Persons as young as 18 can be employed at the Dona Ana County Fire Department. To join the Mesilla Fire Department Explorer's post, persons can be as young as 15.
For this assignment I spent a week observing La Mesa Fire Department firefighters. As the mother of a firefighter, I was interested to learn more about my son’s life as a firefighter. I realized that these young firefighters experience trauma in ways many people may not know.
Firefighters spend an average of a week and a half away from their families. This does not sound like much but, for what they are exposed to and the labor, it may seem to them that a week and a half is a long time away from family.
One issue firefighters face is the risk of developing PTSD. One of the risk factors of PTSD is starting work as a fire fighter at a young age. My son starting volunteering when he was 17, but not every firefighter develops PTSD.
Firefighters are first responder’s, this means they are often first at a scene. They answer to different types of calls, not just fires. They often respond to calls of victim incidents, car crashes and many other types of trauma situations.
I have asked my son why he chooses to continue firefighting, his response “Someone has to do it.” He also stated that it is not always tough, he and his colleagues have found ways to cope. They have a strong bond, something like brothers and sisters. If a firefighter is injured, the damages are the same to a firefighter as if it were a sibling.
Eunie-
Great idea. Good “immersion.”
You need to be a little more specific with your captions. Tell us exactly what they’re doing and who they are (including the victims).
It would really help for you to get quotes from them and include them in your story. Tell us about being away from the family. Tell us about what is causing PTSD. Let their “voices” tell their stories.
OTHER THAN THAT… GOOD ENERGY!
Eunie-
Great idea. Good “immersion.”
You need to be a little more specific with your captions. Tell us exactly what they’re doing and who they are (including the victims).
It would really help for you to get quotes from them and include them in your story. Tell us about being away from the family. Tell us about what is causing PTSD. Let their “voices” tell their stories.
OTHER THAN THAT… GOOD ENERGY!