What Is A Firefighter
Webster’s dictionary definition of a firefighter is: “A person who puts out fires.” Ask an adult and they may say, its just another job that must be done. Ask a child and their reply is someone who risk their life to save others.
Present that very same question to a professional firefighter and the answer you get will not be so easy. You see, to them a firefighter is not a man or a woman just doing a job, to them it’s a way of life.
Once a person becomes a firefighter, they, as well as their family begin learning how to give. They begin by leaving their families to be away twenty-four hours, sometimes even forty-eight to seventy-two hours in a row, knowing that at the sound of the alarm their lives could be changed in an instant. A firefighter is someone who at any time may have to leave a hot meal, or a warm bed on a cold winters night to answer the call for help. You see, life to them is precious, not just theirs, but others as well. This is the reason why this is not just another job to them, its their way of life.
A Typical Day for an Alexandria Fire Department EMT or Paramedic may involve the following:
- Respond to 911 calls for emergency medical assistance, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CRP) or bandaging a wound.
- Assess a patient’s condition and determine course of treatment.
- Follow guidelines/protocols that they learn in training and that they receive from physicians who oversee their work.
- They work both indoors and outdoors, in all types of weather. Their work is physically strenuous and can be stressful, sometimes involving life-or-death situations and patients who are suffering.
- Use backboards and restraints to keep patients still and safe in an ambulance for transportation to the emergency department.
- Help transfer patients to the emergency department of a healthcare facility and report their observations and treatment to the staff.
- Create a patient care report; document the medical care they gave the patient.
- Replace used supplies and check or clean equipment after use to maintain a state of readiness.
Additionally, our EMTs are required to participate in monthly Continue Education Classes to maintain their National Registry Certification and State of Louisiana EMT License.
THE FIRE SERVICE can be as dynamic as you choose. FIRE SUPRESSION, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, FIRE PREVENTION, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TEAM, COMMUNICATIONS, DIVE/RESCUE, FIRE RECORDS CLERK AND TRAINING are just some of the many exciting career opportunities available through the Alexandria Fire Department
EVERY RECRUIT, of course, is trained in firefighting. A rigorous 20-week training course at the Alexandria Fire Academy prepares each new recruit for any situation he or she may encounter on the job. Hours of classroom instruction and hands-on experience combine to teach safety, teamwork, emergency medical care and a practical knowledge of firefighting. The time spent at the Academy also serves to instill a sense of professional pride as well as foster an attitude of compassion for fellow human beings. Both of these are key ingredients to long term success with the department. Recruits will graduate the academy with certifications in Hazardous Materials Awareness, Hazardous Awareness Operations, Firefighter I & II and NREMT-Basic.
Upon graduation from the fire training academy, each rookie firefighter joins a shift at several designated stations throughout the city. Each rookie rotates through these stations until he or she is confirmed as a firefighter. This process usually last one year. During the year, seminars or special courses supplement the skills learned in basic training.
Firefighter Qualifications
- Must meet all the qualifications of the Alexandria Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board.
- Be a Citizen of the United States
- Possess and maintain a Valid Louisiana driver’s license
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must be registered with Selective Service (18 to 26 yrs. of age)
- Must have a high school diploma or a valid certificate of equivalency
- Must pass a written examination
- Must pass a medical examination
- Must pass a physical abilities test
- Must pass an oral interview
Fire Department