You’re awaken by something in the middle of the night. You are confused and trying to get your bearings. What woke me up? What is happening? You come to realize that you’re having a hard time breathing, you can’t see inches in front of you, and that’s when the horrific realization hits you. Your home is on fire, your family members that were only a few rooms away, now seem like they’re billions of miles away from you and you need HELP FAST!!!!!….911—— MY HOME IS ON FIRE, MY FAMILY MEMBERS ARE IN OTHER ROOMS AND I CAN’T GET OUT OF MY ROOM. AT THAT POINT, AND ONLY AT THAT POINT DO YOU TRULY KNOW HOW IMPORTANT A FIREFIGHTER IS….
“WHEN EVERYONE IS RUNNING OUT, THEY’RE RUNNING IN. AND WHEN SECONDS ARE BETWEEN YOU & YOUR FAMILY FROM DEATH, THAT FIREFIGHTER RISKING HIS OWN LIFE TO SAVE YOURS, WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT NO WORDS OR MONEY COULD THANK THEM FOR.”
As you can see what the obvious importance of OUR FDNY means to all of us, however, I have to wonder if the other important responses of our Firefighters are also known or recognized.
If you’re watching the news, or running outside to see what the sirens are responding to on your block, what you’re looking at is the emergency, what you’re probably looking past is the people involved with each emergency.
From using the “JAWS OF LIFE“ to pry someones teenage child out of their mangled car that at anytime could explode…to “TRYING TO BREATH LIFE INTO A TODDLERS MOUTH FROM A POOL DROWNING.” as their heart sickened parents look helplessly on.
From doing “CPR ON SOMEONES GRANDMOTHER” …..to DIVING INTO COLD AND MURKY WATER’S TO SAVE SOMEONE’S GRANDFATHER THAT DROVE HIS CAR OFF A PIER”
Someone trying to end their life by jumping off a building, domestic violence, floods, someone struck by lightning, gun shots, drug overdose, water main breaks, weather emergencies, building inspections for YOUR safety, teaching fire prevention to our children the list as you can see is endless for the need of a firefighter to respond to.
People may also not realize the lifestyle of a firefighter. They work at times 24 hours straight, within that time, they live side by side with each other. They must cook, clean, and share life saving experiences at a moments notice. No matter what they’re doing, when that bell rings, YOU become PRIORITY ONE. Even if they just got back to the firehouse from fighting a 4 alarm fire, they must be 100% strong mentally and physically for yet another situation that would exhaust the average person. It doesn’t matter to YOU, IF THEY HAVEN’T EATEN IN 12 HOURS OR SLEPT IN 20 HOURS. YOUR EMERGENCY NEED, is the only thing that matters to THEM.
If you ever have seen Firefighters food shopping, did you notice their fire truck parked outside. Ever wonder why? This is simply a perfect example of them having to ALWAYS be ready for US needing THEM. RESPONSE TIME IS KEY AND HAVING ALL THE FIREFIGHTERS BE NEAR THEIR EQUIPMENT, THEIR TRUCKS AND EACH OTHER IS WHAT SAVES TIME AND LIVES. As you can see, this is why when a Firefighter LOSES their life TO SAVE YOURS, it is a LIKE LOSING A FAMILY MEMBER TO THEIR BROTHER AND SISTER FIREFIGHTERS.
At home, when they’ve come back from working a “double tour” their mates, parents, children…having not seen them for hours, still must wait to interact with them because the need for sleep is all they can do at this point. These family members will be celebrating many holidays, birthdays, anniversaries alone, because EMERGENCIES DON’T TAKE TIME OFF FOR THESE SPECIAL EVENTS. It takes a very special PERSON TO BE A FIREFIGHTER AND IT ALSO TAKES A VERY SPECIAL FAMILY TO STAND BEHIND A LIFESTYLE THAT IS SO VERY UNSELFISH.
“I GUESS THE ONLY THING A LOVED ONE CAN SAY TO THEIR FIREFIGHTER AS THEY LEAVE FOR WORK IS, I LOVE YOU” for everything else is unpredictable.
I hope a small glimpse into OUR FIREFIGHTERS lives gives a new appreciation and understanding on how important they are to all of us.
TELL A FIREFIGHTER TODAY THANK YOU, FOR THEY LIVE EVERYDAY OF THEIR LIVES, “READY, WILLING AND ABLE TO GIVE THEIR LIFE FOR US!”
Being a Realtor for many years, it brings me into many homes for sale, I get to know about their financial situations and from both the buyers and sellers, their personal lives. All too many times, this includes a story or two of their personal experiences with the need for emergency help…
If you would like to share your story, I would love for you to comment and share it with us all.
CATHY CATALETTO – licensed Real Estate Salesperson 917-829-1402 CathysCasa@aol.com
Staten Island, New York, REALTOR TAKING A GLIMPSE INTO THE LIVES OF OUR FDNY….and taking the time to say THANK YOU to them and ALL OUR OTHER EMERGENCY RESPONDER.
