Friday!!!

OK, today was nowhere near what I expected. Got to the academy ready for PT (physical training), break my heart, we are doing house duties instead. So we spent the next 2 hours cleaning up the academy training grounds, picking up trash, mowing the grass, running the weed-eater... 0915 we change and go to class. (In a children's announcer's voice) And today, you kiddies will learn about the body's major systems. <break-down> We spent most of the day learning about nervous, pulmonary, and endocrine systems. During lunch, a couple of my classmates decided to play basketball. This is usually a MAJOR no-no at the academy. You guessed it, someone got hurt...Down one classmate-they had to go to the hospital and have 1 stitch. The funny thing is, after all that, the idiots kept playing basketball!! I guess some folks never learn. We finished up the body systems after lunch and began reading about ambulance safety and what/ how many of everything is kept on the unit. Then we went outside and crawled all over a reserve ambulance that is kept at the academy. Next week our class will go to EVOC to learn how to drive the ambulance...but we will not be "ambulance drivers," we just have to pass a safety test/course to get our license upgraded. In fact, we won't even work on the rescues until after November, when we'll graduate from the entire academy...yes, that means after fire training for NPQ-I and II.

I've got a lot of chapters to read, and dinner is calling my name..... Till next time

Oh yeah...

New chant for when you go running....

I had a dog and his name was Blue, Blue wanted to be a firefighter too, So I bought him a mask and 4 fire boots, Then I took him to the fire ground and turned him loose, Blue came back to my suprise, With the hose in his teeth and a gleam in his eyes.

Starting the Fire Academy

Week #1

Don't ever believe that all firefighter's and EMT's do is sit around...they go through hell to earn that priviledge!!! Monday was dull, got our uniforms and books, went to a few meetings, started learning about the history of EMS. Tuesday was fun, started doing PT, went into a bunch more history, and started some other useless stuff. Had Wednesday off...(4 days of school a week)...went to the academy and ran for almost an hour. Today, PT was killer, I've never done so many push-ups before in my life. We ran late in PT and had 15 minutes to change...no showers...funky-smelling classroom. Our other books came in today also, we now have 2 books and 3 workbooks. We started learning about latin terms and the body's systems. Tomorrow will be more in-depth, we ran out of time today.

By the way, I attend class Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday....from 0700-1700, or 7-5. Physical Training (PT) runs from 0700-0830 or even until 0900...class starts at 0915 daily. There are 2 weeks when we'll have Monday off instead, next week is one, we'll be doing EVOC all week (learning to drive the ambulances).

catchin' up

Wednesday, I went down to Columbus, GA, to do a ride-a-long with a good friend who is a firemedic with CFD. Got there at 0800, and we ran down to HQ to get my forms signed, then ran another quick errand and returned to our station. Sat around until 1330, when we had to go post for the Tour de Georgia (a bicycle race). Nothing happened until about 1615 when we got our first call...Medic 10 is usually extremely busy, not today. So we get to the call, and it's a 46yo woman, sweaty, and vomiting some clear fluid occasionally. We get her into the ambulance and take off. Hooked her up to the heart monitor and actually managed to record her having a PVC. Were unable to start an IV, even she knew she was a hard stick...had to try anyway. Dropped her off and picked up another call on the way back. Keep in mind, I'm not a EMT or paramedic yet, everything I've learned has been what I was told or taught by friends... We get to the next call and even I know how ridiculous it is. A 60yo female, history of diabetes, has a pacemaker, history of cardiac problems, cataracts in both eyes, the list goes on...Her reason for calling 911? She had a headache for the past 3 days and thought by calling us, she'd see a DR. faster. She had taken 1 asprin over the 3 days, and wanted to go to the hospital by ambulance. Well, you guessed it, we have to load her up and take her. At the hospital, she's put into a "urgent" room, it was made VERY obvious in our report that she could've gone to triage. We wanted to get back to the station so we left quickly. Later on, about 2000, we picked up another call where the guy was very lucky. He had been changing the brake rotors on his truck when it slipped off the jack and the truck landed on his leg. After talking with some people onscene, he sat around for nearly 3 minutes before calling out for help. It took 6 neighborhood guys to lift the truck off his leg. He was clear of the vehicle when we arrived. We cleaned him up and found he had minor injuries, maybe 1 stitch or just a butterfly would do. "Here's the deal...we can take you to the hospital, or we can patch you up and you can go with a friend, but you need to be checked out." He promised to go with some friends. Before we left, we found out that about a year ago, he rolled his 18-wheeler down a hill. I hope, for his sake, he starts working on smaller vehicles. 

Nothing interesting yesterday, except our fridge died and we now have a new one. (it's about time the old one died, it's older than I am)

Today, I had to be at Fire HQ to fill out most of the paperwork so I can get my insurance and everything taken care of. I should be reading now, I only have until 0700 Monday to decide which insurance company I want...I have a pile of books 3 inches tall to read through. In fact, I think I'll go do that now and get it over with.

long weekend

Friday was my last day at NAPA, oh yeah, it was also payday. So, I get off work at 2, race over to the bank, then head north. Had a nice ride into the N.Georgia mountains and actually found the fairgrounds. Then the fun started... I was set to be a Production Assistant (PA-1 wass my callname) at the show called the Banker's Hour. So, I put on my gloves and start pulling cable for the cameras. Every camera...5 in all... had audio/video lines and a stinger(power supply). After all that was done, we had to set up the air cannons. Both had to be assembled, charged to 125psi, filled with confetti, and capped for safety and such. Then I moved on to help prep for pyrotechnics, I was cutting the material that was used to hold the powder. Of course, where there's pyro, the fire marshall has to inspect everything and have a display before it can be approved. After rehearsals were finished, me and a couple other crew members were hungry and went in search of food...nothing is open in the mountains at 12am. About 45 minutes and a mountain later, we found ourselfs in Canton at a Huddle House. Made it back to the hotel at 2:15.

Up, dressed and onset by 10:00 Saturday...All the cameras had to be put back in place, and we added camera 5 over the band. Not anything real interesting until right before the first show started. Keep in mind, since I was a PA, I had a headset on and was being told orders at times. Usual chaos before any show starts, but, because of the rules for pyro, 2 firefighters had to be in full gear and advance a charged 1 3/4 line into the building whenever the pyro was about to go off. ***there was pyro in the opening sequence and at the end of the last song*** Of course, my cousin is a firefighter for that county so I was messing with the guys. I'm suprised one didn't blast me with the hose, he kept threatening to......*** Halfway through the show, my radio crapped out and I could hear everything, but couldn't reply. Luckily, the other PA replied for me. Other than that, the show seemed to go off with no problems.

During the break between shows, I had my radio looked at, sure enough, it won't transmit. Went ahead and re-set the air cannons, had to talk with a couple people from the show about being more aware of the cameras, then was able to relax. Had lunch and was looking at the firefighter's Harley, turns out, he used to work for our pyro guy...Next thing I know, he's cleared it with my boss and says "get the helmet, let's gofor a ride." We get back, hang out for a while (next show was at 8), and have a production meeting. Now it gets really fun. The first show only recorded on 1 of the 3 ways we needed it to...that means this was our only shot at getting the show. Every camera now gets 2 tapes, one for each half of the show. Unfortunatly, camera 5 can't be remotely started, and it goes into sleep mode after a minute, so I'm shown how to work it. "5 minutes out everyone" Then I hear, "if you can hear me, wave your hand in front of the camera...OK, when we say roll it, start the camera recording."  Show starts, I get camera 5 going and hear the boss say, good job go 10-8... So I go back around to sit down and watch the show. I don't even make it to my seat when I'm told to go to the crow's nest and find out what's wrong with the audio feed. One of the mic's was somehow messing with the RF and so it sounded like someone had a candy wrapper over the mic. The rest of the show had no big problems. I had to start camera 5 again after the intermission. The show ends, crowd starts to leave, and we start to break-down. Every cable, wire, and roll of tape had to be accounted for and packed up. We finished about 1:15am, went to the hotel, and crashed.

Got up the next morning, showered, and met downstairs for breakfast at 8:30. Everyone was being goofy and having a good time, we left about 9:45. I split off and went through Helen, GA on the way home so I could buy a couple more shirts. A lot of the shops up there have really funny firefighter shirts. Got home about 1 and went to sleep. Mom woke me up so I could be in Buford at 5. Took care of stuff there, rode home, jumped into my car and took off again. Had to rush to the Hooter's to meet with my boyfriend and some friends. Got there about 8:10, only missed the first few minutes of the show(WWE Wrestling pay-per-view). Went home afterwards and slept until 9 this morning. Like I said, it was a long weekend.

Best Day Ever!!!

OK, this happened yesterday, but I didn't have time to write about it... To put it in a nutshell, I got hired with the fire department!!! Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!! Friday is my last day at NAPA, and class starts the 26th of this month. 16 weeks of EMT school, and 16 weeks of fire training, I should graduate the begining of December. I can't wait 'till next monday...minus being at the academy at 0700. But, at least I'll finally be getting paid good money, and have benifits...I can't wait to get my uniforms either. My boyfriend works for the Sheriff's Office and now we can both have our uniforms...But mine'll be cooler.       **ok, sorry, I'm a little hyper and I've had candy today... if you don't like it, BITE ME, it's my blog**

Other than that, I had today off work and spent it running around trying to catch up with some of the firefighters I know. I'm a bit of a station brat, I've done so many ride-a-longs it takes forever to track down all the folks that wanted to know if I made it.

Well, gotta run, friends are at the local karaoke bar and starting to call me...till next time.

Another boring day at work, but at least my truck is white again. After talking to Ben, the last time the trucks were washed was in July. No wonder the thing looked brownish. Me and another person from the club went rice-hunting last night, no victims found...But now Ally's mad because her car was called rice(and it is nowhere near being rice). If you are lost about what I'm saying, a rice car looks like anything from either "fast and furious" movie.

Finally got a capacitor for my stereo, no more dimming headlights when the bass hits!!  I still need to upgrade to 4 gauge wire so I'll be running everything safely. Oh, when I was following Ally last night, my stereo was shaking her car. Not bad for only 1 10" subwoofer. :-)

Well, gotta go clean the house before Mom goes nuts. Easter dinner is here tomorrow, and I got chores to do before I can goof off tonight...

starting out

Ok, just starting this out but have been thinking about it for a long time...bear with me. I'm 19 and I live just outside Atlanta wher I'm the vice president of a local car club (by the way...I'm also a girl). I got lucky last year and was able to move to Hawaii for a little while. I also work at Netherworld Haunted House, top 10 in the nation. I've just recently finished filming in a independent film, and I do disaster simulations to help fire and rescue services train. I go spelunking (cave exploring) in my free time. Currently, I'm working for NAPA as a delivery driver, but not for much longer. You see, I want to be a Firefighter. I've been lucky with the applications, the county I'm aiming for desperatly needs people and is rushing us through the application process.**the application process normally takes over a year, I've been in 3 months and the class starts in about 2 weeks.**

I can honestly say, the agility tests are the hardest things I've ever done, but I would jump at the chance to do them again. The physical strain of working a fire for 60 minutes is related to doing construction work for a week. And yes, I want this more than anything!

Right now, I'm tired. The fire dep't called and I went and got poked and prodded at the DR's office for a couple hours this morning. Just 2 steps left and I can start with the county. Woo Hoo!!!!!

 

If you've got any questions, add them in the comments section and I'll try to answer them when I post.