 |
VolunteerFD.org Member News March 2008 |
 Visit VolunteerFD Forums |
Visit VolunteerFD Topics |
Visit FireGrantsHelp.com |
| Volunteer Professionals | |
| Where Did You Come From? | |
| By Jason Zigmont, VolunteerFD Columnist | |
 I was recently doing some yard work when I looked across the street and saw an elderly gentleman fall at the corner store. He had been walking up the stairs and must have lost his footing, but was somehow holding himself horizontally half way up the stairs on the railing. It appeared he was ready to continue his fall head first into the concrete. It took me a moment to realize what I was seeing, but then I took off running. I came up behind the gentleman, grabbed him and lifted him to his feet, keeping him from falling head first. His wife, who was standing at the top of the stairs and had watched the entire scene, looked at me and said, "Where did you come from?" As the gentleman and his wife were thanking me profusely, I explained that I was a volunteer firefighter and a paramedic and that I was just trying to help. The siren had not gone off and there was no run number or fire truck, but to the couple I had saved the gentleman's life. It was at that moment that I remembered why I volunteer — to help others. The problem is that we often lose sight of why we volunteer as it is clouded by statistics, run forms, incentive plans, requirements and all of the "numbers." I have always used a saying by author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar to guide my life: "You can have everything in life you want if you can just help enough other people get what they want." When we forget why we are volunteering, it becomes a job rather than something we enjoy or something that makes us feel good — and the result is lost members.  Full Column |
|
| Read more VolunteerFD original columns
|
|
 |
|||
 |
 |
||
|
View all FlashoverTV Volunteer Videos
|
|||
| Tell Us Your Story! FireRehab.com is looking for your stories about using the Rad-57. Tell us how the Rad-57 came into play in your incident and win a free Masimo duffel bag. Your story may also be posted on the site and potentially featured as our Case Study of the Month!  Submit your Case Study to FireRehab.com today! |
 |
| News and Announcements: | |
|
Ill. volunteer dies after structure fire [Lewistown, Ill.] After apparatus crash, N.Y. department goes dry [Riverhead, N.Y.] Union: Canadian teen killed fighting fire not fully trained [Quebec, Canada] Pa. volunteer firefighter succumbs to burns [Pittsburgh] Mother, son Pa. volunteer duo charged with arson [New Salem, Pa.] N.Y. volunteers suspended for crashing party in fire truck [Oceanside, N.Y.]
|
|
| Read more Volunteer Firefighting news and columns | |
 |
VolunteerFD.org eNewsletter 200 Green Street, 2nd Floor San Francisco, CA 94111 (888) 765-4231 |
 |
|
If you are no longer interested in receiving the VolunteerFD.org eNewsletter, follow the Unsubscribe link below. DO NOT REPLY to this email. © Praetorian Group |