Truth really can be stranger than fiction.
First Page - Now launched! All the stories are true, or based on real events. Unlimited reading for $4.99 / month. No downloads. Read on your phone, tablet or computer.
La verdad puede ser más extraña que la ficción.
First Page - ¡Ya está en marcha! Todas las historias son verídicas, o están basadas en hechos reales. Lectura ilimitada por $4.99 / mes. No hay que descargar nada. Lea en su teléfono, tableta u ordenador.
Manna Minutes Podcast: Eye-opening Bible study in less than five minutes! Access all episodes here.
Manna Minutes en español:
Estudio bíblico que nos hace abrir los ojos en menos de cinco minutos! Acceda a todos los episodios aquí.
Manna Minutes Podcast auf Deutsch:
Augenöffnendes Bibelstudium in weniger als fünf Minuten! Alle Episoden finden Sie hier.
Was There A Curse On Helen's Romantic Life?
The Third Man by Angela Sheffield is based on a true story. Read chapter one now!
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¿Qué tiene que ver conmigo? por Teófila Gottfried
Lo que leemos en la Biblia tiene que ver con todos los seres humanos, sean cristianos o judíos, ateos o agnósticos, budistas, musulmanes o adherentes a alguna de las filosofías o nuevas religiones que surgen en el mundo. ¿Por qué? Ver mayor información sobre este interesante libro.
Scripture of The Day - 1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world
Escritura del día - 1 Juan 4,1
Amados, no creáis a todo espíritu, sino probad los espíritus si son de Dios; porque muchos falsos profetas han salido por el mundo.
Bibelstelle des Tages - 1 Johannes 4,1
Geliebte, glaubet nicht jedem Geist, sondern prüfet die Geister, ob sie von Gott sind! Denn es sind viele falsche Propheten hinausgegangen in die Welt.
Volunteer Fire Services: The Good and the Bad
To Volunteer or Not to Volunteer
Many fire fighters and medics consider joining a volunteer fire service for various reasons. Some need experience while others do not want a full-time commitment. Still others turn to volunteer opportunities when "real" jobs in the field continually elude them. Whatever your circumstance may be, it's always best to be informed before making a decision that may end up being a waste of your time.
Keep in mind that the good and the bad of working for volunteer fire services is based purely on personal opinion, because everyone is different. Personal likes and dislikes, family responsibilities, and personal goals are among the things that will determine what is good and what is bad for YOU when considering a position with volunteer fire services.
The Good
Among the advantages of working for a volunteer service are the following:
1. Simple application process
2. No waiting lists
3. Usually no conflict of interest if you have another job
4. Fire fighters generally are not required to be paramedics
5. Medics generally are not required to fight fires
6. Opportunities for emergency medical technicians (EMTs), formerly known as EMT basics
7. More flexibility in your work schedule
8. Easier to get time off for vacation
9. Considerably Fewer 911 calls to take
10. More flexibility in switching work shifts with a co-worker
The Bad
The "good" list certainly might not represent how things are at all volunteer fire services. However, it gives a general idea of what many fire fighters and medics who are volunteer consider to be advantages. The following is a list of the "bad" aspects that many have found in their work with volunteer fire services.
1. Shamefully low pay - Some services pay volunteers around $1.00 per hour of duty plus $7.00 per 911 call that they take. Others pay around $10.00 per call. It all works out to about the same. It would be more fair to pay volunteers something like $3.00 per hour of being on duty, plus at least $10.00 per hour for every 911 call for EMTS, $15.00 for AEMTS, and $25.00 for paramedics.
2. Little opportunity for "good" experience - Most volunteer fire services are in rural areas and very small towns. Fire fighters and medics might receive as little as two calls per month; and they might be for an elderly person who has fallen or for a small fire. Let's face it, these rescuers simply never get the experience that fire fighters and medics who work in urban areas gain.
3. Too much demand on your time - Some volunteer fire services focus heavily on fund raising; and require that the members of the service do all of the labor involved with raising funds. This can mean that you are frequently required to go to a fund raising event such as a parade, a trip to a local school or church, community dinners, etc.
4. Familiarity with the town - Some people are not comfortable with responding to a 911 call for an individual or individuals whom they know personally. Obviously this is the norm rather than the exception when working for volunteer fire services.
5. "Clicks" within the town - Another "problem" with very small towns is the fact that most everyone knows most everyone else. This could have a negative influence on operations within the service. If one of your friends or relatives, or a friend of one your relatives has a dispute with the chief or one of the officers of the service, you could be negatively impacted. It might not be fair, but the fact is that there just aren't the same checks and balances within volunteer fire services as there are in "regular" urban services.
6. You must live in the town - There might be a service with which you'd love to serve. However, generally you must be a resident of the town in order to serve as a member. Relocation often is not feasible for most people, especially if they're content with their current living arrangements or are home owners.
7. Lack of benefits - It is not the norm for volunteer fire services to offer a benefit package including things such as health insurance, life insurance, a 401k plan, paid vacation, etc. These things come with "real" jobs, not volunteer positions. Many services do offer a tuition reimbursement for furthering your studies in the field. And, some will actually pay for your training. While this might sound good, beware of two possible problems. First, the chief, or the person in charge of making the decision to pay for your training, might always find a reason why you are not "eligible." Even when you are eligible, often the service you are required to give back in exchange for tuition is much too demanding for what you receive.
You can evaluate your situation, goals, and personal preferences to determine if you are best suited to a regular, full-time, paid position in the city, or a volunteer position in a rural area. If you entered the field motivated by a genuine desire to help people, best wishes with whatever your decisions is.
Related Articles by Heavenly Manna
Christian Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians: The Challenges Faced
From Basic to Advanced Emergency Medical Technician
EMT Basic Training and EMT experience: Bridging the Gap - Part I
EMT Clinicals Experience for Newbies
Based on true events, The Third Man by Angela Sheffield, brings the Bible up close and personal as the characters face real issues of life: Betrayal, deceit, romance, bitterness, anger against God, hopelessness, will power, perplexity, triumph, unforgiveness, mental illness, and the "Alcohol made me do it" excuse. Read chapter one FREE now.
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