Uniform Stories
        From ‘Emergency!’ to ‘Third Watch,’ discover the television series that have motivated individuals to pursue roles as firefighters, EMTs, and police officers
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Firefighters weigh in on the most unrealistic portrayals of their profession in film and TV
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Could you add to these slang terms that only firefighters would know?
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Dalmatians are not for everyone, but if you can befriend these beautiful animals, you can have a dependable buddy that is sure to put a smile on your face
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Cancer is a huge issue among our profession and I take it very seriously
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Just what were the individuals thinking in the moments leading up to that event?
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        My friend’s father had no idea what an impact he was about to have on my life
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Trauma is an inherent part of their job, but their trauma is largely invisible to us
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Gomez explained to everyone that the cancer would not kill him, but not working might
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        I gotta wonder what blast to the ticker he’ll give me next
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        There are no trick question answers or secret handshakes that will land you on a fire department; it takes preparation, planning and work
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        The Seattle Fire Department was having an entrance exam and I wanted to get a job in the Pacific Northwest
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        If you are a boss and are offended by any of the following, well I’m sorry for that
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        The holidays can be a lonely time for the cops, firefighters and paramedics
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        What, you haven’t heard of it? OK, well I’ll do my best to explain it
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Long ago, on a highway far, far away, a pickup truck was traveling more than twice the posted speed limit
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        The funny thing about the calls that shake us is that they also shape us
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        The day you know you are ready to become a parent is a few months after your first child is born; the same is true for firefighting
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Follow these steps to be safe and successful when sharing
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Nobody loves a sad story more than an intoxicated first responder; given the opportunity we will revel in our misery, cry in our beer and believe the lies we have created
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Maybe I’m a little nutty, but I honestly don’t think my present job is all that stressful
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        We are a stubborn breed, but manage to get home safe far more often than not
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Sometimes constructive criticism is OK, but other times it is just plain annoying
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        I can’t imagine what it is like to be a police officer in this world we are all living in right now
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Unless our patient is carrying a holster or a sign that says, “I have a gun,” I’m not likely to notice it
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        The uniform tries to hide all the problems, frustrations and disappointments we‘re feeling inside and project a clean, crisp, tough exterior
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        In my book, there is a difference between horseplay and pranking
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        You’ll need the right equipment, attitude and plenty of tips and tricks to get you ready
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        You never know what type of call you’ll be responding to. 
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        We shared some great experiences together and at times was my only friend out in the middle of nowhere New Mexico
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Why would anyone want into my nightmares?
    
        
    
        
    
        
    
        Putting our children in the path of danger goes against every instinct we have
    
        
    
        
    
        
     
         
         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
