General Forums >> Training Concepts & Tactics >> Probies
Probies
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Posted 10 months ago Ok ya'll, I just decided that I AM going to go to a formal fire academy instead of one online, which is exciting and terrifying! So could you share some stories of what it was like in the academy for you? Whether they are funny, or sad, or if it's just plain old advice I would love to hear your guys' take on it and what it was like in your station as a probie! Thanks! No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. |
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| Posted 10 months ago Fire was hot. |
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| Posted 10 months ago wasnt to bad as a probie had to roll alot of hose,thats part of it and did alot of traffic control.you will be fine. |
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| Posted 10 months ago Don't try to be a tough ass, realize that you're new and don't know anything. Absorb everything you're told, well, there are exceptions. Just don't assume you know every thing. |
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| Posted 10 months ago I threw up off the top of the tower (5 floors) after running up there AGAIN. We were having exterior stairwell hose evolution races. Loads of fun. Not the best idea after lunch. The largest room is the room for self improvement |
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| Posted 10 months ago tsmith1 said: ya, i bet not....hope no one was still on the bottom!! No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. |
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| Posted 10 months ago Thank you captain obvious...well chosen name! lol
Something I've been wondering. what is the difference between Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Fire Science, etc? I'm going o go through the state of Ohio to get the Firefighter I, is that a degree or just a certificate or what? Sorry I'm so clueless! See fire238, I can admit it! No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. |
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| Posted 10 months ago Hours. 1 & 2 are cert levels. Fire Science should be a degree, but may just be a class, depending on how the college does it. Jeff Draper
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| Posted 10 months ago Ok, and in the description of the course through the Ohio Fire Academy it says I need PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, and SELF CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS....I'm supposed to bring those myself? Do I ask a local fire department to borrow it or what? It's not like anyone can afford to just go out and buy all that stuff! No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. |
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| Posted 10 months ago You should probably get on with a department that will let you use their SCBA, and issue you PPE. The classes should be a mix of classroom and field training. Most academies provide SCBA, and expect you to either have your own PPE, or be with a department that provides it to you. If you can't get with a department, check Ebay for PPE, but be careful what condition and age it is. You would need: Bunker coat, Bunker pants, Fire boots, Helmet with visor, goggles, and neck hood/bib, Nomex hood, and fire gloves. I would contact the academy and find out more first. Jeff Draper
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| Posted 10 months ago chase1 said: Very helpful, thanks chase! No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. |
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| Posted 10 months ago No problem. As far as physical preparation, start walking, running, stair climbing, anything cardio, and work on being able to lift stuff. For example, one test will be going up the tower with a hose bundle, and also pulling a section of hose up hand over hand (arm and upper body strength). Once you get ahold of bunker gear, you can do some walking and stairs with the pants and boots on. That will help your leg muscles and get you used to trudging around in those boots. I would suggest the same with an SCBA on, including the mask, to learn to control your breathing. Hope you don't have asthma or anything. Jeff Draper
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| Posted 10 months ago Nope, no asthma! I just have contacts, which I read is a bad idea for a firefighter because they my eyes will dry out from the fire, which makes sense. So I'm going to have to finagle the SCBA around some glasses. I just bought a weight vest on ebay last night, so I'm going to be training in that once it comes in. I've got pretty good leg strength, but wimpy arms, so I've been doing tons of lats, flyes, curls, that machine where you peddle with your arms, and theres a trainer at my gym that is also a firefighter, so I'm gonna have him show me some stuff too. (It's $50 an hour, but he said he'll do some stuff with me for free which is swiggidy!) No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. |
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| Posted 10 months ago Swiggidy? LMAO, that's a new one. Jeff Draper
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| Posted 10 months ago Hahaha, ya that one is thanks to my cousin...also Swiggidy swoop! No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. |
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| Posted 10 months ago They make special glasses that are designed for under an SCBA mask, they're a little goofy looking but they're worth it if you want to see. I wear glasses and I went ahead and bought them, they're expensive but I can't see with out some kind of corrective lense. |
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| Posted 10 months ago fire238rescue said: Cool, like how expensive and where would I go to get them? My eyes are pretty bad too, I'm legally blind without them! No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. |
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| Posted 10 months ago I went to my optometrist where I get my normal glasses. They were around $350... and my insurance didn't cover any of it. I got my department to siphon me some money for it though. |
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| Posted 10 months ago Do they look like goggles or safety glasses or something? That's cool your department gave ya some money for it though! No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. |
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| Posted 10 months ago Weigl said: Oh man, the Ohio Fire Academy... I've spent some time there myself lately. Expect to spend a ton of money getting that equipment. You can rent it, I paid 1200 to rent mine. Of course, as my luck goes, I got a volunteer position right after I paid to rent it so I could have saved some money and used the department's. I'll send you a message later with a bunch of places in central Ohio that rent gear. I left my folder with that info at school but I'll have it for you in the next couple of days. Expect anywhere from 800-1200, but since you are a girl you might run into some trouble finding something that fits. |
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| Posted 10 months ago Greeaaat. Because $2,400 isn't enough already! I got a friend at the Elyria Fire Department, so HOPEFULLY they will let me borrow some. I was planning on getting some of my own boots and gloves and stuff anyway. Do you go there now or did you go before? Is there a lot of chicks that go there? I'm starving for info so shoot me all ya got! Especially from a fellow woman that went to the same academy! You can do it on here or just to my email: chelseaweigl@yahoo.com. I've been trying to post a few things to get people talking about the perks and the downsides of being a fireman and what the academy was like and what not, but not that many respond :(. I'm a big talker, so I would love you guys to just tell me whatever ya got! Trust me, nothing is too boring or too gross! I am so passionate about doing this and books can only give you so much. I want to soak up as much info as I can...just call me SpongeBob....ha, that would be a cute nickname. No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. |
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| Posted 10 months ago Lol, you seem pretty excited. I'm a fire science geek at this point, and am pretty much obsessed with everything about it. I haven't gone through the whole academy program, just a lot of my school's activities take place there. I'm sending you that email right now. Pretty much prepare yourself like you're going to bootcamp. I had a scary incident the other day where I got really overheated in our flashover simulator and was scared to speak up, and then began feeling faint and almost passed out. Luckily someone noticed I was about to fall over before I did. Be prepared to go through things that test your body in ways it hasn't been tested before. Do some serious upper body training, the first thing you'll notice is that they don't make anything lightweight in fire training. Anyway, I'm sending you that email...I'll finish rambling there. |
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| Posted 10 months ago Hmmm weird, I don't know if you sent it or not...but I didn't get it. It says you posted your comment two hours ago... No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. |
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| Posted 10 months ago Weigl said: I wear contacts and have never had any problems with my eyes drying out. I do however carry a bottle of eyedrops just in case they ever do and put drops in my eyes after I get done with the call. I consider this to be prventative maintenance. |
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| Posted 10 months ago cool. i guess ill just have to try it myself when i get in the academy. bout 4 months to go! No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. |
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| Posted 10 months ago Not sure about where you are taking the classes, but some academy's actually offer "loaner" gear, it wont be the best, and it may be over sized, but it's gear for the class. I would say go with what chase said, get involved with a dept before hand, it will save you money on gear, and they should pay for your schooling. |
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| Posted 10 months ago Ya I'm going to try. See I'm still training to get in shape for it. I've got a decent amount of weight to lose and muscle to gain, particularly the upper body because I have none. I got a weight training vest the other day, so that should help. Also, the gym I am going to has a trainer that is also a local fireman, so he said he'd help train me and what not. I just don't think anyone would hire me in the shape I'm in right now. It's not terrible, but not firefighter material. I suppose I do have the whole "woman" thing to my advantage. I mean, I'm not gonna be like, you should hire me because you have 20 guys and only 1 girl in your department...SEXIST! But hey, if it works in my favor, I won't turn down the job! No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. |
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| Posted 10 months ago The best advice I can give you to carry through you whole life is NEVER, NEVER, Leaver Your Partner Hanging. If he is trapped in a house, you better be with him. If you feel like you are burning up you probably are. If you are going to wear a Reed Hood learn to read smoke. And last but not least, hope that one day Scott comes out with a mask that won't breach. |
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| Posted 9 months ago I don't know how they do it in Ohio, but in New York we all go to the NYS Academy in Montour Falls... the academy doesn't offer a degree per se, but the local college works with the academy to get you your degree. You have to be a member of a fire department to sign up...and the local college requires you to do time in the Montour Falls FD while you go to school... they call it a bunker program. Maybe they have one in Ohio. If they do it would be in your best interest to look into it--you get issued a uniform for the fire department and are required to clean, maintain equipment and are the first response to all calls..it's pretty much like working in a paid position, but you're not getting paid for it. And while you're doing this you also get your certifications at the fire academy and get to drill and train with the department. The academy can be pretty tough... when I went a lot of the classes started early in the morning and continued into the afternoon--it seemed the way the timed it the evolutions always took place right after lunch too...eat too much and you puke, eat nothing and you pass out. figures. but definitely look into some local bunker programs--the experience you get through them will help. |
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| Posted about 1 month ago You have come a long way in a short time!! Keep it up!! |