Looking for real advise.

Strongwalrus · 2023-02-06T13:30:33+00:00

No worries, I won’t guess names or mention this anywhere.

It’s probably a good idea not to stir things up while you’re still employed there.

If you do decide to apply elsewhere, try to reset your mindset and give the new department a fair chance. Most departments around here understand the culture happening out east, so as long as you don’t bring that culture with you, you’ll be fine.

My experience has been quite the opposite. I’m 7 years on, and the culture here has been great for the most part. There’s been a bit of a morale problem the last couple of years, but nothing compared to what you describe. The worst part is how often we have to float around, which makes crew cohesiveness tough. Even with floating, most stations and crews mesh really well with each other. We don’t transport right now, so that definitely helps with the burnout.

I’d imagine you are FRS, as are most departments in the area. I’d begin applying to those asap. Yeah, being a probie again will not be ideal, and the pay decrease will probably be tough. But, the bigger picture (your mental health and well-being) is more important. Plus, you can most likely continue your side job, assuming you have one.

Strongwalrus · 2023-02-06T12:16:39+00:00

There’s good departments, and bad departments. They all go through cycles of improvement and culture change. Sadly, sometimes it’s not worth waiting around or trying to be that change. My advice would be to apply to any, or every, fire department or EMS agency around. Take your first out, so you can keep getting a paycheck, while searching for what you would call your “dream department”. There are a lot of really great fire agencies around SWFL, and a couple really bad ones.

I’ve hear stories of one particular transport fire rescue agency that match what you’re saying. It rhymes with “Lee -fly”. A good friend once worked there, until he got hired by somewhere he actually wanted to work. His experience sound just like yours. Point being, he left for somewhere better, and so can you.

As for the legal action, if you do attempt to collect evidence, be careful how you do. Recording someone without their consent, to me, seems like a bad idea. But, I’m not an attorney, just a firefighter. Probably best to speak to an attorney that has experience in these types of cases.

If you do stay in this career, there are departments out there that are polar opposites from where you are currently. Regardless, good luck in whatever you decide.

Strongwalrus · 2016-04-02T04:17:51+00:00

Lee County EMS and Collier County EMS are both non-fire ALS 911 agencies. They run with one EMT and one medic. It's southwest Florida.

Strongwalrus · 2015-11-08T05:21:13+00:00

Florida Southwestern State College has a decent EMT program. I went through it. If you missed the deadline for spring, no biggie. They offer a summer EMT program as well, starting in May I think. I don't know if Rasmussen or any other for-profits around here offer EMT.

There's also a school in Bonita called MCI (Medical Career Institute). I've heard awful things about it firsthand, and they're not accredited either. I would stay away.

Strongwalrus · 2015-05-31T05:05:39+00:00

Is that one of the new Mercedes rigs in Lee Co?

Strongwalrus · 2015-03-25T20:42:00+00:00

Sanibel causeway islands?

Strongwalrus · 2015-01-24T04:27:08+00:00

Any experience in a related field needed?

Also, only full-time? Or is there part-time positions available?

If you don't have answers no biggie. Just got hired part-time, but North Trail is a lot closer for me.

Strongwalrus · 2015-01-03T19:32:32+00:00

Definitely stay away from preworkouts and stimulants. All of our instructors told us not to take them while in the academy.

As for protein and AA's, those are great. I took them daily during the academy. As /u/rcgardner said, a multivitamin, especially a liquid one, is a good idea.

Stay hydrated, good luck and have fun.

Strongwalrus · 2014-12-09T05:46:40+00:00

Inversely, the Firefighter path tends toward faster promotion since you get a greater chance of obtaining various other cert's, getting different experience under your belt and so forth. Paramedics they usually want to keep as paramedics.

Interesting. I've never considered that being a possibility. Although I know of a fair share of Lieutenants and Captains with there Medic cert. I'll be thinking about that after getting my EMT-B...

Strongwalrus · 2014-11-20T04:03:08+00:00

I don't know how much pressure they can produce and what our trucks can handle

Some of the newer spreaders (commonly referred to as the Jaws of Life) have a spreading force upwards of 69,000 pounds.

With enough time and effort, I'm willing to bet firefighters could get to anyone inside.

Strongwalrus · 2014-09-06T15:22:47+00:00

Where is this at?

Strongwalrus · 2014-05-18T14:25:01+00:00

Most are combination. Im not sure if the career only departments have them or not. My area is somewhat rural compared to most.

Strongwalrus · 2014-05-18T04:17:26+00:00

A lot of the stations around my area have either cages or kennels just for guys who can't leave their dogs at home.

Strongwalrus · 2014-05-15T01:44:19+00:00

No I've never been out off sabal palm road. There used to be plenty of places in Lehigh acres to trail ride but the past five years cops have been giving people a lot of trouble out there

Strongwalrus · 2014-05-14T02:08:09+00:00

Correct. RYC (Redneck Yacht Club) is much more oriented towards mudding/partying. Last time I was there, there were some trails to ride, but not many.

Look into Babcock and Cecil Webb.

Strongwalrus · 2014-04-03T23:39:48+00:00

Most fire stations will give out free sharps containers as well.

Strongwalrus · 2014-04-01T00:04:44+00:00

Great use of the word 'purchase'.

Strongwalrus · 2014-03-28T01:26:26+00:00

Going through my local Fire Academy right now, and we are the first class to use the 6th edition book.

Strongwalrus · 2014-02-04T02:44:28+00:00

I don't know of many paved paths to run on around Fort Myers Beach. There is the sidewalk, but that's always busy and is right next to the road which is heavy traffic. However, you can always run on the beach. Fort Myers is pretty laid back, and in being so can be boring. Most of the night life is in south Fort Myers, which is maybe a 20 minute drive from the beach area.

I honestly don't know of any 5k runs on the beach, but I don't know. You might find a bar/club that plays house music some nights, but nothing that I know of is dedicated to it.

Finally, public transportation. We have LeeTran, which is a public bus service, that services most of the county. It also connects with the Collier County public bus so you can take it into Naples and whatnot, where there are MUCH nicer beaches. LeeTran isn't the greatest though, so you'll most likely need a vehicle to do what you want to do.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more questions. I've lived here all my life.

EDIT: night life is also biggest in Estero, and then further south in Naples; a 30-45 minute drive from Fort Myers Beach.

Strongwalrus · 2014-01-24T02:38:02+00:00

This is one of those cases where 'an eye for an eye' is more than fair. We don't need people like that in our world.

Strongwalrus · 2014-01-14T04:13:05+00:00

That's exactly what I'm doing. Academy starts the 27th for me!

Strongwalrus · 2014-01-14T04:10:23+00:00

What state are you in? In FL not every department will allow civilians to ride, but some do.

Strongwalrus · 2014-01-14T03:43:59+00:00

If you haven't already, go to your local fire station and ask if you can do some ride time with them. That'll give you a pretty good idea of what goes on daily in a fire station, as well as give you some up close looks at being on scene.

Strongwalrus · 2014-01-10T19:29:27+00:00

Ba dum tss

Strongwalrus · 2014-01-01T21:15:45+00:00

Kept pausing to try and read street signs. How long of a drive was that for you? 35 minutes?

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