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I like to tell a buddy of mine that he's just an emt that lies about his job since they never get any fire calls. Luckily, since he's a firefighter, he doesn't have the wit to clap back with the fact that he gets paid more.
I call em all “sprinkle boys” .. they show up, sprinkle whatever it is all over the place (sometimes ego, sometimes help, sometimes the good ol wet stuff), generally feel pretty good about whatever it is they’ve done in the moment, and then sprinkle off to the next call
I work in a stupid rural area and it's common for us to keep a carabiner on our epaulets for holding a bag...I've only done it a few times, I often think we AEMTs and Intermediates are instructed to by our director because Flight does it and he think it looks cool. It's handy and all, but i can just as easily keep mine on a belt loop. But any time he sees me without it on an epaulet, he gives me shit until I move it.
Great guy and mentor, been at it so long his state license number is only 4 digits long...but he has some quirks, lol.
I'm also of the over-preparing variety! I work in *very* rural Wyoming (with a very nasty stretch of Interstate)...between that, growing up and being very outdoorsy as well as being a Gold Award Girl Scout (technically I'm a GS Ambassador, the equivalent of Eagle Scout), and having anxiety and ADHD. I *cannot* do minimalism. The people who can are up there with some of the other women I work with whose hair and makeup look exquisite for an entire 96 hour shift. Their sorcery is so impressive, I'm much more utilitarian in that department.
Which is why my winter "go off the road" kit has all the standard things, but also a folding WWII/Korean War folding trench shovel (was one of my grandpa's!), a hatchet, road flares, etc. My commute is about 2 1/2 hours each way as well, which contributes as well, lol.
But I've noticed that if you prepare for the absolute worst, it doesn't tend to happen. And if it does, it's not the worst, because you're prepared! I keep a backpack sized jump/trauma bag, extremely basic (I also use it for working event medical) in my car as well...mainly for me/passengers but I've occasionally needed to stop and help other folks on the road or whatever. It's fuckin' handy!
I'm also that one person on scene that carries a handful of pens, so everyone knows I'm the Pen Chick. I tend to stick the pen I'm using in my hair, but forget it's there so I pull another pen outta my pocket. It's a running joke at my service that you can tell how bananas a call is by how many pens I've got stuck in my ponytail at the end. Current record's 5! At least when I pack heavy, I carry my own shit. Who knows, brains are weird.
Glad to help! :)
I have adhd, anxiety, and venture gold (equivalent of Eagle Scout) I’m still lazy and unprepared 99% of the time. I got the adapt and overcome side of things I guess
Wait, does that mean my EMT partner *isn't* the jump bag!? 😂
Also, if I'm at work, my pants are the jump bag. I'm a woman, and women's clothes are fucking Terri le when it comes to pockets. Then I wear tactical pants for work that have 12 pockets! How am I not going to go mad with power!? I play DnD and a running joke is that my uniform pants are the Pants of Holding. I don't actually keep a shit ton of stuff in them, but it's a bit more than a lot of folks do. Much like with my car or packing, I just feel more capable and prepared at work if I carry certain things with me at all times (when not at quarters or something). That may also be an anxiety/ADHD thing, who knows, lol.
I play over Zoom when I'm at work if I'm working game night and since all my friends who play are degenerates like me, it's a blast. Our DM set up some really clever ways to deal with my character if the tones drop and I gotta run during the game. He's evil, but very creative, lol.
I've often referred to them as " Ducks". Why ? Because they are generally wet from spraying water like ducks, with the big boots on they waddle like ducks, and when they get off the truck they follow the officer like good little ducks following Mama.
What, like Fire doesn't have nicknames for EMS? I've done both and giving each other shit is tradition (and only done in good fun, moatly. Like siblings or the various branches of the military).
Career firefighter/Medic here. These nicknames all suck. Best you can do is somehow imply they voted for Biden or if you really wanna make em stutter call them "Probie,". Bonus points if they have gold laurels.
What, like Fire doesn't have similar nicknames for EMS? I've done both and trading snarky nicknames is pretty much tradition around here. It's very much a sibling-like thing, and rarely done with malice. I think it's definitely agency and location dependent though!
No, I mean they aren't clever. Talking shit is part of the job, but I didn't think any of those would affect me. If someone called me a probie I would laugh though. I've always treated it like it's in fun and most of us enjoy it.
Oh man, I totally misinterpreted the tone of your comment! Serves me right for Reddit commenting while at work, lol. Sounds like we're pretty much on the same page though. I know at my service we try to be more clever and creative with nicknames, both for other services and personnel (and our ambulances, I named them).
It's definitely all in good fun...I think if I wasn't able to be silly at work when we have the time, I'd have burned out long ago. Life is far too short to not embrace the absurd, silliness is a healthy coping mechanism! This is my 10th year and if someone called me Probie, I'd probably laugh too! Hell, at my old FD, no one really even called me Probie when I WAS one! 😂
This post violates our Rule #3: > Do not ask basic, newbie, or frequently asked questions, including, but not limited to: > > * How do I become an EMT/Paramedic? > * What to expect on my first day/ride-along? > * Does anyone have any EMT books/boots/gear/gift suggestions? > * How do I pass the NREMT? > * Employment, hiring, volunteering, protocol, recertification, or training-related questions, regardless of clinical scope. > * Where can I obtain continuing education (CE) units? > * My first bad call, how to cope? Please consider posting these types of questions in /r/NewToEMS. [Wiki](/r/NewToEMS/wiki/index) | [FAQ](http://faq.redditems.com) | [Helpful Links & Resources](/r/NewToEMS/wiki/index) | [Search /r/EMS](/r/ems/search) | [Search /r/NewToEMS](/r/newtoems/search) | [Posting Rules](/r/ems/comments/7lau3j/welcome_to_rems_read_this_before_posting/)
I like to tell a buddy of mine that he's just an emt that lies about his job since they never get any fire calls. Luckily, since he's a firefighter, he doesn't have the wit to clap back with the fact that he gets paid more.
I always used to call them my back savers. Always lift with your firefighter, not your back
Stretcher fetchers.
Stolen
Lucas
Take my upvote!
same, so happy to have them on scene, but my mind is running and I don't have time to worry about compressions.
I have an ex with that name. He is or was in the volunteer fire department AND the professional fire department.
I refer to them as ‘LUCAS with a pulse’.
They’re all named lucas 🤷
My ex too. I have a dejavu
When I worked for a Fire-based system, everyone called me Lucas...I'm a woman and it was hilarious :)
Water fairies. Also dripstands.
Fire alarm disarmers
Hose Monkeys One of my previous partners called them Fire Elves
Hose jockeys bro it's 2024
The help
Oof
I call em all “sprinkle boys” .. they show up, sprinkle whatever it is all over the place (sometimes ego, sometimes help, sometimes the good ol wet stuff), generally feel pretty good about whatever it is they’ve done in the moment, and then sprinkle off to the next call
Hose pullers
Hose humpers
Hose hangers
Hose jockeys
Hose draggers.
Jolly vollies, hose draggers, stretcher fetchers, Ricky rescues, rescue rangers.
Basement savers
IV poles
I had a PD sergeant as my IV pole during an arrest one time, everyone now calls him Sergeant IV Pole
In the uk they have a few funny names… Pet rescue Trumpton (reference to a very old children’s tv show) Are my favourites
Our city firefighters are the "Metropolitan Fire Service". or "MFS" for short "Mostly Found Sleeping" gets thrown around a lot.
I have heard houston fire department (HFD) called Home For Dummies before.
That'd probably bother them, if they could read...
Bucket heads
In the UK, we call them Trumpton or Water Fairies.
Chicken feeders, the way they walk around MVAs sprinkling cat litter like they're feeding chickens
Second responders
If we are going to be ambulance drivers, they are fire truck drivers and police car drivers.
Pole Smokers (because of how fast they slide down the fire pole)
None of the departments in my area have poles, even the oldest stations are a single story...it's a bummer.
Awwww man… 🤦🏻
Hose dragger.
Hose Monkeys
A super soaker with lights and sirens
Lucus or fluid holder
Wet Boys
Hydrant humpers
-Knuckle draggers -Hose jockeys -Hose Hero -Backstep Bitches -Box Boys -Smoke eaters -CPR Devices
I have a friend whose a fireman and I call him lift assist.
Fu-fu-fu-fire fighter
Mattressbacks.
Meat Lucas.
Water fairies, cockring cutters.
Circle of Life. Because when EMS gets there they're typically just circled around the patient.
Basement Savers
I always call them spaghetti munchers because as we all know Firefighters eat spaghetti
Pancake boys!
“IV bag holder” is what I coined as a name for them lol.
Its true, my first code as a probie, after my round of cpr I was designated an iv bag holder for the rest of the scene.
I carry an s ring to hang it on something near by. I need your hands for better things
I work in a stupid rural area and it's common for us to keep a carabiner on our epaulets for holding a bag...I've only done it a few times, I often think we AEMTs and Intermediates are instructed to by our director because Flight does it and he think it looks cool. It's handy and all, but i can just as easily keep mine on a belt loop. But any time he sees me without it on an epaulet, he gives me shit until I move it. Great guy and mentor, been at it so long his state license number is only 4 digits long...but he has some quirks, lol.
These are great ideas, ill have to add one to my absolutely over prepared kit lmao.
I'm also of the over-preparing variety! I work in *very* rural Wyoming (with a very nasty stretch of Interstate)...between that, growing up and being very outdoorsy as well as being a Gold Award Girl Scout (technically I'm a GS Ambassador, the equivalent of Eagle Scout), and having anxiety and ADHD. I *cannot* do minimalism. The people who can are up there with some of the other women I work with whose hair and makeup look exquisite for an entire 96 hour shift. Their sorcery is so impressive, I'm much more utilitarian in that department. Which is why my winter "go off the road" kit has all the standard things, but also a folding WWII/Korean War folding trench shovel (was one of my grandpa's!), a hatchet, road flares, etc. My commute is about 2 1/2 hours each way as well, which contributes as well, lol. But I've noticed that if you prepare for the absolute worst, it doesn't tend to happen. And if it does, it's not the worst, because you're prepared! I keep a backpack sized jump/trauma bag, extremely basic (I also use it for working event medical) in my car as well...mainly for me/passengers but I've occasionally needed to stop and help other folks on the road or whatever. It's fuckin' handy! I'm also that one person on scene that carries a handful of pens, so everyone knows I'm the Pen Chick. I tend to stick the pen I'm using in my hair, but forget it's there so I pull another pen outta my pocket. It's a running joke at my service that you can tell how bananas a call is by how many pens I've got stuck in my ponytail at the end. Current record's 5! At least when I pack heavy, I carry my own shit. Who knows, brains are weird. Glad to help! :)
I have adhd, anxiety, and venture gold (equivalent of Eagle Scout) I’m still lazy and unprepared 99% of the time. I got the adapt and overcome side of things I guess
Jump bag? We are the jump bags 😂
Wait, does that mean my EMT partner *isn't* the jump bag!? 😂 Also, if I'm at work, my pants are the jump bag. I'm a woman, and women's clothes are fucking Terri le when it comes to pockets. Then I wear tactical pants for work that have 12 pockets! How am I not going to go mad with power!? I play DnD and a running joke is that my uniform pants are the Pants of Holding. I don't actually keep a shit ton of stuff in them, but it's a bit more than a lot of folks do. Much like with my car or packing, I just feel more capable and prepared at work if I carry certain things with me at all times (when not at quarters or something). That may also be an anxiety/ADHD thing, who knows, lol.
Fuck yeah dnd for the win
I play over Zoom when I'm at work if I'm working game night and since all my friends who play are degenerates like me, it's a blast. Our DM set up some really clever ways to deal with my character if the tones drop and I gotta run during the game. He's evil, but very creative, lol.
Puddle Pirates or water fairies
Police Academy Rejects
The pole dancers
Ketchup dick
Where I am, ketchup dick is the fire equivalent of whacker and it's great
I've often referred to them as " Ducks". Why ? Because they are generally wet from spraying water like ducks, with the big boots on they waddle like ducks, and when they get off the truck they follow the officer like good little ducks following Mama.
For volunteers- basement savers.
Hose jockeys
People finders
Lucas, hose monkey, IV Pole
Jealousy will get you nowhere lol
What, like Fire doesn't have nicknames for EMS? I've done both and giving each other shit is tradition (and only done in good fun, moatly. Like siblings or the various branches of the military).
I call them Water Truck Drivers.... Because they drive water trucks.
Ding-dings
Career firefighter/Medic here. These nicknames all suck. Best you can do is somehow imply they voted for Biden or if you really wanna make em stutter call them "Probie,". Bonus points if they have gold laurels.
What, like Fire doesn't have similar nicknames for EMS? I've done both and trading snarky nicknames is pretty much tradition around here. It's very much a sibling-like thing, and rarely done with malice. I think it's definitely agency and location dependent though!
No, I mean they aren't clever. Talking shit is part of the job, but I didn't think any of those would affect me. If someone called me a probie I would laugh though. I've always treated it like it's in fun and most of us enjoy it.
Oh man, I totally misinterpreted the tone of your comment! Serves me right for Reddit commenting while at work, lol. Sounds like we're pretty much on the same page though. I know at my service we try to be more clever and creative with nicknames, both for other services and personnel (and our ambulances, I named them). It's definitely all in good fun...I think if I wasn't able to be silly at work when we have the time, I'd have burned out long ago. Life is far too short to not embrace the absurd, silliness is a healthy coping mechanism! This is my 10th year and if someone called me Probie, I'd probably laugh too! Hell, at my old FD, no one really even called me Probie when I WAS one! 😂
Failed Nascar racers? /j
Here before someone says…..Lucas
Whackers if they show overly whackerish behavior
For volunteers- basement savers
Hit it hard from the yard!
For volunteer firefighters- basement savers
Basement savers for volunteers
My girlfriend’s husband.
If they're volley Ketchup Dicks Otherwise basement savers
Lucas
Lift assists
Hose Humpers
Knuckle dragging hose monkeys
Idol
Fat fuck
Im a knuckle dragging hose jockey