To the hometown heroes,

To the hometown heroes, we thank you! We thank you for everything you do to keep us all safe! Most people don’t stop enough and thank you all for everything you do and with that being said, I am writing this letter to you. I know you are probably thinking that your hard work goes unnoticed, but it doesn’t - I can promise you that. You all do things that most people wouldn’t think twice about doing themselves, whether it be running into a burning building or saving someone that’s having trouble breathing. There is a lot more to it than just running into burning buildings or jumping on the ambulance and going to the call. It’s not just all about the fire departments or the emergency squads either, we also have to thank the police officers who risk their lives going to unknown calls.

Most might think it’s all just fun and games to be a part of the fire department, getting on the trucks and just going - but it’s not. It’s not fun nor is it a game, they get on the trucks and don’t have any idea how bad the fire they are about to go fight actually is. They do a lot of serious training to be able to do what they do. They either have to take Firefighter 1 which is 120 hours and/or scene support which is about 75 hours which are required by the state to have within two years. They also have to make at least 20 a year and they have to go to the training days scheduled differently for department to department.

The rescue squad isn't just about sitting in the common room and making food and things like that, they have to do training to be able to do what they do. They don't just jump on the ambulance and go to the call. EMT'S have to do basic training which is the minimum level of certification. Training courses they have to do typically include 100 hours of different situations such as cardiac and respiratory emergencies. They also have to do childbirth and major disasters.

Next is the police - it's not all about the gun, the pepper spray, or the taser they get to carry around. The officers have to go to the academy for the training to officially become a cop. In the academy they have to do some fitness training and go through different scenarios that could potentially happen when they arrive to the call. Another thing they have to do is actually be pepper sprayed and tased themselves so they know how the person they are going to do it on feels.

Well, with all this being said, I hope it changes some people's perspectives on what these men and women have to do just to save lives because it's not as easy as most people think it is! So, again, I want to thank all the men and women that work there butts off on a daily basis to keep us all safe!