Let the games begin!
Well, things are underway to get my membership in order with Parkwood Volunteer Fire Department in Durham County.
I had an interview with one of the EMS/Fire Fighters last Sunday and we talked for about an hour and he gave me a quick tour of the station. This was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes down to the process of becoming a member with PVFD. The initial interview is very laid back and casual. It was set up as an opportunity for them to explain what would be expected of us (if we were to chose to follow through and work towards becoming an EMT with them) and also an opportunity to have some of our questions answered. Time commitment was something I heard over and over and over again and even though it was something I knew about, having them stress it really stuck with me. I mean, on paper I will be working 40+ hours a week, Volunteering somewhere between 40-60 hours a month and I was thinking about going back to school in the Fall and still trying to maintain a sane life and household. The more and more I thought about it, school in the fall seemed like a bad idea and would stretch me super thin. So the plan for now is to complete all necessary paperwork (and there is a lot of it) and get my membership underway and go from there.
I have about 2 months to get together the following;
-Completed application
-NC Driving Record
-TX Driving Record (they make this a pain the a$$ if you no longer have your TX license in hand)
-Nationwide Criminal Background Check (which is much harder to obtain then one would think)
-Medical Clearance Form
-Vaccinations or proof of TB, Hep B, Chickenpox, Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), Tetanus, Influenza…
-3 References
-Copy of DL and State License
Once you have all that in place, they review your paperwork and you are called in for a second interview. This time it is formal and you meet with the chief. Once the interview is over and they accept you in to the program, the fun starts….
- 4 Hands-on scenario testing
- 4 weeks of Rookie Program (where you spend all hours learning about the inside and outside of the truck (ambulance) and the station. No ride hours.
- (after the 4 weeks) 3-6 months of continuation of Rookie Program as a third rider.
- 6 months from Rookie release to pass your driving class and earn your license to drive to ambulance
- Once all above is done, you are released as a member and can ride as the second rider on the ambulance and get assigned a partner.
It feels like a long process (and it really is), but I am grateful for it. I think it will ease me in to the process and also give me a chance to meet everyone (my future second family). Also, I was able to convince my friend/classmate to join with me, so I get to have someone with me that I know on the first day of class.
