The Fire Fighters Creed 

When I'm called to duty god
wherever flames may rage
give me strength to save a life
whatever be its age 

Help me to 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
to 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 neighbour and
protect his property 

And if according to your will
I have to lose my life
bless with your protecting hand
my children and my wife 

"I Wish You Could Know"

I wish you could know what it is like to search a burning bedroom for 
trapped children at 3 AM, flames rolling above your head, your palms 
and knees burning as you crawl, the floor sagging under your weight 
as the kitchen below you burns.

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 to 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 building fire. "Is 
this false alarm or a working fire? How is the building constructed? 
What hazards await me? Is anyone trapped?" Or to a 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 a doctor pronounces dead 
the beautiful five-year old girl that I have been trying to save during the past
25 minutes. Who will never go on her first date or say the words, "I 
love you Mommy" again.

I wish you could know the frustration I feel in the cab of the engine, 
squad, or my personal vehicle, 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 are her parents reaction going to 
be when they open 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 
EMT's out and we call for them and our heart drops because no one answers 
back, or to hear 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 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 and 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 Mommy okay?" and not 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 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.

*author unknown *

WHAT IS A FIREMAN

He is 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 and danger.

He is a guy like you and me with wants and worries and unfulfilled dreams.
Yet he stands taller than most of us.
He is 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 is a man who saves lives because he has seen too much death.
He is a gentle man because he has seen the awesome power of violence out of control.
He is responsive to a child's laughter because his arms have held
too many small bodies that will never laugh again.

He is a man who appreciates the simple pleasures of life - hot coffee held in
the numb, unbending fingers - a warm bed for bone and muscle 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.

Ambulance Information
Emergency Medical Service

The Fire Department and Ambulance operate hand in hand.
St. Clair Shores Fire Department operates two Paramedic
(advance life support) ambulances. These Paramedic Units
are staffed with two Fire Fighter Paramedics. Along with our
two ambulances, three Fire Engines are licensed and
outfitted with Paramedics and all necessary advanced life
support equipment to respond to any medical emergency. A long
list of alarm types will automatically have an Engine respond
with the Ambulance. Those can vary from auto accidents to
cardiac patients. All Ambulance personnel are Fire Fighters, that
rotate from Fire Engines to Ambulance on a day to day basis. When a Fire Engine crew arrives first, they are not just an extra
set of hands, but are also licensed Paramedics trained in
Emergency Medicine. The Fire Engine crew will start patient
care and continue with the Ambulance crew on scene and
en-route to a area hospital.

Fireman's Prayer

Almighty God, Protector of all
Mankind, Your strength, power,
and wisdom are a beacon of light
to all men:
Give special guidance to Fireman
and Firefighters so that we may
be protected from harm while
performing our duty.
Help me with your loving care
while I work to save the lives and
property of all people young and
old.
Give me the courage, the alertness
to protect my neighbors and all
others whom I am pledge to aid
When involved in fire or accident.
Amen.