There is endless variety in the amazing city of Chicago. Some areas look like the suburbs, some are as busy as the highrise buildings portray. Crowds of people can be seen on Michigan Avenue, around Wrigley Field, and all around “the Loop. Everyone has their opinion of what people are like on the south side or the west, which team is better – the Sox or the Cubs. And amongst it all, the Chicago firefighters and paramedics seek for the safety and well-being of this great city.
Being married to a paramedic that works for the Chicago Fire Department, I have seen how arduous these medical personnel really work. What is a paramedic exactly? These are the men and women that provide emergency care, before arrival to the hospital. Their responsibility includes providing on-scene medical treatment for ill or injured individuals. No matter what the weather or if they are under-the-weather, these brave souls provide a generous service when they are working on their long 24-hour shifts.
For individuals who are looking to make the permanent move to the city of Chicago and join the ranks amongst the paramedics with the Chicago Fire Department, in particular, you must first pass a test. Many applicants try out and compete to join this training academy. After you are selected, you go through months of physical and intellectual training. I have seen the training vary – sometimes its 3 months, sometimes 5 months. But whatever the case may be, once your training is complete, then you are known as a CFD paramedic “candidate”, on a probationary period, for about a year. Finally, once that is complete, you advance officially to the CFD paramedic status.
How is life like on the job? Especially in the city of Chicago, the severe winds and winter weather can be a burden on these grueling professionals, further with its population of around 7,000,000. Some may think these men and women get to sleep during their 24-hour shift, but if you are stationed at a busy fire station, that is pretty rare. With crime high most especially in the West and South sides of Chicago, crimes are constant throughout the day and night. From heroin addicts to vehicular accidents, from disorderly drunks and the crimes of the intoxicated, diabetic patients and cardiac arrests, the loyal paramedics of CFD work incessant hours to bring relief to individuals and peace to their loved city.
