www.CANADA911.ca

I promise concern for others.
A willingness to help all those in need.
I promise courage - courage to face an conquer my fears.
Courage to share and endure the ordeal of those who need me.
I promise strength - strength of heart to bear whatever burdens
might be placed upon me.
Strength of body to deliver to safety all those placed within my care.
I promise the wisdom to lead, the compassion to comfort,
and the love to serve unselfishly whenever I am called.

A FIREFIGHTER POEM
By Kathy Bond

He stares in the face of death
Without a second thought
To save that one special life
That he so bravely sought
He has walked as close to
"Hell on Earth"
As any man coul do
And he's so proud of the job he did
For people he never knew
He puts his life on the line
Everytime duty calls
Always doing what needs to be done
Without even a pause
He is a fireman
With overwhelming pride
Never afraid to take a chance
When saving someones life
Often he says
"It's my job"
But we really know
That he is very special
And always ready to go
So when you hear the sirens wail
Or see the flashing lights
Stand aside and look with pride
He's going to save a life.

CALL WAITING
By a firefighter's wife

I'm laying in the darkness, I cannot fall asleep.
I wonder where my husband is, I wish he'd call or beep.
I saw him leave this morning, the black boots on his feet.
He said he had to run now, and I know he's on the street.
You'll know him when You see him, his truck is very loud.
He has no time to stop now, he doesn't want a crowd.
A caller said "Please hurry!" Come quickly if you will.
A young man with a motorbike is laying very still.
A mother calls in anguish, her child limp and blue.
HURRY! Come, I need you! I don't know what to do.
I hear his key turning, he's coming in the door.
I hear him drop his boots, then footsteps on the floor.
I hear him in the kitchen, I can tell from his walk,
He'll soon come and wake me, and ask if we can talk.
We'll sit out in the moonlight, and listen to the night.
He talks about a shooting, a streetgang in a fight.
A car crash, a drowning, a small child hurt at play.
The things he needs to talk about, the things he did today.
The old, the sick, the injured, some so very small.
He did all he could to help them, he answered every call.
Every day he has a mission, he knows it in his heart.
He does everything he can and always does his part.
If you are sick or injured and you need to reach my Hon,
I can tell you how to reach him, his number is ......911.

CAN WE MAKE IT ON TIME
By Jerry L. Duncan Jr.
East Carroll Parish
Fire Department
Lake Providence, LA

The pagers go off, calling us out.
The dispatcher gives the address, with a loud shout.
I jump out of bed as fast as I can.
Grab my shoes and my keys as they page us again.
I go out to my truck, plug in the dash light.
Cause somewhere in town is a fire I must fight.
Wipeing the sleep from my eyes, I see a bright glow in the distance.
A policeman yells over the radio "Code 3, I need assistance"
He said there is screaming, coming from inside.
I think to myself, someone is trapped, but alive.
The pain they must feel, I can't imagine the scare.
I see the station up the road, the chief's already there.
I pray to God "Please let us get there in time,
To save an unknown life, Lord if you must, instead take mine."
I speed up a little faster, but still driving safe.
Still praying to God that I won't be too late.
I finally get to the station, put on my turn out gear.
The chief starts the fire engine and yells "We're outta here!"
The sirens sound off, the red strobe are so bright,
I pray once again,"Lord watch over us tonight."
I suit up for action putting on the S.C.B.A.
The chief makes the comment "Boys the Devil wants to play!"
We arrive on scene, not ever thinking one time,
"Why am I doing this?" or "Why do I put my life on the line?"
As we observe the silence and think "this person is dead."
All of a sudden I see the shadow of a small head.
Looking real hard, trying to figure out what it is.
Oh dear Lord, it can't be. It's just a small kid.
Then all of sudden the head moved, "this kid's still alive!"
So I try to reassure her by yelling "Everything's gonna be alright!"
I always said "I'd die if it would save another life."
But never once did i think that it could happen tonight.
I run to the front door, Kick it open and run in.
Praying once more,"God, we can't let the Devil win."
Crawling on the floor, moving slowly toward the crying.
I noticed a strong smell and loud hissing. Oh No! It's a gas line!
I knew I had to hurry so I got up and ran towards the cry
I found that little girl, she could barely open her eyes.
The smoke was thick and very hot and getting ready to flash.
I took off my jacket, wrapped her in it and gave her my air mask.
I heard a firefighter outside say, "The roof's coming down,
if they are getting out alive, they better get out right now."
I grabed the young girl as if she were a football,
tucked her in close and ran to the window.
The chief ran up and took her from my arm
My other one's broken, but at least she is out of the way of harm.
Then I remembered the gas line. So I too climbed out the window.
And sure enough, that gas line did blow.
The explosion knocked me down, but I got right back up on my feet.
Took no more than 3 steps, then I hit my knees.
Through my blurred vision, I watched that little girl,
with her mom and dad all crying, having a face with a smile.
She then walked over to me and grabbed me by the hand.
She said isn a soft sweet voice "Thank you Mr. Fireman."
We put out the fire, got ready to go home one more time.
I helped roll the hoses, thanking God that nobody died.
And thank you Dear Lord for letting us be on time.

Dedicated to Paramedics, Fire and Police Officers and their Dispatchers
Author unknown

I wish you could comprehend a wife's horror at 6 in the morning as I check her husband of 40 years for a pulse and find none. I start CPR anyway, hoping to bring him back, knowing intuitively it is too late. But wanting his wife and family to know everything possible was done to try and save his life.

I wish you knew the unique smell of burning insulation, the taste of soot-filled mucus, the feeling of intense heat through your turnout gear, the sound of flames crackling, the eeriness of being able to see absolutely nothing in dense smoke-sensations that I've become too familiar with.

I wish you could read my mind as I respond to a call. "Is this a false alarm or a working fire? How is the building constructed? What Hazards awaits me? Is anyone trapped?". Or to call and ask what is wrong with the patient? Is it minor or life threatening? Is the caller really in distress or is he waiting for us with a 2x4 or a gun?

I wish you could be in the emergency room, as a doctor pronounces dead, the beautiful five-year old girl that I have been trying to save during the past 25 minutes, knowing she will never go on her first date or say the words, "I love you Mommy", ever again.

I wish you could know the frustration I feel in the cab of the ambulance or engine or cruiser, the driver with his foot pressing down hard on the pedal, my arm tugging again and again at the air horn chain, as you fail to yield the right-of-way at an intersection or in traffic. When you need us however, your first comment upon our arrival will be, "It took you forever to get here!"

I wish you could know my thoughts as I help extricate a girl of teenage years from the remains of her automobile. What if this was my daughter, sister, my girlfriend or a friend? What were her parents reaction going to be when they opened the door to find a police officer with hat in hand?

I wish you could know how it feels to walk in the back door and greet my parents and family, not having the heart to tell them that I nearly did not come back from the last call.

I wish you could know how it feels dispatching officers, firefighters and paramedics out and when we call for them and our heart drops because no one answers back or to here a bone chilling 911 call of a child or wife needing assistance.

I wish you could feel the hurt as people verbally and sometimes physically abuse us or belittle what we do, or as they express their attitudes of "It will never happen to me".

I wish you could realize the physical, emotional and mental drain of missed meals, lost sleep and forgone social activities, in addition to all the tragedy my eyes have seen.

I wish you could know the brotherhood and self-satisfaction of helping save a life or preserving someone's property, or being able to be there in time of crisis, or creating order from total chaos.

I wish you could understand what it feels like to have a little boy tugging at your arm and asking, "Is my Mommy okay?", not even being able to look in his eyes without tears from your own and not knowing what to say. Or to have to hold back a long time friend who watches his buddy having CPR done on him as they take him away in the Medic Unit. You know all along he did not have his seat belt on. A sensation that I have become too familiar with.

Unless you have lived with this kind of life, you will never truly understand or appreciate who I am, we are, or what our job really means to us...I wish you could though.

PLEASE APPRECIATE AND SUPPORT THE LOCAL EMS PARAMEDICS, 911 DISPATCHERS, FIREFIGHTERS, and LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN YOUR AREA. ONE DAY THEY'LL PROBABLY BE SAVING YOUR PROPERTY OR YOUR OWN LIFE. WHEN YOU SEE THEM COMING WITH LIGHTS FLASHING, MOVE OUT OF THE WAY QUICKLY, and THEN PLEASE PRAY FOR THEM!

FIREFIGHTER #415
By John Perkins

I kiss my loved ones goodnight as I did a thousand times before,
I grab my helmet, coat, and boots, and I'm out the door.
Not realizing today is the day a routine fire turns out to be something more.

A building invovled with fire hides a deadly secret the crew and I can't see,
The heat, smoke, and flames start to burn away at our feet.
I turned to my crew and a tear started to come from my eye,
For the first time in my life I thought I was going to die.

I would never get a chance to say to my loved ones that I would miss them too,
Or tell my friends, fellow firefighters, and family, "I love you".
Or to talk to others about the fun times I once had,
Or to talk of the good times and the times of bad.

It's starting to get hot in here, i don't know what to do,
I never thought that this moment would ever come true.
God came down and looked me in the eyes and took my hand,
I looked at Him and said "Why me God, I just don't understand."

When the fire is over and they find me with my hand on my heart,
Please tell my family and friends we are never far apart.

FIREFIGHTERS PRAYER
Author unknown

This prayer is dedicated to all those who have gone before me and who will follow
me in the line

When I am called to duty, God, wherever flames may rage,
Give me the strength to save some life whatever be its age.
Help me embrace a little child before it is too late, or save an
older person from the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout, and quickly and efficiently
to put the fire out. I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me,
to guard my every neighbor and protect his property.
And if according to my fate I am to lose my life this day,
Please bless with your protecting hand my family this I pray.

A FIREMAN'S TEARS
Author unknown

The alarm rang, as it had so many times before.
He was the first of the firemen up and out,
Awakened from his bed at the station
By the clanging bell.

Engine 12 pulled out of the hall,
Dispatch paged another station.
And all the firemen aboard the truck
Were tensed with anticipation.

"It's gonna be a nice 'un, boys,"
He said as he donned his gear.
And the young bucks smiled at him
As they drew ever near.

They turned onto his own street
And he could see the fire's work
He hoped their mother woke his kids
To see their dad at work.

His heart sank as he saw the home
That he so dearly loved,
Going up in smoke and flames
As he donned his gloves.

Agressively he hit the fire
And searched the rooms above.
And with a flare of personal vengeance
He saved what remained of his home.

As he left the world of flaming hell
He saw his little girl
He ran quickly to her side
And said "Honey, Daddy's here."

He would never forget what next she said
As he held her close,
"I love you, Daddy," she whimpered,
And he began to weep.

She died in his arms that night
The others, later on.
His comrades gave him their respects
But his family was gone.

He sits alone at the station, now,
There's no more spring in his step.
He stays detached from his fellows
To avoid once again being hurt.

He risks it all in fires, now,
No more concerns for his safety.
He has taken a solemn vow.
He won't let it happen to another, as long as he's around.

Firemen Don't Have A Chance!
Author unknown

When the fire trucks are delayed 40 seconds in traffic, People say:
"It took them 20 minutes to get here."

When the truck races at 40 m.p.h., it's:
"Look at those reckless fools."

When four men struggle with an eight-man ladder:
"They don't even know how to raise a ladder."

When firemen open windows for ventilation to reduce heat in fighting a fire:
"Look at the wrecking crew."

When they open the floor to get at a blaze:
"There goes the axe squad."

If the chief stands back where he can see and direct his men, people say:
"He's afraid to go where he sends his men."

If they lose a building:
"It's a lousy department."

If they make a good "stop" folks say:
"The fire didn't amount to much."

If lots of water is necessary:
"They are doing more damage with water than the flames."

If a fireman gets hurt:
"He was a careless guy."

It a citizen gets hurt:
"It's a crazy department."

If a fireman inspects a citizen's property:
"He's meddling in somebody's business."

If he wants a fire hazard correct:
"I'll see the mayor."

If he gets killed and leaves a family destitute:
"That's the chance he took when he joined the fire department."

HEAVEN'S BRIGADE
By Assistant Chief KP
Boles Fire Protection Dist.

Did you know there's a Fire Department in Heaven?
I heard Cap tell that sorrowful lad.
The young boy stared, working over the words he'd just been given.
Cap, do you think God's got a spot on the truck for my dad?
Cap smiled, even though you could tell his heart was heavy, and said,
You bet son, as he roughed the hair on the boy's head.

Timmy looked up, his sadness, for now, gone.
Cap went on, holding back the tears that were trying to fall.
They've got the biggest, reddest fire trucks you ever saw,
And they keep them all cleaned and ready,
Just in case they get a call.

Of course they don't get to many,
Bein' in Heaven and all.
But God knew this, so right next to them He Made,
A great big tree, that puts a lot of shade.
And each day they have at least one run,
Down the streets of Heaven, leading the afternoon parade.

That's been years ago now,
And in that time, things have changed a lot.
Cap, he's been retired, and I, somehow, made it to chief.
And Timmy, he's just Tim now, down at station two,
And, I must say, one of the finest Captains on my crew.

The day came, the worst of any other,
When we had to say farewell to a fallen brother.
I watched, as Tim walked over to that hero's son,
And shared some words, just as my Cap and Tim had once done...

Did you know there's a Fire Department in Heaven?............

HELL'S ANGELS
By Archie1573

Darker than night
and hot as hell.
This is my domain...

I live where none will,
and breathe where none can.
Roaming the halls of Hell,
searching for a victim.

I dance with death,
and fight with the devil.
I'm the Beast deadly enemy.

To those who need me,
to their calls I come,
they know not my name...
but they recognize me...

Cause me and my brothers,
are Hell's only Angels...
Cause I'm Hell's only Angel...

I WISH YOU COULD
by Randall Broadwater - Firefighter/EMT-A

I wish you could see the sadness of a business man as his livelihood
goes up in flames or that family returning home, only to find their
house and belongings damaged or destroyed.

I wish you could know what it is like to search a burning bedroom for
trapped children, flames rolling above your head, your palms and knees
burning as you crawl, the floor sagging under your weight as the
kitchen beneath you burns.

I wish you could comprehend a wife's horror at 3 A.M. as I check her
husband of forty years for a pulse and find none. I start CPR anyway,
hoping against hope to bring him back, knowing intuitively it is too
late. But wanting his wife and family to know everything possible was done.

I wish you could know the unique smell of burning insulation, the
taste of soot-filled mucus, the feeling of intense heat through your
turnout gear, the sound of flames crackling, and the eeriness of being
able to see absolutely nothing in dense smoke--"sensations that I have
become too familiar with."

I wish you could understand how it feels to go to school or work in
the morning after having spent most of the night, hot and soaking wet
at a multiple alarm fire.

I wish you could read my mind as I respond to a building fire,
'Is this a false alarm or a working, breathing fire? How is the building
constructed? What hazards await me? Is anyone trapped?' or to an EMS
call, 'What is wrong with the patient? Is it minor or
life-threatening? Is the caller really in distress or is he waiting
for us with a 2x4 or a gun?'

I wish you could be in the emergency room as the doctor pronounces
dead the beautiful little five-year old girl that I have been trying
to save during the past twenty-five minutes, who will never go on her
first date or say the words, "I love you Mommy!", ever again.

I wish you could know the frustration I feel in the cab of the engine,
the driver with his foot pressing down hard on the pedal, my arm
tugging again and again at the air horn chain, my foot on the siren,
as you fail to yield right-of-way at an intersection or in traffic.
When you need us, however, your first comment upon our arrival will
be, "It took you forever to get here!"

I wish you could read my thoughts as I help extricate a girl of
teenage years from the mangled remains of her automobile, 'What if
this was my sister, my girlfriend, or a friend? What were her parents'
reactions going to be as they open the door to find a police officer,
HAT IN HAND?'

I wish you could know how it feels to walk in the back door and greet
my parents and family, not having the heart to tell them that you
nearly did not come home from this last call.

I wish you could feel my hurt as people verbally, and sometimes
physically, abuse us or belittle what I do, or as they express their
attitudes of, "It will never happen to me."

I wish you could realize the physical, emotional, and mental drain of
missed meals, lost sleep, and foregone social activities, in addition
to all the tragedy my eyes have viewed

I wish you could know the brotherhood and self-satisfaction of helping
save a life or preserving someone's property, of being there in times
of crisis, or creating order from total CHAOS.

I wish you could understand what it feels like to have a little boy
tugging on your arm and asking, "Is my Mommy o.k.?" Not even being
able to look in his eyes without tears falling from your own and not
knowing what to say. Or to have hold back a long-time friend who
watches his buddy having rescue breathing done on him as they take him
away in the ambulance. You knowing all along he did not have his
seatbelt on--sensations that I have become too familiar.

Unless you have lived this kind of life, you will never truly
understand or appreciate who I am, what we are, or what our job really
means to us.

I WISH YOU COULD!

My Brother has fallen
Author unknown

My Brother has fallen; no, I don't know his name.
Have not the same parents still family all the same.

He lives in this town, I live in another,
It doesn't really matter 'cause this man is my Brother.

My Brother I call him, yet I've never seen his face.
I have brothers and sisters all over the place!
You see I am a Firefighter and our families are one.

Around the world, a brotherhood of unity,
A closeness, a bond, most people don't see.
I'll watch his back; She'll watch mine,
"You go, I go," time after time.

His family's my family, Her family theirs,
We're part of one family where everyone cares,
I'll look after your kids, please look in on my wife,
Should that day finally come when I laid down my life.

We dedicate our lives helping our fellow man,
Living day after day doing all that we can,
Where ever we're needed whether nighttime or day,
To save the life of another we'll step in harms way.

My Brother has fallen doing what he loved best,
And among the Honored, he now stands with the rest
For a mile in dress uniform here everyone stands,
For my Brother has fallen, God into your hands.

My Daddy Is A Firefighter
By Kimberly King
In honor of Firefighter's Sunday Everson,
Station 14 Scottdale, PA Vol. Fire Department

My Daddy is a firefighter called to put out flames and sometimes he is called when we are playing games.

And when he runs right out the door I often cry a tear but then my Mommy holds me close and takes away my fear.

We say a little prayer asking God to wrap His arms around my Daddy and the others to keep them safe from harm.

And Daddy, perhaps the day will come when I'll be just like you and you can say a prayer asking God to help me too!

My Mommy Is A Firefighter
By HickoryHillsFD@aol.com

My mommy is a firefighter
I'm as proud of her as I can be
Because she takes care of people's homes
And children like you and me

Sometimes when I need her
She has to leave in a hurry
But, she always gives me a hug
And says, "Be good; now don't your worry."

I love my mommy and
I have a secret I want to tell you.
I want to grow up to be as good as my mommy
And maybe I'll be a firefighter, too.

TO THE ONE I LOVE
by Christopher Wynslow, SrA, USAF
Firefighter / EMT - III
Elmendorf Fire & Emergency Services
rescuephoto@msn.com

To the one I LOVE,

I became involved in emergency service work because there is a need for people to help others who are in trouble. Sometimes there are calls I respond to, that are difficult to talk about even with the person you love and trust most in the world.
Please accept that.

There are at times experiences I suffer which hurt me very deeply, and I might bring my suffering home. Sometimes my feelings bother me so much so that I can't even talk about them. Maybe it's because I don't want you to even imagine what I've suffered or maybe it's because I'm afraid you won't fully understand the depth of my feelings. During these times I'll become moody or irritable, and I may not SEEM to care much about your feelings or problems even though I DO CARE very much.
Please accept that.

You love me for who and what I am. I choose to do what I do because it is so important to me and to those I help, and although it's sometimes very difficult and maybe even dangerous, I love doing what I do, and I do it well. In short, I'm proud of what I am, and I hope that you are proud of me.
There are times, though, when I feel that I didn't do enough - so many people out there depend on me; there are even times I get frustrated and even angry at my co-workers, myself and the victims of tragedy. There are times that the horrors I have to deal with just overwhelm me. That's when I have to sort things out by myself, or others who were there with me.
Please accept that.

So PLEASE, if I have a really bad call and just can't talk, it isn't because I don't love and care for you. It's not because I doubt your love and concern for me. I'm just not ready to open up. When this happens, don't try to understand - just accept the fact that I'm hurting - and that I'll talk to you when I can.
I PROMISE.

The Creation of the Fire Fighter
Author Unknown

When the Lord was creating fire fighters, he was into his sixth day of
overtime when an angel appeared and said, "You're doing a lot of fiddling
around on this one."

And the Lord said, "Have you read the specification on this person? Fire
fighters have to be able to go for hours fighting fires or tending to a
person that the usual everyday person would never touch, while putting in
the back of their minds the circumstances. They have to be able to move at a
second's notice and not think twice of what they are about to do, no matter
what danger. They have to be in top physical condition at all times, running
on half-eaten meals, and they must have six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands...no way."

"It's not the hands that are causing me problems," said the Lord, "it's the
three pairs of eyes a fire fighter has to have."

"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.

The Lord nodded. "One pair to see through the fire and where they and their
fellow fire fighters should fight the fire next. Another pair here in the
side of the head to see their fellow fire fighters and keep them safe. And
another pair of eyes in the front so that they can look for the victims
caught in the fire who need their help."

"Lord," said the angel, touching his sleeve, "rest and work on this
tomorrow."

"I can't," said the Lord, "I already have a model that can carry a 250-pound
man down a flight of stairs to safety from a burning building, and can feed
a family of five on a civil service paycheck."

The angel circled the model of the fire fighter very slowly, "Can it think?"

"You bet," said the Lord. "They can tell you the elements of a hundred fires
and can recite procedures in their sleep that are needed to care for a
person until they reach the hospital. And all the while they have to keep
their wits about them. Fire fighters also have phenomenal personal control.
They can deal with a scene full of painÂ and hurt, coaxing a child's mother
into letting go of the child so that they can care for the child in need.
And still they rarely get the recognition for a job well done from anybody,
other than from fellow fire fighters."

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the fire
fighter. "There's a leak," she pronounced. "Lord, it's a tear. What's the
tear for?"

"It's a tear from bottled-up emotions for fallen comrades. A tear for
commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the ... flag. It's a
tear for all the pain and suffering they have encountered. And it's a tear
for their commitment to caring for and saving lives of their fellow man!"

"What a wonderful feature. Lord, you're a genius," said the angel.

The Lord looked somber and said, "I didn't put it there."

The last alarm
Carved in stone at the national monument
for fallen firefighters in Colorado Springs, CO, USA

My father was a fireman.
He drove a big red truck
and when he'd go to work each day
he'd say "Mother wish me luck".
Then Dad would not come home again
'til some time the next day.
But the thing that bothered me the most
was the thingÕs some folks would say,
"A fireman's life is easy,
he eats and sleeps and plays,
and sometime's he won't fight a fire
for days and days and day's".
When I first heard these words
I was to young to understand
but I knew when people had trouble
Dad was there to lend a hand.
Then my father went to work one day
and he kissed us all goodbye
but little did we realize
that night we all would cry.
My father lost his life that night
when the floor gave way below
and I'd wondered why he'd risked his life
for someone he didn't know.
But now I truly realize
the greatest gift a man can give
is to lay his life upon the line
so that someone else might live.
So as we go from day to day
and we pray to God above
say a prayer for your local Firemen.
He may save the one's you love.

WHAT IF....
By Dewey Edwards
Robertson County Rescue Squad & Fire Department
Springfield, Tennessee
Submitted by: wolfer113@aol.com

What If You Had A Fire,
And No One Came?
No One To Protect Your Family
From The Awful Smoke And Flames.

What If You Were Hurt In An Auto Wreck
And No One Came?
No One To Remove You From The Wreckage
And There You Would Remain.

What If You Had A Missing Child,
And No One Came?
No One To Search For Your Loved One
In The Heat, The Cold, The Rain.

What If You Needed Other Help,
And No One Came?
No One To Help In Your Time Of Need,
Now That Would Be A Shame.

But We Won't Let This Happen,
And You Can Rest Your Fears,
So When You Go To Bed Tonight,
Thank God For Volunteers!

What is a Fireman?
Author unknown

He’s the guy next door
A man’s man with the memory of a little boy.
He has never gotten over the excitement of engines and sirens or danger.
He’s a guy like you and me with wants and worries and unfulfilled dreams.
Yet he stands taller than most.
He’s a fireman.
He puts it all on the line when the bell rings.
A fireman is at once the most fortunate and the least fortunate of men.
He’s a man who saves lives because he has seen too much death.
He’s a gentle man because he has seen the awesome power of violence out of control.
He’s responsive to a childs laughter because his arms have held too many small bodies that will never laugh again.
He’s a man who appreciates the simple pleasures of life, hot coffee held in numb unbending fingers
A warm bed for bones and muscles compelled beyond feeling
The camaraderie of brave men
The divine peace and selfless service of a job well done in the name of all men
He doesn’t wear buttons or wave flags or shout obscenities.
When he marches, it is to honor a fallen comrade.
He doesn’t preach the brotherhood of man.
He lives it.

Je voudrais que tu puisses
Traduit de l'anglais du poem:
"I WISH YOU COULD!"
de Randall Broadwater - Firefighter/EMT-A

Je voudrais que tu puisses voir la tristesse d'un homme d'affaire quand sa vie s'envole en fumée ou celle de cette famille qui revient chez eux, pour trouver leur maison et leurs biens endommagés ou détruits.

Je voudrais que tu puisses savoir ce que c'est de fouiller une chambre enflammée à la recherche d’enfants emprisonnés, les flammes roulant au-dessus de ta tête, tes paumes et tes genoux brûlants alors que tu rampe, le plancher cédant sous ton poids parce que la cuisine sous toi est en flamme.

Je voudrais que tu puisses comprendre l'horreur que vie une femme à 3 heures du matin quand je ne trouve pas le pouls de son époux de quarante ans. Je commence le RCR, espérant le ramener mais sachant intuitivement qu'il est trop tard mais voulant que sa femme et ses proches sachent que même l’impossible à été tenté.

Je voudrais que tu puisses connaître l’unique odeur de l’isolation qui brûle, le goût du mucus remplit de suie, la sensation de la chaleur intense à travers de ton habit de combat, le son rugissant du feu, et l’inquiétude causée par la perte de visibilité dans la fumée dense… des sensations qui me sont trop familières.Je voudrais que tu puisses comprendre la sensation de retourné à l'école le matin, après avoir passé la nuit à avoir chaud et trempé jusqu’aux os, à cause d'une alarme générale.

J'aimerais que tu puisses lire mes pensées quand je réponds à un appel de feu : " Est-ce une fausse alarme ou un feu en progression? Comment est construit l'édifice? Quels dangers m'attendent? Y-a-t-il quelqu'un de pris à l'intérieur? " Ou à un appel médical : " Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas avec le patient? Est-ce mineur ou est-il en danger de mort? Est-ce que le requérant est vraiment en détresse ou nous attends-t-il avec un 2X4 ou un fusil? "

Je voudrais que tu puisses être dans la salle d'urgence quand le médecin déclare morte l'adorable petite fille de cinq ans que j'essayais de sauver depuis les dernières 25 minutes, qui n'ira jamais à son premier rendez-vous avec un petit ami ou qui ne dira plus jamais les mots "Maman je t'aime!"

J'aimerais que tu puisses connaître la frustration que je ressens dans la cabine du camion, le conducteur pressant le pied sur la pédale, mon bras tirant encore et encore la chaîne des trompettes quand tu ne nous cède pas le passage à une intersection ou dans la circulation dense. Quand tu as besoin de nous, ton premier commentaire est souvent: "Ça vous a pris du temps!"

Je voudrais que tu puisses lire mes pensées quand j'aide à sortir une adolescente des restes de sa voiture. " Et si c'était ma soeur, ma blonde ou une amie? Quelle sera la réaction de ses parents quand ils verront un policier à leur porte, chapeau à la main? "

Je voudrais que tu puisses savoir ce que c'est de rentrer à la maison, de saluer mes parents et ma famille sans avoir le courage de leur dire que j'ai failli ne pas revenir de cet appel.

Je voudrais que tu puisses sentir ma tristesse quand les gens abusent de nous verbalement et même parfois physiquement, minimisent notre travail ou encore quand ils disent "ça ne m'arrivera jamais".

Je voudrais que tu puisses réaliser l'épuisement physique, mental et émotionnel causé par les repas sautés, le manque de sommeil, les activités sociales manquées, en plus de toutes les tragédies que j'ai vues et vécues.

Je voudrais que tu puisses ressentir la fraternité et la satisfaction personnelle d'aider à sauver une vie ou préserver la propriété de quelqu'un, d'être là en temps de crise et de mettre de l'ordre dans le chaos total.

Je voudrais que tu puisses savoir ce que c'est d'avoir un petit garçon qui tire ta manche et te demande " Est-ce que ma maman va être correcte? ". De ne pas être capable de le regarder dans les yeux sans avoir les tiens remplis de larmes et ne pas savoir quoi répondre. Ou d'avoir à retenir quelqu’un qui voit son meilleur ami recevoir la respiration artificielle alors qu'on l'embarque dans l'ambulance. Toi, tu sais depuis le début qu'il n'avait pas sa ceinture de sécurité… encore une autre sensation qui m'est devenue trop familière.

À moins que tu aies vécu ce genre de vie, tu ne comprendras pas ou n'apprécieras pas qui je suis, ce que nous sommes ou ce que notre travail signifie pour nous.

Je voudrais que tu puisses!

POMPIER
Le Diffuseur - No 18 - Été 1992
Document fourni par Réal Audet, Lt au SPIM.

S'il est retardé par les gens qui ne lui cèdent pas le passage,
il a pris 20 minutes pour arriver;

S'il circule à 65 km/h pour répondre à un appel,
c'est un casse-cou au volant d'un mastodonte;

S'il ne réussit pas à dresser seul une échelle alors qu'il faut 4 pompiers pour le faire,
il ne sait pas travailler;

S'il brise une fenêtre pour ventiler la chaleur et la fumée pour empêcher une explosion,
c'est un démolisseur qui brise tout sans raison;

Si le chef se tient à l'écart pour mieux voir et mieux diriger son personnel,
il a peur et il est un lâche;

Si l'édifice est détruit,
c'est un incompétent;

Si l'édifice est sauvé,
ça se comprend bien, c'était un si petit feu;

Si le pompier se blesse,
il a été imprudent;

Si un citoyen est blessé,
le pompier n'a pas pris toutes les mesures appropriées;

S'il inspecte une propriété pour découvrir les risques d'incendie,
il ne se mêle pas de ses affaires;

S'il émet une contravention au règlement de prévention,
le propriétaire veut voir le maire;

S'il est tué en tentant de sauver quelqu'un,
ce sont les risques du métier et il le savait.

Que voudrais-tu faire quand tu seras grand?
Auteur inconnu

Une mère de 26 ans était très pensive en regardant son fils qui se mourait de leucémie terminale. Même si son coeur était abattu par la tristesse, elle conservait un grand sens de détermination. Comme toutes les mères elle souhaitait que son fils croisse et réalise tous ses rêves. Mais maintenant cela n'était plus possible pour son fils. La leucémie ne le lui permettrait pas. Mais même ainsi, elle voulait que les rêves de son fils se réalisent. Elle prit la main de son fils et lui demanda:

"Billy, as-tu déjà pensé à ce que tu aimerais être quand tu grandiras?? As-tu rêvé et pensé parfois à ce que tu ferais de ta vie?"

"Maman, j'ai toujours voulu être un pompier quand je serais grand."

La mère sourit et dit: "Voyons si nous pouvons faire de ton rêve une réalité." Plus tard ce jour-là, elle se rendit à la caserne des pompiers. Là elle connût le pompier Bob, un homme avec un
>très grand coeur. Elle lui expliqua le dernier désir de son fils etlui demanda s'il était possible de donner a son fils de six ans une promenade autour du carré de maisons dans un camion de pompiers.

Le pompier Bob dit: "Voyez madame, nous pouvons faire quelque chose de mieux que cela. Que votre fils soit prêt mercredi, à sept heures du matin exactement et nous le ferons 'Pompier Honoraire' durant toute la
journée. il peut venir ici à la station avec nous, manger avec nous, sortir avec nous quand nous recevrons des appels pour incendies sur tout notre territoire. Et si vous nous donnez ses mesures, nous aurons pour lui
un véritable uniforme de pompier avec un vrai chapeau qui portera l'emblème de la caserne de pompiers, non pas un jouet, mais l'emblème jaune que nous portons et il aura aussi ses bottes de caoutchouc.

Trois jours plus tard le pompier Bob alla chercher Billy, il lui mit son uniforme de pompier et il le conduisit de son lit d'hôpital jusqu'au camion-pompe. Billy dût s'asseoir à l'arrière du camion et aider à conduire durant le trajet de retour à la station. Il se croyait au ciel. Il y eut trois appels ce jours-là pour la caserne et Billy a dû sortir pour les trois appels. Il y alla dans trois camions différents. Il est revenu dans le mini-bus paramédical et aussi dans l'auto du chef des pompiers. Ils filmèrent l'évènement pour les nouvelles locales de la télévision.

Ayant réalisé son rève et avec tout l'amour et l'attention qui lui furent donnés, Billy fut touché si profondément qu'il réussit a vivre trois mois de plus que ce dont n'importe quel médecin pensait qu'il vivrait.

Une nuit, tous les signes vitaux commencèrent à faiblir de façon dramatique et l'infirmier en chef, qui croyait dans l'idée que personne doit mourir seul, commença à appeler les membres de la famille pour qu'ils viennent à l'hôpital.

Ensuite, il se souvient du jour que Billy avait vécu comme s'il était un pompier et il appela le chef de la caserne et lui demanda si c'était possible qu'il envoie à l'hôpital "un pompier" en uniforme pour qu'il soit avec Billy quand il rendrait l'âme. Et le chef lui dit: "Nous ferons quelque chose de mieux. Nous serons là dans cinq minutes. Vous pouvez me faire une faveur?? Quand vous entendrez sonner les sirènes et verrez
clignoter les lumières, avertissez dans les haut-parleurs qu'il n'y a pas d'incendie, mais que le Département des Pompiers vient visiter une fois de plus un de ses plus importants membres. Et s'il-vous-plaît ouvez la
fenêtre de sa chambre."

Cinq minutes plus tard, un camion de pompier arriva à l'hôpital avec une échelle télescopique qui se leva jusqu'au troisième étage où était la fenêtre ouverte de la chambre de Billy et 16 pompiers montèrent dans la chambre de Billy. Avec la permission de sa maman, chacun d'eux l'embrassa et le berça lui disant qu'il l'aimait.

Billy regarda le chef des pompiers et de sa voix d'agonisant lui demanda: "CHEF, SUIS-JE MAINTENANT UN VRAI POMPIER?" Le chef lui répondit: "OUI BILLY, TU L'ES."

A ces mots Billy sourit et ferma les yeux pour la dernière fois.

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