Volunteers

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Tina

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So I wonder how everybody feels about volunteers.

I am not from America; I come for full public healthcare. Firefighters and ambulance crew is a very well paid job. It is possible to be a volunteer for Red Cross or other organizations like that. It is also possible to be an “extra help” to a fighter stations. If a Station ever needs you, it would only be case of a major emergency.

I am amazed to find out, how many men and women who are doing this on a volunteer base. I really take my hat off for all of you. I have only good thing to say about all the people, which are willing to be so unselfish and work for fee, just to help out others. I am sure a lot of people here and around the world, could learn from that.

I do have a few questions though. Why is it like that? I mean, why is so many not getting paid. What would happen if everybody said no more volunteer work? We want to make this our full time job and we want to get paid for our very important job we do. I don’t know that law, but I am hoping that there must be some kind of law, regarding mandatory fire stations. That way all America can get the help they need in case of emergencies.

I know in my EMT class, some of people did not understand why some paid fire stations would not let in any volunteers. My though is, I could easily see that the “higher up people” would gladly make some paid positions to volunteered positions, to cut back on expenses if is it was possible.

I wonder if “America” (in the lack of Knowles of who decide what station is paid and what station is not) takes advantages of all the kind hard working people in EMS. The pay is small and I know that EMT is not a huge education. I just think for the job they do and that they see, EMT shout be paid higher than a in and out burger person.

I only have my NREMT certificate, still not my first job. I can wait to get to learn about the whole word of EMS. I have done volunteer work at home and now here in America for Autism Speak. I love helping people out and I understand the important of giving. But I do think it is sad that so many have to work a different day job, to be able to support their family. Then after the day job come to work in the EMS and work for free to save other peoples life. To me it does not make sense. I believe that the EMS job shout have been their paid job.

I might just be use to something so different when it comes to EMS, that I am missing the big picture.
I love to hear how you feel about this.

I hope you understand my English and I apologies for any mistakes in my post.
 
please for the love of go no!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
liftwithlegs said:
This subject has been beaten to death. People have strong feelings on both sides...

A quick search turned up this, which may help you understand more:
http://emtlife.com/showthread.php?t=8863&highlight=volunteers
Click to expand...

i dont know anything about you since you've only been a member here for half a day.

that being said, if you're of the male type i'd like to buy you a beer.

if you're of the female type, i think im in love.

not searching before posting is my biggest pet peeve.

but my experience has shown that you've wasted your time. ive asked the mods to either make preposting searching mandatory or just remove the feature. they werent amused....
 
KEVD18 said:
i dont know anything about you since you've only been a member here for half a day.

that being said, if you're of the male type i'd like to buy you a beer.

if you're of the female type, i think im in love.

not searching before posting is my biggest pet peeve.

but my experience has shown that you've wasted your time. ive asked the mods to either make preposting searching mandatory or just remove the feature. they werent amused....
Click to expand...

We were amused, but we haven't come to a decision yet. There are also technical considerations that must be met if we were to institute your "preposting searching mandatory" policy.
 
ffemt8978 said:
We were amused, but we haven't come to a decision yet. There are also technical considerations that must be met if we were to institute your "preposting searching mandatory" policy.
Click to expand...

that last we spoke of it, all i suggested was that some guidelines regarding searching be added to the community rules. while it would be nice to have some sort of "physical" requirement, i wouldnt know where to begin on that sort of thing. it also might make the board more cumbersome to use than it worth.

between the addendum to the rules, maybe a sticky at the top of every sub board on the matter and free reign to pelt violators with water balloons and pies, i think that would do it.

but what do i know. im just a lowly member whos been spent some time riding the pine outside the emtlife principals office once or twice.
 
Thank you liftwithlegs, for showing me that post. I have read it and I see that people have lots to say, about the pay.

My post was more on, is Volunteer work good for the EMS or does it do more harm? I did not find the answer to the question regarding fire stations, who decide if the staff is paid or not?

To KEVD18, sorry I don’t read every single thread and missed this topic. I am glad that I did miss it; otherwise I wouldn’t have got you friendly answer.;)
 
we go through some aspect of paid v. volley no less often that weekly. it almost always ends in a fight, a locked thread and occasionally disciplinary action by our esteemed cl's.

to be perfectly and brutally honest about it, it drives me insane. it most often started by a new member(such as your self) who didnt search prior to posting. nothing new is ever discussed. its the same tired rhetoric from both sides. this is a pretty good board, but the pointless repetition is getting to the point where i seriously consider just not coming back. i keep coming back because the cl's will miss me too much(right guys ;))

on the topic of my "friendly answer": if you think that was unpleasant, read through some of my other posts. that actually was pretty friendly.
 
Tina said:
...My post was more on, is Volunteer work good for the EMS or does it do more harm? I did not find the answer to the question regarding fire stations, who decide if the staff is paid or not?
Click to expand...


Who decides?

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Tradition! Tradition.

Some people say that the American fire service is 250 years of tradition unimpeded by progress.

In the old days, fire protection was all volunteer. Think bucket brigades. As things developed, there were night watchmen who were paid to ensure that fire and theft were detected.

As we modernized cites, the fire service became more professional, and eventually became paid in major cities... than smaller cites. Small towns held on to their volunteer system and just updated the equipment (sometimes). Combine people commuting longer distances to work, decreasing volunteerism, and our call volumes going up, volunteer are less available during the day, so many towns started paying for limited coverage during the day. As this progresses, and insurance ratings call for it, more places are staffing more firefighters... but it has been a slow transition.




EMS has developed over the last 50-60 years, with much of the same pattern. Higher call volumes are mandating paid coverage.


Does it hurt? Some say yes... many of the paid unions push this platform. I work full time as an EMT at a combination department. In their scheduling pattern... if a volunteer doesn't cover a shift, it would go to our per diem EMT's. So in their case, if the volunteers cover more shifts, it reduces the available hours for our paid staff - this is the argument that the labor unions use. I see both sides.

Some say no.... My volunteer squad has a 50+ year tradition of volunteerism, and we still staff every evening and overnight with volunteer providers, while day shift is covered by paid staff. Our volunteer base is so large, though, that our EMT's usually only cover one or two 6 hour shifts a week - this keeps our folks from being burned out by our higher call volumes. Because we don't mix paid and volunteer hours... and we aren't likely to go paid on the overnights anytime soon - I don't see any reason not to volunteer. I enjoy the town, some of the calls, and many of the people, and the company got me started 7 years ago... so now I get to help as one of the more senior volunteers.
 
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Thank you Jon, very interesting information.

KEVD18, I do see that the other thread was big and yes I get it can be the same over and over again. Regarding the friendly remark, a little humor never hurt anybody.
I do agree with you after reading all it says, that it looks like it is not so easy to have a good debate.
I just never got why people take it so personally, that it turns into a fight.
Nothing better then to listen and learn from others and hopefully someone might learn something from you. To me that what a good debate is all about.

I will try to look around before and make a new thread next time, or else I know my new friend ( you ) will help me out :P
Have a good night.
 
God bless the volunteers!!! Yes, I am one right now. Afforded the perfect opportunity for me to gain experience and give something back to my community. From what I can tell so far my dept loves the vols, treats them as an equal team member. As a vol, I am afforded all the educational/training opportunities(they have their own programs) the department has, and in return they get my time on the job. So I guess in a way I am getting paid. The game plan is to become full time with them in the near future, and by then I will know everyone and be well acquainted with staff/procedures/territory/etc. I see it as a win/win.
 
KEVD18 said:
i dont know anything about you since you've only been a member here for half a day.

that being said, if you're of the male type i'd like to buy you a beer.

if you're of the female type, i think im in love.

not searching before posting is my biggest pet peeve.

but my experience has shown that you've wasted your time. ive asked the mods to either make preposting searching mandatory or just remove the feature. they werent amused....
Click to expand...

Ha I'm a male, but an underage one, so a soda will work for me. :P
 
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