My name is Vanessa Singh and I am a freshman at Orange Coast College and I am majoring in communications with a goal to be a Firefighter/ Paramedic. I took Professional Studies to learn more about art and artists. I am not much of an artist myself but I do have a passion for photography. I think photography is an amazing way to capture moments and sites. I take pictures from nature to firetrucks. In my portfolio I have captured moments from my travels or beautiful spots in nature! Enjoy!
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Fire Fighting
Fire Fighting has always been my passion. With it involving so many different responsibilities, consequences, dangers and rewards. It is always exciting and never easy.
Fire fighting has evolved over centuries. Back in 1833 was when the first companies in London merged to form the London Fire Company Establishment. In 1850 the steam powered apparatus were introduced allowing a greater quantity of water to be directed at a fire. The steam powered appliances replaced in the early 1900’s with the invention of the internal combustion engine.
Firefighters goals are to save lives, property, and environment. To prevent fires from starting, a firefighter’s duties can include: public education about fire safety and conducting fire safety.
Some hazards caused by fires are: smoke( which is becoming dangerous due to the rise in synthetic household materials), oxygen deficient atmosphere( 21% O2 is normal, 175 is considered O2 deficient and toxic atmosphere. To fight these effects, firefighters carry SCBA ( self-contained breathing apparatus). Scba are crucial because they are the firefighter’s lifeline without it they would without proper oxygen. These are not oxygen tanks they are compressed air. SCBA’s hold 30 to 50 minutes of air depending on the firefighter’s breathing rate and physical shape.
To fight conditions in a fire firefighters wear PPE or personal protective equipment. This includes: helmet, jacket, pants, gloves, face mask and flash hood. Each piece of this equipment is important to the survival of the firefighter.
The use of water with firefighting is a vital component. The water has two roles: in contact with water it vaporizes and displaces the oxygen and the vaporization of water absorbs the heat, it cools the smoke, air, water and thus prevents one of the means that fire grows.
Fire fighters only duties are not to fight fires they have many other skills and opeartions involved. Most fire fighters are EMT ( emergency medical technicians) or paramedics being that 80% of 911 calls are medic calls. Some of the other skills they have are: emergency medical services, HAZMAT which deal with hazardous materials, vehicle rescue and extrication, search and rescue and fire risk assesments. The most specizalized skill a fire fighter has is auto extrication. Auto extrication is the cutting of an auto vehicle to extricate a person out of a entanglement . In auto extrication specialized tools are involved including: jaws of life, spreaders, combi an ram bar. The first step in auto extrication is stabilizing the car with v post and wooden chucks to stabilize the car. Then the fire fighters begin cutting from the windows and disarming the air bags. Then start prying the door open and whatever part the patient is entangled in.
The first step of firefighting operation is to find the origin of the fire and identification of the specific risks and any deaths. The “reading” of the fire is the analysis by the firefighters of the warnings of a thermal accident ( flashover, backdraft, smoke explosion). The main signs of these are : hot zones; these can be detected by using a gloved hand against a door to feel, soot on windows which usually means combustion is imcomplete and thus lack of air, smoke going in and out of a door frame as if in the fire breathes, which usually means lack to support combustion.Their are 4 elements needed to start and sustain a fire or flame: fuel, heat self contained chain reaction and oxygen.
One of the most memorable heartbreaking days regarding firefighting was September 11th. The day where when people were running out of fear and terror out of the world trade center, firefighter ran in . It was a day where 343 firefighters showed the utmost bravery and lost their life. It was a day we will never forget.
In conclusion fire fighting is a rigorous job involved in many different aspects that shows very much bravery daily.
Interview- Emergency Medical Technicaian
I have a goal of working towards becoming a firefighter/ paramedic. The first step in attaining this goal is to become an Emergency Medical Technician. While learning more about this career I have fallen in love with all the different aspects of the job and the idea of helping people. I interviewed Dylan Turelli who works as an Emergency Medical Technicain for Pacific Ambulance.
1.At what age did you know you wanted to be a EMT?
– The end of senior year at high school around 18 years old. By being involved in Anaheim Fire Explorers which is a training with Anaheim Fire Department where it prepares you for a career as a firefighter from skills to firefighting to emergency medical skills. Where we learned basic emergency medical skills that of one an EMT learns and I loved it.
2. What made you want to be an EMT?
– One day I had a close relative get very sick and I had already known I wanted to be a firefighter so it was also of the steps closer to becoming a firefighter.
3. How long have you been an EMT?
-2 years
3. What is your favorite part of the job?
– Making people’s day, they are already in a bad mental state or in one of the worse places in their view a hospital. When I come I try to treat their injuries as best as possible and cheer up their attitude. I do this by making sure I talk to them as you would as a friend and not like a typical patient.
4. What is your least favorite part of the job?
-The least favorite part of the job would be the smells. You get a variety of different smells with a lot of different medical calls and situations. In conclusion they could be described as” they steam the nostrils”.
5. What schooling did you need to become an EMT?
– I needed to pass an EMT school and pass the National Registry which is required from every EMT in the state of California.
6. What obstacles did you face in becoming an EMT?
– The testing has to be the most difficult a long with memorization. The national registry is horrible read emt book and cover emergencies like caridiac
7. What is the worst call you have ever got?
-A man fell through a rock crusher, he fell through and employee pushed the emergency stop button but if he would of fell thorugh it would have been quicker he would have less damamge and now he is brain dead.
8.What is the best call you ever gotten?
-Any call in which you can help someone is a good call.
9.What Advice would you give me while entering this career?
-Study a lot and know all that you need to know and that there is a book way and a field way. No matter what teachers teach you you will learn a totally different way while working . Need to stay in scope of practice. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.
Vanessa M Singh
7870 E Viewmount
Anaheim, CA 92808
(714)855-6133
vanessaxc06@yahoo.com
OBJECTIVE
I am an energetic friendly person. I love working in a team and meeting new people. I just graduated high school and soon to be attending Orange Coast College and Mt. Sac to take Emergency Medical and Fire Technology classes. I have been an active member of Anaheim Fire Department explorer program where I have participated in: ride alongs, public speaking opportunities and much more. I have a passion for firefighting and currently on the path to becoming a Firefighter/ Paramedic. I have much experience volunteering with many organizations and companies. I love helping people and it is something that holds very much importance to me. I am a punctual, dedicated and hard working person. I guarantee I will do
every task thoroughly and reputable.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Allergan , Irvine, CA
externship
06/2011 – 08/2011
I was fortunate to receive the opportunity from Girls Incorporated (a non- profit I volunteer with) to do an externship with Allergan Medical Company. While at Allergan I participated in many activities that involved meeting or working with people which I loved. Additionally I worked with the department “Labeling and Packaging” where I learned how to obsolete artwork on the computer. My strengths are working in a team and working with people.
EDUCATION
Canyon High School Anaheim, CA 2008 – 2012
I graduate high school June 14, 2012. In high school I:
ran cross country and track
won the Lucile Miller Wright national scholarship of $15,000
Member of the clubs: Red Cross, FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), Make a Wish and ECO club
Active member and secretary of Anaheim Fire Department Explorers (still currently)
Active member of Girls Incorporated (still currently)
volunteered at YMCA as a L.I. T (Leader in Training) summer camp for the summers of 2009 and 2010
Externship at Allergan Medical company summer of 2011
Externship at Anaheim Fire Department summer of 2012
SKILLS
CPR Certified
BLS Certified
Proficient in:
Microsoft word
PowerPoint
Excellent communication skills
attitude
Positive Hard worker
Basic to Proficient knowledge of:
• Ropes and knots
• Power tools: Jaws of Life, spreaders, Cutters and Combi.
• Hose lays
• Fire behavior
• Ventilation
• Knowledge of how to change a tire
• Basic Emergency Medical skills
occprofstudies4artists 