With the tragedy of September 11, a very good friend asked me why does anyone want to become a firefighter/EMT (Emergency Medical Technician)? Why does anyone want to enter a fire-engulfed building helping victims when the average person is running away from the fire? Why does anyone want to render medical aid to someone you had never met, provide life saving medical assistance from attending to extrication from an automobile to answering all types of medical emergencies?

As a volunteer of my neighborhood (Roslyn) fire department, I responded by saying that I could not imagine myself not being part of this worthwhile organization. I believe that becoming a firefighter/EMT is a calling. As a member of an all volunteer fire department, each member has a full time paid job; however when we are in our hometown fire district we have a calling to help our community, namely, to give back to the community in appreciation for all the things that we have been blessed with. One has a good feeling when helping a stranger with no expectation of a thank you.

During this week, Fire Prevention Week, we should all pause to pray for our fallen firefighters, police and emergency medical technicians, as well as the civilians that have died or are still missing in the World Trade Center disaster.

So please, the next time you see a person in their car with a flashing blue or green light, try to yield the right of way because he is enroute to rendering aid where seconds may make the difference between life and death.

Thomas Krauss