| It is a many a youngster's dream to be a fireman | | | | where the people in distress or the crises they |
| firefighter when they grow up. It is not hard to | | | | are to resolve are to be found in. Carrying heavy |
| see what propels them in this direction. For one, | | | | lifesaving equipment, firefighting equipment and so |
| the firefighter job is a 'heroic' one: one that | | | | on can be physically challenging as can be simply |
| apparently gives the person undertaking it the | | | | the wearing of the protective clothing firefighters |
| opportunity to help people in great distress, | | | | have to wear while on the job. The real difficulty |
| especially in the physical realm. Worth keeping in | | | | here comes via the fact that for one to continue |
| mind is the fact that beyond the direct firefighting | | | | functioning as a firefighter, they definitely need to |
| bit, it is also the professionals in this field who are | | | | keep fit: which involves quite rigorous physical |
| called up to help people who are, for instance, | | | | exercises on an ongoing basis. |
| trapped in buildings, people who get themselves | | | | Then there is the 'logistical' level, as another level |
| into manholes, people who get trapped in | | | | at which the difficulty of the firefighting job |
| dysfunctional lifts and so on. So there is more to | | | | manifests. This, for one, is the sort of job that |
| it than simply putting out fires, but whatever it is, | | | | you have to be on call for 24 hours a day. Of |
| it definitely revolves around helping people in great | | | | course, different firefighting agencies will have |
| distress and resolving crises. | | | | shifts on which their staff members work; but it |
| This can be greatly attractive to those of us who | | | | is always made clear that in case of major crises, |
| have that 'protector' instinct, especially the men, | | | | one can often be called even at very ungodly |
| but also some few women. While it is true that | | | | hours, to help people in one sort of distress or |
| there are many other jobs that give the people in | | | | another, or to resolve one sort of crisis or |
| them the opportunity to help others in distress, | | | | another. |
| firefighting is one of the few that give one the | | | | The final level at which the difficulty of the |
| opportunity to do so at a physical level, in a | | | | fireman's job manifests is at what can be termed |
| situation where physical danger is almost always | | | | as the 'personal risk' level, where, when all is said |
| the most alarming form of danger. | | | | and done, this turns out to be one of the riskiest |
| What people aiming to be firefighters and firemen | | | | job one could ever do. There are, of course, |
| should be aware of, though, is the fact that this is | | | | numerous precautionary measures that the |
| one of the most difficult jobs one can ever get | | | | various firefighting agencies put in place for their |
| into. Indeed, it is reasonably safe to say that this | | | | staff, but every once in a while, we hear of a |
| is one of the jobs where one needs a 'calling' to | | | | fireman engulfed by the very flames he or she |
| really manage well. | | | | was fighting, or the cases where a firefighter |
| The difficulty that is involved in the firefighting job | | | | attempting to rescue a trapped person ends up |
| is best understood by looking at the different | | | | getting trapped too. Ultimately, this physical |
| levels at which it occurs. This is where we end up | | | | danger remains as another major factor |
| with, for one, the physical difficulty of the job. | | | | contributing to the difficulty of the firefighter |
| This is clearly not a job for the unfit. Firefighters | | | | fireman job. |
| are often called up to physically run to the places | | | | |