Double Duty

[firedoc5]

How do you feel when it seems like you are doing double duty. Especially when the Dept. you're with doesn't take into consideration that you are doing two jobs at once. The one "Chief" I was under didn't care. You did all your station duties and trainings, tested hose and hydrants, did hydrant maintnance twice a year. And some may not realize it but every call that comes in you go on. You definately go on every EMS/Rescue calls. And it's a fire call , everybody goes. With EMS it seems like you are taking a new class or teaching another. That can really tax you out. But I know some depts. take into consideration the duel role. They are large enough.
I know some of you with smaller depts. like I was with it can push you to the limit. We were always understaffed. For a town of just shy 20K, we may have only had 5 full timers on duty. And you would be the only Paramedic. They may have you go into a burner and an EMS call comes in. You have to crawl out, hopefully not leaving someone inside alone. Then get out of your bunker gear but still be filthy and smell like charcoal. That's just what I had to put up with. What about others?

[Lone Star]

The department I was with wouldn't let me do any EMS procedures. But then again, they taught all the rookies to completely disregard anything I had to say. Which really sucked when it came time to try to make rank, and especially when I took most of those guys into their 'first structure'....that's 'gratitude' for you!