My 18 yr old grandson said he would like to be a fire fighter, but not an EMT. Can you be one without being the other these days? Someone must have told him that You have to be both at most fire departments.
What say ye o wise OT brethren?

I am pretty sure most decent sized FDs will require their responders to be EMTs. In many cities, if an ambulance is dispatched, a fire truck is also dispatched in the event an ambulance may be delayed getting there. He should just grin and bear it and let the FD get him the EMT training. Good on him for wanting to serve whichever community he settles into.

No.


As a paid FF in Texas he will be required to have at a minimum EMT-Basic certification. A lot of municipalities require you to hold EMT-Paramedic certification.

In most cases it is up to the individual to obtain those certifications on their own. Not a lot of cities send you through the fire academy abd paramedic school these days.


https://www.tcfp.texas.gov/

^^^ this is correct

Firemen don’t just get called when there’s smoke/fire.
They are alerted to the scene for many mvcs and other potentially medical emergencies not involving fire.


I’m not sure regarding volunteer firemen; but whenever there is smoke involved, certification in at least BLS should be a requirement for a safe work environment.

I have a former coworker that became a firefighter for either Lancaster or Duncanville and he had to become an EMT first. I also had a cousin that is now with Dallas and he did the EMS training as well. Now he had done the volunteer route and worked with some other smaller departments trying to get on as a firefighter and I think going the EMT route was supposed to make it easier to get on with a department.

My buddies that are fireman are usually mopping up bodies off the interstate.

Texas Administrative Code 423.1

Most departments want EMT or EMT Paramedic.

Are their ambulances transporting the bodies?

Medical certification is a prerequisite to obtaining a Texas fire certification.

I would think having your EMT certification would be logical as a firefighter. I mean, firefighters can get injured fighting the fires and dang it, I'm fairly certain they want to be able to help each other should God forbid something happens to one of them.

So, not sure why your grandson wouldn't want to get that certification.

Heck, I had to have CPR-BLS certification and I just rub bellies and butts for a living.

Thanks for the info guys. Apparently someone told him the truth. Not everyone can handle EMT type of things. I have nothing but the utmost respect for First Responders, all of them.

Not sure, I doubt it, its the front range of Colo and they are pretty strict with everything.

I just listen to them vent about all the carnage they see.

My boy is working on the second EMT certification now

He is looking to be fireman possibly , it is a requirement up here

Awesome! congrats!

Most of our work is EMS. Some cities will hire FF/EMT but the trend is FF/Paramedic for most cities.
Some larger cities will put you thru school but the majority of cities you have to be certified or certifiable to be considered for hire.
Its been a great job for me.