General Forums >> Ask a Firefighter >> What Motivates you?
What Motivates you?
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Posted 3 months ago As Firefighters we are often questioned on what we do and why we do it. There as many definitions and many ways to explain are reasonings. But what is it that one thing or many things that drives us? Dedication and Courage is a couple of the many words used through out the Fire service, along with Bravery, Tradition, Patriotism, Heroism, Service and my personal favorite.... Sacrifice. Though we go through many challenges and face are deepest fears, what is that one thing or many that Motivates you? What makes you do what you do and why? What get's you up at three in the morning? "Hell, these are Marines. Men like them held Guadalcanal and took Iwo Jima. Bagdad ain't shit." "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." United States Marine Corps |
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| Posted 3 months ago Well I can't honestly say that I have gotten up at 3 in the morning to go to a call (still in training), but when people ask why I'm trying to do this I say it is my calling. To help people is simply what I do. What greater way is there to do that? Such a great sacrific to save others in the face of danger; it is in our blood. Sometimes I'll come across people that just don't understand that....they can't grasp that you would be willing to risk your life to save another's, and no matter what I say to them, they just don't understand. So the only thing I can leave them with is: Someone has to do it. Ok reading that, I went a little off topic, but the idea is still the same. I wouldn't be able to live my life without knowing I was making a difference in the world, no matter how small. Saving a life, or getting a little kid's cat out of a tree.....it makes my day to know that I helped someone in someway. No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. |
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| Posted 3 months ago bc i love what i do period |
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| Posted 3 months ago Well, like firefighter301 said, because I just love it. Honestly though when there's a call at 3am... I don't know, I actually love going on calls at night almost more then during the day, but I don't know why haha. |
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| Posted 3 months ago loving what we do for starters, but more importantly my family is what motivates me. with out their support i wouldnt be as likly to get up from the dinner table or roll out of bed at 2:00am |
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| Posted 3 months ago It was on one of my first calls after fire I and we were responding to an MVA. The call was initially dispatched as an MVA with fluids but as we were responding p.d. units on scene reported entrapment with injuries. It was then that I realized that when someone dials 911 I was one of the people that would show up. It was a bit of an awe inspiring moment and has remained with me still. So what motivates me? People dial 911 with the assumption (rightfully so) that trained, professional, dedicated responders will be on their way to mitigate their situation. Kind of hard not to be motivated by that responsibility. That being said, there is no rush like that of riding the rig -code- down the yellow line. The little boy inside gets to have a wicked good time. democracy, not theocracy, not now, not ever |
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| Posted 3 months ago Because I hate to see people suffer...I do not like watching the news and seeing death and destruction and not beeing able to do anything about it. When someone needs help I am there for them, whether its to fight their fire, save their life OR their high school yearbook, stop their bleeding, deliver their baby (only if I HAVE to!!! LOL) Its a passion deep down inside that only certain people feel, we dont need medals, or certificates...it just feels GOOD to came home covered in soot and say, "Hopefully I helped that person" and know that you did a job as a team and the only thing you want in return is to see the smile on someones face. I remember one thing that sums it all up for me, and was enough "Payment" to keep me going the rest of my life...It was a week or two after the 9/11 attacks, and my dept was going to attend a "Funeral/Memorial" service held here in our county for the fallen. We were standing in the doorway to our truck room waiting for more members to show up, dressed in our "A" uniforms and a woman gets out of a car across the street and looks at us. She is obviously crying and has been for some time, her husband has her arm around her and they are both looking at us in the station. Than, quietly they walk over and stand in front of us, and the wife says quietly, "are you guys ok?" I was shocked. She than starts to CRY hysterically and hugs every one of us, thanking us for what we do, and apologising for having to have a tragedy like this to open her eyes to the importance of firefighters, and she just kept thanking us, praying for us, hugging us, apologizing to us...we were all teary eyed at this point naturally, and hugging each other as well. She talked to us for 20 minutes, and hugged us like 30 times each!!! Than she left, saying we will be in her prayers forever... THATS why I do it, for people like her, and the others that we help every day, cause no one else will step up and do the job. I love the fire service...God Bless America.
Brian "Moose" Jones
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| Posted 3 months ago I was thinking about this topic again last night, the other thing that gives you the drive is that, like some of you said when people call 911 they can count on you to come and help them out, and usually that they will give everyone a hug and you can just see on their faces how happy they are. Gives you that warm fuzzy feeling |
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| Posted 3 months ago I think it is the feeling that I get to change someones life for the better. It's not everyday that I get the oppourtunity to help and put my life out on the line so that others my get a chance to live. After every call me and the guys will talk about everything good we do, and it makes us all feel better. Though it's not as intense as the Marine Corps at times, I am an adrenaline junkie, so this really get's my blood pumping. But mostly, it is the feeling that I get to serve my country and though it may not be through arms, at least I can serve by saving others. "Hell, these are Marines. Men like them held Guadalcanal and took Iwo Jima. Bagdad ain't shit." "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." United States Marine Corps |
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| Posted 2 months ago RESPECT is what drives me. Everytime you walk by or ride in the truck you see the look that the community gives you. Regardless of the little kid smiling and signaling you to sound the horn, the adult looking at you wondering where youre going, the elderly person looking you in the eye and knowing they are safe because you do what you do. To me thats respect and thats what motivates me. |
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| Posted 2 months ago the chance of saving a life always motivates me if you don't like what I say use the big red X in the top right hand corner! |
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| Posted 2 months ago The motivation i get to do my job is mainly because i just enjoy it, i enjoy every aspect of it. From saving a life to giving a little kid a sticker that says firefighter and them just smiling at you, thanking you for what you do. Its just great!! |
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| Posted 2 months ago I hate to get all "Miss America" on here, but my motivation is simply knowing that I make a difference. Honestly, I cherished every emergency call I went on because it challenged me to use my skills and knowledge to "save a life", but my love for these calls is usually selfish in the sense that I, personally, love using my skills. I love to give the right medication and see an instant change. I love to see someone's lung poking out of a bullet hole and know how to cover it up to promote the best breathing (plus, that just looks awesome... I am weird). However, the calls I remember the most clearly are the calls that weren't a life and death situation. The calls you go on where you don't need to focus your attention on your knowledge and skills, but instead focus solely on your patient. I remember responding to a call for a hospice patient who was having SOB. We provided the necessary care (O2) but she refused any ALS care because she was simply going to the hospital to die as pain free as possible. I took off my gloves, and held her hand the whole ride. She smiled up at me weakly as we drove and I could see tears welling up in her eyes. Before we left, she grabbed my hand once more and whispered "thank you". I had to step into the hallway to regain my composure before we returned to the rig and cleared up for the next one. Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path and leave a trail.
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| Posted 2 months ago What motivates me, just the simple fact that I can do this job and most people can't. Yes there is the fact that I'm helping my comunity and helping my fellow man. One of the biggist things that ticked me off about 9/11 (besides the senseless loss of life) was I wasn't there to help. Some people can sing, some people can write, and some can do what we do. I just get a great deal of satisfaction that I can help a terrified parent whose child has fallen and hit his head by carring for the child to keeping some one alive who was driving home and a bad thing thing happened to a good person (or not so good but we don't judge). The whole job is just satisfiying to keep me going. As soon as an EMS Rule is accepted as absolute, an exception to that Rule will immediately occur.
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| Posted 2 months ago What motivates me? In a fire... The responsibility of the man next to me. On an EMS run, the everlasting attempts to rid my memory of the cardiac arrest or motor vehicle accident that left loved ones heartbroken. Thats all it is. And I wouldn't trade the times where I wonder why I can't cry for anything. Because out of all those times where we see the deceased in our profession, we can say we did our best. And even though that may not comfort the family of the deceased, it comforts me to know that I was there and not some jo-shmo hero wannabe that has watched Ladder 49 one too many times. The sole fact that we get to see our achievements instantly is enough for me. So what motivates me? The fact that I can honestly say that if at any time one of my asshole (in a good way) firefighters goes down, or some fat jackass eats one too many twinkis, that I will be there and do my best to preserve their life. Thats it, that's all it is...
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haha. Then, espcially in my town because it's so small, when you see them again, they always come up and talk to you and are so happy that you came to them.