A Firefighters Character

When we think of firefighters we think of regular people who are doing a great service for our community but did you ever stop to think about what kind of traits and characteristic that person has to have to do a great job? Not everyone can do the job or has what it takes to even try. What is it that makes a firefighter great? The five main traits are: being able to be resourceful, honesty, being resilient, being able to be flexible, and to be motivated tot do the job. Being a true firefighter comes from the inside out not the other way around.

A firefighter must be honest with others and also with their inner self. It seems implied that the general thought of a firefighter does not include those stealing items from the home of the fire nor from the firehouse. Inner honesty comes when an individual can be honest with themselves about who they really are. They are able to face their shortcomings as well as their strengths and use both to the best of their ability. Being honest about not being superheroes could very well stop a disaster from happening. When you think you are invincible, there is always one situation that will show you your not. You also need to realize that you are not going to be able to save all those people you try to help. At some point you will loose one of them and it is better to face that fact now then when it comes face to face with you. Trust and honesty is also a bonding agent with those whom you work with every day. You need to be able to trust your fellow firefighters with your life.

Resourcefulness, resiliency, having flexibility, and motivation all fall under the heading of how to do your job better. No fireman ever said they had to miss a fire because they had other plans. I am sure many wives will attest to the fact that the dedication can sometimes go far beyond working hours. Bing resourceful comes in handy when you are faced with a situation and the conventional tools and methods are just not working or unavailable. There are some times when improvisation may be necessary and this requires a fast way of thinking. Let’s say you ran out of splints because of the number of patients at an accident scene. You need to think of something quickly and resourcefulness will provide the sticks and fabric you need to create a homemade version. Motivation is the best trait to get you going each and every time you have a call. Without it, there would be nothing left to go to work each day.

All five traits are important tot ht firefighter and a successful career. The top of the list has to be honesty. The rest of the four traits are superficial to this one. Honesty is not a luxury in this field but a requirement and a very necessary one. To be honest, you need to be able to trust yourself and to gain trust from the patient as well as fellow firefighters. If you think you have the traits you need to be a successful firefighter, maybe a firefighting career is for you to consider.