Charles Smith is firefighter - Essay Example

 Charles Smith is firefighterThe county’s firefighters have always had a reputation as selfless and hardworking individuals, Charles Smith lives up to this reputation. Charles has lived in the county all his life. Like most firefighters, Charles learned his trade from extensive training. Working against the hazards of fire and rescuing people from dangerous events is difficult and dangerous work, but while interviewing Charles, he swore that there is no better fulfillment than rescuing and firefighting.

At the age of ten years, Charles began going to the fire station where his father worked. Although Charles started working as an electrician when he attained eighteen years, after two years he felt compelled to become a firefighter. Charles explained, “I did not like being unhelpful to those in distress, when working as a firefighter; you have a chance to help and save lives.” A typical day for Charles starts at 6.00 am. After having his early morning jog around the street, Charles powers up his old camero, which he inherited from his father, and heads for the fire station. By 7.00, he is logging his name into the shift register and relieving the night shift worker in whose place he works for the next twelve hours.

After 45 minutes’ gym session at the station to set him up for the day, Charles makes sure his uniform is in prime condition and his shoes are well polished (Aelrod & Cooper, 2006). Before the shift starts at 8 am, Charles has breakfast at the fire station together with his colleagues some of whom are volunteer workers. He terms the breakfast session as, “a great experience where he and his colleagues share plans for the day, give memorable stories, joke around and sing hearty songs.” After breakfast, Charles and his colleagues (referred to as the Watch, in firefighters’ language) go to the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) room and prepare their kits.

Charles says, “We have to be ready always from the beginning of the shift to react to any event, since we could be called at any moment.” The Watch then assembles for inspection in the muster bay where the Chief Officer details and relays the day’s duties. According to Charles, “the details vary from one shift to another, and this unpredictability helps keep things interesting, while the formality instills a degree of professionalism.” When I asked Charles what he hates or dislike about firefighting, he replied, “sometimes it is difficult to save all people and some end up dying under your watch, it is the most disheartening thing to hear a person, particularly a child crying as the building he or she is in collapses from a fire.

” From Charles’ facial expression, it is evident that such an incident takes quite a toll on firefighters. Since training is a hugely essential part of the job, firefighters’ daily routine encompasses drill time. I got a chance to watch the Watch during drill time and highly appreciated by their proficiency with the equipment, as well as their speed, which is paramount in their line of work. There is a fun side to firefighting as they participate in annual competitions. Charles’ team has entered the Breathing Apparatus and Road Traffic Collision (RTC) competitions.

After enquiring about the essence of the competitions, Charles replied, “the competitions are vital since they offer an effective way of focusing our training and preparing us to handle unexpected events in the real world (Aelrod & Cooper, 2006). While firefighting is a difficult and risky job, Charles plans to keep doing it. “I like helping and saving lives,” he said, “I know that if I slack at my job, I hurt not only myself, but those who depend on me such as my team and civilians.

” Charles confessed, a life of firefighting has its appeal, “You see and feel people’s appreciation and admiration wherever you go.”ReferenceAelrod, R. B. & Cooper, C. R. (2006). The St. Martin’s guide to writing (6th ed.). New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s.