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I started prepping a few years back when I was in paramedic school.  I had no educated goal when prepping initially.  Then I met a good friend of mine that changed the way I look at prepping, and helped me make my prepping intentional.  I read Patriots and I started prepping all the more; now with motivation and intelligence.  When my friend reads this he will probably view this is as some form of Narcissism even though he falls into this category.  But I digress.

I have been a full time firefighter for 5-1/2 years  I am currently a Paramedic, and have been so for 2.5 years, before that I was an EMT-I.  Most of you had no idea there was a difference, but after reading this you may look further into it.  Prior to my time with the fire department I spent time in the Marine Corps as a non-grunt, working on aircraft.    

Firefighters are also some of the best preppers for several reasons and the first is because of our medical experience.  Our medical training is some of the most critical that will be required no matter the disaster scenario.  Paramedics deal with disasters and high stress, high stakes environments daily, and operate at a high level of reasoning (there are exceptions)-often more so than Nurses.  After I just pissed off every nurse that is reading this, let me explain.

Paramedics have a unique advantage over Nurses, even some Doctors, for one major reason.  We have to think on our feet with no one of higher authority or knowledge base in the Medical field is around.  Nurses look to doctors, doctors look to specialists and so on.  Paramedics often have to make split second decisions that can mean life or death.  We may have to call on a doctor for orders, but the major recognition and decisions have already been made.  Our reasoning skills, in high stress environments, operates at a high level; if you are in high stress environments on a regular basis.  To achieve this as a Paramedic you need to be working full time at a high volume department.  Not saying those boys and girls in the rural areas don’t know what they are doing, they are usually some of the best, but an inner city or busy suburban paramedic/firefighter is worth their weight in gold.

Unfortunately when TEOTWAWKI comes to fruition I will have already seen death, major trauma, and gunshot wounds.  With this gruesome experience I can come into situations that for most will be unnatural, and will not have previous experience to draw on.  We have a tendency as humans to stare at disastrous circumstances and just watch.  Experience gets people from inaction-watching a disaster unfold, to action, to move or help out where you can.  In same way it will help your brain more quickly realize when and how to escape or run the other way from a disaster. 

I know from my little Marine Corps experience and my firefighting experience that knowing how you are going to perform under high stress, high stakes environments, is only achieved through doing it every day.  This translates very well to the use of fire arms, particularly deadly force.  There’s a guy I work with that has a saying, “Never mess with a fireman’s family, he sees bad things on a regular basis, and the only thing he is worried about when killing someone that is trying to harm his family is cleaning up the mess afterwards.”  I couldn’t agree more with this statement.  When someone is placed inside of a burning structure or when someone is dying, a cool head that is used to utilizing reasoning skills is essential to see it through. 

Now as a professional firefighter I do not see fire every day.  But I do see it a lot more than the average person, and most likely more than the volunteer fire fighter.  Firefighting as an essential skill has been talked about extensively, but I won’t be going into tactics or the fact that it is darn useful to have some one that has actually fought fire when your house is burning post schumer hitting the fan.  Knowing and recognizing fire behavior, particularly at critical points, are essential to all preppers.  I suggest that everyone has a fire extinguisher.  But not just an ABC-really these are best for electrical fires.  A pressurized water extinguisher, otherwise known as a water can is probably the most versatile and complete fire protection you may need post apocalypse.  These types usually can be filled with a water hose, and re-pressurized with an air compressor attachment you probably already use to fill up the air in your personal vehicles, or bike tire.  I have seen a room in contents fire nearly put out by a ONE water can, saving the structure.  Ideally you want at least one per floor, two if there are living quarters or high fire hazards on that floor.  They need to be some place you look every day and are used to seeing, or you will not remember them.  Many a kitchen fire has been put out by a water can, precious life and property.  They do not go out of date; As well another useful trick that I do with my water cans is put dish soap in them.  Soap breaks the surface tension of water and makes it more readily able to soak into materials, very helpful for small brush fires and mattress/couch fires especially.  A couple table spoons should do a normal water can.   These are easy to use, easy to refill, or re use items.  They average about $60 apiece. 

Emergency Medical training is not hard to come by.  Real world practical experience is invaluable and not readily available.  Paramedics and EMTs usually have access to sources of medical supplies, and medical training, from CPR (not useful post-Schumer, if they are dead, leave them dead), to basic would care.  Medical training is the one skill that may save your life or one of your family members life one day, and it is portable anywhere.  Nurses provide long term care, known as palliative care.  Although this is very useful in a survival situation, often critical care at critical times is what saves lives.  A good combination of both would be ideal.

Another point on why firefighters are the best preppers is our schedule.  Full time firefighters usually work 24 hours on and 48 hours off.  Those 48 hours are usually filled with part time jobs in other fields.  Due to the emotional toll of being a first responder, Paramedic or firefighter, a lot of us choose not to work in our part time in this field.  Some do and gain further experience in the medical field.  I work in an ER, so I have the best of both worlds, I believe.  Where most firefighters work part time is in construction.  Handy man type service, if not an all-out trade that they use to make good money on the side.  These skills are essential at maintaining your bug out property in a variety of ways that I am sure are easily recognizable. 

The schedule brings up my next point.  Firefighters often have the time to not only work part time to make more money, but have time to plan, prep, and to train, three things that can be difficult if you work 9-5 Monday through Friday.  This includes helping you prep and build up your bug out property.  All you got to do is ask.  They are also used to working late at night, and waking up at the first signal of trouble, and operate at a high efficiency, even at 0300 in the morning.

Another essential part that firefighters already have is the mindset.  We have to prepare ourselves and our equipment to go into perilous environments on a daily basis.  We are always planning for the worst, expecting the worst, and we are rarely disappointed.  So when it comes to prepping most firefighters already have the skills of trying to fore see what can, or could happen.  We also know human behavior all too well and know the traps that complacency and lack of training and experience will get you in to.  Many firefighters are already preppers, they just don’t know it.

Further, firefighters are usually in pretty good shape.  We need to be for our job; as well most departments require annual physicals, and physical fitness test.  This makes the transition to a TEOTWAWKI a lot easier.  We are used to a regimented schedule and train regularly for our job.  The minimum training for our job (ISO requirements for major departments) is around 280 verifiable hours every year.  I can guarantee that most jobs do not require this amount of training. 

Operational Readiness is a buzz term a lot of people in security, defense, and public safety use.  It is most easily broken down to a spectrums of events and required training that are: high frequency and low risk (requires little training), high frequency and high risk (requires regular training), Low frequency low risk (little to no training), and finally Low frequency high risk events (need to be drilled regularly to minimize risk).  This is a good start when looking at training for you and your family.  Firefighters are well acquainted to this as stated above, and very familiar with risk assessments and needs.
So if you are looking to add a good group of folks to your prepping group then I suggest you look at your nearest full time fire department.  You may already know some.  They will be a great asset in any end of times, disaster, or apocalyptic scenario. 

There is one downfall to firefighters and paramedics when the Schumer hits the fan.  They will be running into the burning buildings, and running to the aid of others, which may lead them from taking care of their own family.  This was a trait we saw all too clearly on 9/11.  When disaster strikes though, most know the protection and care for their own family takes priority.  With that knowledge firefighters that are married or in a long term relationship, with or without children, are the best choice for addition to groups.

As a side note, many firefighters end up dating/marrying, or becoming nurses themselves, and nurse practitioners.  Ultimately their service to their community will provide some of the best intangible assets.    There is only one group of people that I think could be more appropriate for a good addition to any group of preppers: former or active Special Forces/Infantry soldiers, and and emergency room physicians or surgeons.