Rookie Firefighter Josh Sattley

One Shift in the Life of a Rookie

04:00 Wake up, Kiss the kids and wife goodbye and head out to work, 96 miles…. one way

06:00 Arrive at work ready to go, grab my bag out of my car and walk over to the station

06:05 Relieve the other firefighter on the engine, remove his turnouts and put mine on the rig, check my SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus) make sure it’s full, see if there is enough medical gloves and O2.

06:10 Go up stairs and sign in, check the “REDBOOK” see what on the schedule for the day…..Wild land training 0900… Hydrate!

06:15 Change into PT gear

06:20 make sure coffee is ready, kitchen sinks are full and ready to go, and newspaper is out.

06:30 Go to the library AKA “Rookie Lounge” to catch up with the other rookies and get filled in on their shift and drills, check work Emails.

06:45 Wake-up call sounds or intercomm, Start to prepare for my daily drill, memorize specifications on Hurst hydraulic equipment.

07:00 Raise the flag out front at the 911 memorial site.

07:05 Gear up…. full turnouts, SCBA, axe belt, practice ladders evolutions with other rookies

07:35 dress down and place gear back on rig

07:45 Water up, head into gym, PT time.

07:58 Tones go off Red (engine)and Blue( rescue) Light, slide the fire pole downstairs and unplug the rig open door and grab the call print out and hop in, Medical Aide 235 Rodeo injury Fall.

08:00 arrive on scene run out of rig, remember to grab radio, get medical box, O2 bottle and ECG monitor.

08:02 Hustle into the house, Let the Medics do their thing, get blood pressure, get pulse, hook up EKG, get a blood sugar, help apply traction splint to broken femur. Get the patient on the scoop strecher and head out to the rig.

08:20 Ambulance is off and we clear the call and head back to the station.

08:25 Hop out of the engine and help back the rig into station

08:29 Run upstairs and shower, shave and get ready have to be early for the wild land drill.

08:50 Clean up coffee table newspapers coffee mugs and dishes.

08:57 Get the cooler fill with drinks and ready for our drill.

09:00 Announcement is made over the intercom to head out, go to Franklin canyon for our drill.

09:15 We arrive put on all our wild land gear and assemble by the Chief’s car.

09:30 Practice a wild fire evolution, cut line (clearing brush away from the fire)

11:45 Clean up head back for lunch.

12:00 Lunch eat up and be the first to the dishes.

12:20 Finish cleaning the kitchen and take out the trash.

12:30 “Down Time” Study for my drill on Hurst hydraulic tools, AKA “The Jaws of Life.” I will memorize specifications uses and maintenance so that I can be safe and effective if we need to use them on a call.

13:55 Blue light Red light , Tones go off for a Call, for a TA, traffic accident, on Wilshire and Santa Monica.

13:58 Get on seen and see 2 cars involved with possible victims on the ground, 2 all together one with open fractures to both legs; the other had a laceration her head. Help package them up, get vitals, set up IVs, dressings and Spinal Immobilization.

14:05 The medics are both in the back with the patients so I’ll jump in and drive to the hospital.

14:35 After getting the hospital and dropping off the patients I’ ll get back on the engine and well head on back to the station.

14:45 Start cleaning my Detail (station chores).

15:20 Finnish my detail and set up to present my drill, Get out all the tools and equipment and let my Captain know I’m ready, than I give my drill.

16:02 Clean up after my drill.

16:03 Announcement over the intercom “Floor Watch for a station tour”.

16:05 Meet the visitors and introduce myself, show them around, well look at the engine the old 1923 Arens Fox antique Fire engine , I’ ll pull out tools and equipment for the kids and slide the fire pole, Answer all questions and take pictures of family by the truck.

17:00 Head up to t the kitchen to see if the cook needs help.

17:10 Set out the dishes, water and condiments, wash all the dishes in the sink clean up around the kitchen.

17:15 Tones go off, Lights shine red, “engine one fire alarm and 225 N. crescent” hustle to the engine.

17:16 Put on all my turnouts and get in my seat.

17:19 We arrive on seen, multi-family apartment building with the alarms going off.

17:20 Grab the fire extinguisher and tool roll and meet the captain at the front door.

17:02 Captain Opens the Knox box to get the residences’ master keys so we can get in and figure out what is going on.

17:05 We arrive at the alarm panel and see a pull station has been triggered.

17:15 We found the pull station and reset the system, False Alarm.

17:30 Return to Station.

18:00 Dinner get in the end of line and get my food.

18:10 Finish and hurry to the dishes.

18:30 Finish cleaning up the kitchen and take out the trash.

19:00 Take down the flag, in front of the station at the 9-11 memorial garden

19:20 “down time”, study for my next drill and upcoming test.

22:00 Shower and get ready for bed.

22:35 walk the station and make sure kitchen is clean, and coffee is ready for the next morning.

22:40 go to bed.

01:06 Tones, Red light Blue light, call for chest pain at 535 N. Rexford.

01:30 Clear call head back to station.

01:58 Back to bed.

04:30 Red light, yellow light (battalion), Green light (truck), Blue light, Alarm activation at the high school, pull station False alarm.

04:55 Go back to station.

05:02 Back to bed.

05:45 Wake up DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN, until 08:00 the next morning when my relief comes in.