Topic – What Does a Firefighter Do?

What Does a Firefighter Do?

A firefighter does much more than just put out fires. Find out about some of the different activities firefighters do and what skills they need.

Activities of a Firefighter

Along with fires, firefighters rush to emergencies such as serious traffic accidents, explosions, and train and airplane crashes. Firefighters are often the first people at an emergency. They help people and animals escape if they are trapped. They also give first aid to injured people until an ambulance arrives. Firefighters stay at the scene until they are sure there is no more danger.

An important part of firefighting is being prepared for an emergency. Firefighters exercise to stay fit and practise using firefighting equipment effectively. Firefighters also check the fire engine and all their equipment to make sure everything is in good shape and works properly.

Firefighters work with people in the community to help prevent fires and keep people safe. Firefighters often visit schools and businesses to make sure people know what to do if there is a fire. Sometimes a firefighter will visit people’s homes to check for any dangerous fire hazards.

Skills a Firefighter Needs

Here are some of the skills that firefighters use on the job:

•  Decision-making skills: Firefighters need to be able to make good decisions quickly in stressful situations. For example, a firefighter needs to decide when it is too dangerous to enter a burning building.

•  Teamwork skills: Firefighters work in teams, so they need good teamwork skills. For example, a firefighter needs to be able to follow instructions from the team leader.

•  Speaking and writing skills: Firefighters sometimes give oral presentations to the public. After an emergency, they write reports about what happened and what they did.

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