of media attention. But for the most part, your duties will be routine and anything but glamorous. The daily chores you do at home you will have to do at work. What follows is a realistic look at just what it means to be a Firefighter/Medic. Hopefully, this information will enable you to make a more informed decision about being a Firefighter/Medic. After reading this article, take some personal time and reconsider your decision to become a Firefighter/Medic or Firefighter/Paramedic. An honest evaluation of your true career desires will be beneficial for both yourself and NFR.

The NFR Work Schedule.

NFR's workday begins at 0700 and ends at 0700 the next day. The work schedule covers a 21 day period with three shifts (A, B, & C) on the following rotation:

 Tuesday...Thursday...Saturday...Monday...Friday...Sunday...Wednesday.

Following each Wednesday is a five (5) day break with the schedule starting over on the following Tuesday.

A Sample Workday at the Fire House.

The day begins at 0700 hours. This is the time when the oncoming shift relieves the shift currently on duty. The station officer checks members for conformity to uniform and appearance guidelines, makes apparatus duty assignments, assigns cleaning stations, passes on department announcements and, generally, sets the schedule for the day. A schedule that often includes training, special house cleaning details, routine inspections of local business or governmental buildings and other activities.

After line-up is complete, the apparatus is checked. Personal protective gear is placed on the apparatus and readied for use. Equipment is inventoried and tested to ensure it functions properly. Any discrepancies are noted and/or corrected. This helps us to ensure the readiness and cleanliness of the apparatus and it's equipment.

Housework is next. Cleaning stations are stocked with supplies, trash is emptied, floors are mopped and/or vacuumed, and toilets are sanitized. Special assignments are scheduled throughout the week including: grass cutting, kitchen cleaning, house day (extra effort put into routine housework), etc.

Sometime during the day training will take place. This usually involves video productions, but may include special hands-on and/or classroom training. Many training opportunities are also available off duty in the region and throughout the state. The firefighter/medics day may also include inspections of local businesses and schools for fire code violations. Throw in a few fire and EMS runs, lunch, dinner, and before you know it the day is complete.

After 1800 hours members basically have time to themselves. At 1900 hours ambulance crews are rotated, as the medics and paramedics serve 12 hours in EMS and 12 hours on a fire apparatus. After 2100 hours members may go to bed and attempt to get some sleep. Sleep is routinely interrupted by calls for Fire and EMS services. That is not to say that there won't be times when you sleep the night through, but they are few and far between. The dispatcher wakes everyone at 0630 hours (or at least those fortunate enough to be getting some sleep) so they may prepare for relief and go home.

You may have noted that a Firefighter/Medic wears many hats. If you're thinking your day will be filled exclusively with Fire and EMS calls, think again. It may seem as if you are a janitor, a chef, a public relations representative, a codes and compliance officer, a taxi driver, a social worker, a referee, part of a lawn care crew, a mechanic, a painter, or an electronics or computer whiz. Oh yes, I almost forgot, you are a firefighter and a medic. If you're looking forward to a career of high angle rescues, multiple structure fires and trauma call after trauma call, this job may not be for you. Although you will encounter these types of calls in your career, you need to be mentally prepared for a much less glamorous reality…life.