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Connor
Student
Kerrville, Texas
6
Questions
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Have u ever been really scared in your job?
#Firefighter
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1 answer
Ryan Pfeiffer, MA
Firefighter Training Officer / EMT
83
Answers
Fort Collins, Colorado
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
Hello Conner. As a firefighter I have been scared many, many times.
Every single call we respond to is dangerous in its own unique way, and a little bit of fear is when keeps you alert, awake, and ready to respond to threats.
Sometimes some calls are more scary than others though: I've almost been hit by cars on the highway. I've seen a coworker sustain life-threatening injuries while standing just feet away from them. I've found firearms & knives hidden within arms reach of violent people. I've jumped out of 2nd floor windows (in training, but it's still scary if you're like me and don't like heights!). The list goes on.
Some people see more than others, and everyone reacts to it differently. For 10-20% of firefighters, the exposure to these kinds of scary moments can lead to medical issues like Chronic Stress ("burnout") and/or PTSD; it is just another hazard of the job, but it is a hazard that we are learning more and more about every year, and getting better at preventing and treating when it happens.
Remember, there is NO SHAME what-so-ever in being scared of anything. Having courage doesn't mean you're not scared. Having courage means you're scared and you do it anyway.
Every single call we respond to is dangerous in its own unique way, and a little bit of fear is when keeps you alert, awake, and ready to respond to threats.
Sometimes some calls are more scary than others though: I've almost been hit by cars on the highway. I've seen a coworker sustain life-threatening injuries while standing just feet away from them. I've found firearms & knives hidden within arms reach of violent people. I've jumped out of 2nd floor windows (in training, but it's still scary if you're like me and don't like heights!). The list goes on.
Some people see more than others, and everyone reacts to it differently. For 10-20% of firefighters, the exposure to these kinds of scary moments can lead to medical issues like Chronic Stress ("burnout") and/or PTSD; it is just another hazard of the job, but it is a hazard that we are learning more and more about every year, and getting better at preventing and treating when it happens.
Remember, there is NO SHAME what-so-ever in being scared of anything. Having courage doesn't mean you're not scared. Having courage means you're scared and you do it anyway.