However, firefighting can be physically demanding, Formigli explained, because each volunteer wears up to 50 pounds of equipment and must carry a flashlight, ax and a forcible entry tool when fighting a fire. Volunteers are judged on how they act on duty, not on their sex, she explained. Once you prove yourself as a firefighter, you are accepted. Sara Romans, a junior criminal justice major, also stressed the importance of dedication in determining a good firefighter. Romans, who began last spring at Aetna to help on ambulance calls, is now a probationary firefighter in the midst of her training.
Romans enjoys volunteering for the excitement and mystery that every alarm entails.
Each call also offers opportunities to learn techniques from experienced officers and paramedics. She integrates volunteering with her computer skills by upgrading local area maps for the station. She also enjoys socializing at the station, where she met her fiancee. Through their physical and emotional experiences, they discover their strengths and overcome their weaknesses, as they witness day to day situations of life and death.