Fighting with girlfriends about running any given call

[Thefirefighter29]

I am a 20 yr old and i have been dateing this 20 yr old girl. well we would fight about me running fire calls. she was scared i would get hurt so everytime i was with her anywhere, anytime she would not let me go on the call. i would go on the calls if i was hanging out at her place and then she wouldnt talk to me for a day or two, needless to say i ended it with her fast. is there anyone else out there haveing problems running calls cuz of ur sugnifcent other <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[NCRSQ751]

Cut your losses, kick her to the curb now.

I have had those problems with guys that don't understand the desire to drop what you're doing and go to someone else's emergency.

I see some of the guys get it on a regular basis.

It doesn't stop, it gets worse. She will eternally be a nervous wreck and give you hell for it.

There are women out there who understand and appreciate what we do, find one of those.

Curb buddy, think curb...

[Ten8_Ten19]

If you find a woman that truly doesn't want you to go to calls because she fears for your safety she may be a keeper. I think a lot of times the significant other just doesn't like playing second fiddle to the pager.

[eyecue]

NAH! The keeper is the one the kicks your *** out of bed for 2 AM nose bleed.

[sandycreektwp]

Forgive me for my ignorance, but what the hell does this have to do with engineering issues?

[Smoke_N_Flames]

I agree with 23LT2, but since I have had the same problem I will go ahead and answer. There are a few, a very few, out there who will understand and support you. You just have to find one. Think about this too, what do the female in the fire service do if they are interested in a man who would never in a million years risk his life to save another? I have seen at least one give it up. NEVER GIVE UP! Best wishes. Be safe.

Smoke

[engine117]

I have a friend who has the same problem (actually, it has caused him to quit). However, my fiance is very supportive of my decision to be a firefighter. That's what it comes down to...the other person respecting your decisions.

[FireFighterMO]

To me it depends on why you are running these calls. The fire service was started by volunteers and are still the majority. Most volunteers are wonderful caring people whose community could never re-pay them for what they do but it only takes one to make the who department look bad.<br />1) Do you do it because your area needs vollies and you have a skill and want to be a valuable member of the community? <br />2) Or do you do it because you already have every firefighter T-shirt known to Gall's and your POV looks like an advertisement for stobes? You're toying with the idea of getting another battery to support all of the equipment? You can't wait for the next department meeting so you can sit outside afterwards and compare your POV with the other guys?

If the first one is you, then I feel for you and hope you can find someone that understands. Good luck!

If the second one is you, then you need to get a life and the rest will fall into place. Good luck!

[JayTL]

[quote]Or do you do it because you already have every firefighter T-shirt known to Gall's and your POV looks like an advertisement for stobes? You're toying with the idea of getting another battery to support all of the equipment? You can't wait for the next department meeting so you can sit outside afterwards and compare your POV with the other guys? <hr></blockquote>

I would like to add to this. What FirefighterMo has said here has a lot of validity. Too often I have seen firefighters wisk their wives, girlfriends, etc away to fire scenes when that is the last place to be for them. If they don't like it, don't subject them to it. These "Rickey Rescues" seem to pop up out of nowhere carrying Grandma, Grandpa, and the entire clan. Then when they arrive they are so psyched on showing off the "New Tubular Superlight Blinding Light Package" that they just installed on the old escort , they forget to check on the scene. I have never been a volunteer but there are guys I know who do it tastefully. Especially in Jersey!

Oh, and this is the Engineers section

[tlfd600]

Well I have been in your situation before. I guess you need to explain to them the importance of you being there, and don't go flying out of the house for a controlled burn or something. Me personally am an EMT I have gotten a little busy with school trying to finish my degree but for a few years was an interior attack fire fighter and pump operator in addition to the EMT, so I really needed to be at all the calls especially the day time or late at night calls when no one else was still up. It did cause problems for a few girls, like leaveing a half naked girl on the bed because a possible CPR gets toned out and the nearest ambulnace is 12 minutes out and you are 5 minutes away(talk about haveing to get dressed fast). Just bring flowers back and sweet talk her for a little while, or read the kamasutra and they will be around depsite the fire department commitment. You just have to find the right girl and be in a good balance, turn the pager off every so often, it is hard but sometimes worth it:) Women are a species all their own with different views and feelings that you have to dig through. When in doubt say: I am sorry, I am really sorry.
P.S.- About the previous girl mentioned she learned my importance when I fought a large brush fire that was apporaching her house a while later.

[570eck]

I would have to say your love life is your own business and should keep it at that. If you felt strongly enough about this person you probalby would have stuck it out, and since you didn't, well I guess you can figure that part out. Remember as much as you might enjoy being a vollie it shouldn't be your entire life. You have to set priorities, mine start with my family, my job and than vollie. You're 20 still plenty young and time for a lot of mistakes, but don't let a keeper get away because you are too busy at the station, if you realy care you'll figure a way to work something out. PS this is the engineer section