What It's Really Like To Be A Firefighter
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- čas přidán 29. 04. 2015
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The Ritual That Helped Laura Ling Survive North Korea: skr.cm/NKrituals
Rituals with Laura Ling is a series that takes viewers on a journey through the psyche and habits of extraordinary individuals to find out how they survive, thrive, and gain focus. This episode shares the ritual of Greg Collaco, a San Francisco fireman who uses stair climbing to fight PTSI.
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Executive Producer: Laura Ling
Producer: Paige Keipper (Hansen)
Cinematographers: Alex Gerhard, Spencer Snider
Editor: Jordan Dertinger
A brave man for being a fire-fighter, but an even braver person for picking himself up after his breakdown. Seriously takes a special kind of person to do this type of work. Salute!
FrozenEternity Perfectly said.
+FrozenEternity True, very true. What an inspiration he is. Tkank you !!
I'm retired firefighter. Atlanta Georgia. I loved it and still miss it everyday
THE BEST--- FROM ATLANT
yes sister!!!!!!!!!!!!
is it anything like Chicago fire, and is everyone really close
How long where you in it ?
Started the fire academy last week. Couldn't be more excited to start my own story.
What did you do ? And are you taking college classes? I just got out of HS i.. really want to be a firefighter what do I do? Go to my local fire department?
Supreme Lasagna there's a few prerequisite classes you'll have to take and then you can enroll in the fire fighter 1 academy. But depending on where you want to work there will be all sorts of different requirements. I'd suggest doing a ride along with a local station and just talking to them!
Brandon Howard all be a firefighter soon myself can't Waite
how's the academy going? im currently getting into shape for the college academy. i did the college academy back in 2008 but fail due to not being able to do the physical work. i learned from my mistakes and now im going to try again.
Tyler Barnes I'm not in one yet I gota go to collage
This hits me hard. Lost my father (20+ year veteran firefighter) to suicide in 2010. His demons had no mercy on him. Things that could never be unseen. Crushing chest pains that would leave him breathless, sending him to the hospital only to leave with no diagnosed cause... but we all know what it was now.
As I head back in the direction I began 10 years ago, I'm scared. Not of the fire. Not of putting my life at risk for others. I'm afraid of the aftermath. Of my daughters faces replacing the deceased pediatric patients I have to see. I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it properly, and that I will fall into a darkness that I can't pull myself out of. Hoping I'm not making a mistake in pursuing my dream.
My heart goes out to all of our first responders suffering with PTSD. Please don't wait until it's too late to get help. Know that you are loved, and that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Everything has the possibility to get better
Wow, tks for sharing, just remember you didn't put those people whom you are saving in harms way, you are doing what you CAN to help them. We can't save them all, The faster we accept this the better we can handle these bad calls. PTSD is aweful, but there is always hope.
I'm so sorry man much love
This is a great video. It brings a needed dose of reality and appreciation to people who do not put their life on the line every day. I can relate to this video being a former Navy SEAL. Thank you for doing this.
Excellent video content! Excuse me for chiming in, I would love your initial thoughts. Have you heard about - Rozardner Lucky Interview Reality (do a search on google)? It is an awesome one of a kind guide for firefighter interview tips without the hard work. Ive heard some amazing things about it and my mate got excellent success with it.
Excellent video content! Sorry for chiming in, I would appreciate your thoughts. Have you ever tried - Rozardner Lucky Interview Reality (search on google)? It is a great one off product for firefighter interview tips without the hard work. Ive heard some incredible things about it and my best friend Jordan finally got great success with it.
I grew up with a father who was a volunteer firefighter. I saw his face when he came home from calls. I remember him trying to hide it so we, his kids didn't see it.
To all of you 1st responders, To the ones who rush headlong into the fire when even angels run away. To the ones who watch for smoke, who ignore their own fears to help us that can't help ourselves in our darkest hours.
Thank you.
It doesn't feel like enough to say, but, thank you.
My dads a volunteer firefighter too and I'm in classes now a lot of my uncles and cousins are in the fire service some paid some volunteers so I guess u could say it's a family thing
Never skips leg day, confirmed.
It was a great honor to work with Fireman Greg Collaco to discuss his struggle dealing with PTSI and how a stair stepping ritual saved his life. We greatly appreciate our firefighters and wish them all a wonderful National Firefighter Day today! #firefighters #nationalfirefighterday
Fuck you Seeker Stories, you almost made me cry...!
Seeker Stories Reminds me of the movie, Ladder 49. :'(
Thanks for the Video! Forgive me for chiming in, I would love your initial thoughts. Have you considered - Rozardner Lucky Interview Reality (probably on Google)? It is a good exclusive product for firefighter interview tips minus the hard work. Ive heard some super things about it and my m8 at very last got astronomical success with it.
Nice Video clip! Excuse me for butting in, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you considered - Rozardner Lucky Interview Reality (erm, check it on google should be there)? It is an awesome one off product for firefighter interview tips without the normal expense. Ive heard some pretty good things about it and my mate at last got excellent success with it.
Cheers for the Video! Sorry for butting in, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you researched - Rozardner Lucky Interview Reality (do a google search)? It is a great one of a kind guide for firefighter interview tips minus the hard work. Ive heard some pretty good things about it and my buddy after a lifetime of fighting got astronomical results with it.
firefighters ARE superheroes, and they just look like humans
Thanks a lot
You'll never see a fireman who thinks he's a hero, but it sure does mean a lot to us when people see us that way. Thanks
No hero's...Just good people.
dudes got the calves of arnold
Arnold has no lower body
Uncrowned hahah okay spongebob. that's why he won the Mr. Olympia 7 times, back when it wasn't about trying to look your biggest.
ImReadyD151 still doesnt dissuade the fact that he didnt work on his lower half
Uncrowned except for the fact that he did you fucking idiot
+ImReadyD151 yea Arnold's legs weren't all that great. he wasn't no Phil Heath
As an Ex-Volunteer Firefighter I can tell you, some of us were emotional. I didn't but I see and understand the pain we felt, for me the work was emotional void but I saw all the pain, joy and sorrow our deeds brought us. I think that I was too young to understand death. I think I still am. I try to share the feelings of others. Without understanding them. I think I was lucky not to feel. But my heart goes out to all those who try to make this world safer. 4 years in Force.
Thank you all.
DonRaynor Thank you for sharing your story too!
Ty you your service brother
I am a Jr fire fighter for a volunteer department and we went on a mva call on the free way and I can remember looking at the car and seing the body and the blood. It's something I will never forget. But at the same time It feels amazing when you can go and help someone when they call 911. Even the small things like fire alarms it feels like the right thing to respond
Thank you for speaking out on PTSD. It is far too often swept under the rug in the Fire Services. Hero's speak out.
this guy nailed it on the head. people, put on the uniform and see heroes, and the woman in distress, and all the people who are thankful, but the truth is it's not about that, it's about getting your gear on when the tones ring and being there when you're needed for the victims and for your brothers on the job, even if it means the end of your time. Brother, I am more than happy to hear you've overcome the urge to use and drink. Too many other first responders let themselves be defined by what they couldn't do and it takes a toll. It's a lifestyle that many want for the wrong reasons, and few achieve for the right reasons. One day you'll meet all your victims on the other side and they will thank you for caring and for being there when others weren't. That girl may have been lost, but one thing is for sure. While everybody was getting pictures, videos and posting all over social media about it, you were trying. And nobody can be mad at you for that. Keep up the good work brother and God Bless
+Mitch S I have to thank you for this comment, even if it doesn't personally involve me. By far the most sincere, and realistic thing ive read on youtube today lol. have a good one brother.
Your comment really got to me, I've been in this business for a few years now. Couldn't agree more brother.
couldn’t agree more, you put it into the best of words possible the effort is where it mattered in the end. you were the only person trying to truly save her and she will indefinitely thank you in the after life. god bless
Firefighter Greg Collaco of the SFFD turns to a cathartic stair stepping ritual to cope with PTSI induced by his emotionally taxing job.
Well hello there discovery 💡 what
it was always one of my dreams to be a firefighter, but here i am failing at EMT school it's so depressing. kinda cried watching this not gonna lie
you don't need to be in amazing shape but enough to where you're mobile enough to carry equipment like 50lbs on your back around without getting tired which is not too hard.
omgstoptakingnames Please don't give up. We need more people like you.
Alex Sandalis
really appreciate it man, im still on that grind but it just gets real discouraging sometimes you know?
omgstoptakingnames It's not going to be easy. It's going to be hard, embrace it and try and surround yourself with as many positive influences you can.
Yeah! Cried too!
Another truly inspiring story
Nothing is stronger than the heart of a volunteer! The people in the fire service have huge hearts helping people every day, but this makes them more susceptible to emotional injury...Thank your firefighters and police... Trust me, they deserve it.
I remember sitting in the den after a bad call. It was a dark room with recliners at our station. We had just listened to a girl scream for her parents until she died slowly. She was so young. She was trapped in a ball of steel and we worked to free her and others from it. I also worked another person (as a fire medic) in the opposite vehicle. The patient I was working also died, but I just remember listening to the screams throughout the call. It was difficult and distracting. I heard them fade to silence. It was all futile. The scene looked like a warzone. There were 4 dead. Later that night (in the den) I remember my old salty Captain starting to sob in the darkness of the room as we all began to decompress. Nobody said anything. We all sat there together in the silence. I felt my eyes well in tears as I listened to him. He finally spoke after his gentle sobbing subsided after about a minute. He stood up and said " It's like water Chinese water torture, one drip after another until you finally break. He put in his retirement that week. I think he did 27 years. I'm going on 15 years and I've seen some things. I used to count the number of people I have seen dead. Now I count on seeing a number of dead people
When I started watching this I thought wow Ive been doing the job for 27 years now and all the stuff Ive been through from line of duty death to close saves but just couldn't get patients through it, I though wow this guy doesn't have what this job is about. But continued watching ptsd is horrible he found a great way to deal with it, I think everyone has a point where its just too much with this job, I didn't find it on duty, my breaking point was finding my wife dead one morning on an off day and doing cpr on her while my 7 year old daughter watched while calling 911.......that was it for me that put me in the spiral, Im still in it because I cant find that fix in life being widowed sucks. Stairs suck even more but tomorrow at work im going to start climbing.
Wow tks for sharing, use this vidéo has a metaphor "one step at a time" find what will work for you. There is always that one call that messes you up. i havent had that breaking point yet. I just hope to never get it. Hang in there brother.
this week im taking my initial exam, hope i can become a firefighter for my community !!! thx for the motivation
Love this vidéo, what a great man ! Truly an inspiration. Been on the job for over 2 years now, revisit this video once in a while to remind me that the next call just might be the one that messes me up. I am gratefull that that call has not surfaced yet. Stay safe brothers
Luv this channel and god bless all the firefighters of the world and all the men and women who bravely serve their respected countries doing whatever job they do best.
Curtis Ayukawa Thank you for meaning well, but god has nothing to do with it.
mikemfd232 When did I say god had anything to do with what these people are doing? saying "god bless" is a an expression of good wishes and well being...
Curtis Ayukawa "I appreciate you", or "thank you" is a much better expression than "god bless". I'm not attacking you, just saying.
FUCKINMETALROCKS What an intelligent and thought provoking counter-argument. Thank you.
mikemfd232 That was simply a recommendation, similar to the one that you initially proposed in your reply. If an individual wishes to invoke that which is contrary to your believes, let him be. But that's just my opinion, God bless you and be well.
It's a job that has difficult situations that you must overcome, but that's in the job description; what isn't in the job description is that some of these situations will stay with you.. I find it easier to cope with a life that you just couldn't bring back, or a house that you could not save, if you are able to talk with another firefighter that was on scene or someone else about it and what it is that is giving you an issue.
I have always wanted to become a firefighter since I was 4 or 5 and watching videos makes me so happy, just looking at a station or truck makes me happy and makes me want to rush time to get to 16 to become one. I told somebody all the reasons why I want to be one and they said “ you sound like you would be a great chief.”
I know exactly how that feels and somehow through the wreckage in our minds we have to find peace with the things we see and the lives that we couldn't save and remember we still are human beings and we do feel emotions but in the end we should never forget the choice we made to do this, and that's what makes us unique
All of these Ritual videos are absolutely amazing. I love them.
I appreciate the coverage...but this is very mellodramatic. I'm a career firefighter. We're not all on the brink. While we do all hurt in different ways from the job.....we're not all on the borderline of sanity and dispair. I don't discount any feelings felt by my brother & sister firefighters.......but this video is aboslutely the extreme.
it is to a point but u have to understand there alot of FFer's and Medics who hide their feelings and dont talk about things for fear of being seen as weak...things have gotten better over the years and now there is more mental health help available like stress debriefing and counseling etc....dealing with what we deal with on a daily basis can be harder for some then for others.....i had student once precepting with me and we received a call for a car accident with fire needless to say the outcome was bad ...it was the first time this student had witnessed someones death and when we got back to the station he broke down was crying uncontrollably he nearly quit because of it
Did you work in a large city and respond to a lot of fires,I did for 28 year's I can say it was like a war zone. I am now 70 yr. old and still sometimes cant sleep at night because of some of the horrible memories.
I love the smell of waking into a station and smelling the structure fire in the gear. Everyone's gear tells a story. My helmet... It is like a trophy to me.. new and shiny when new.. not so much now
So true, the more that contaminates it the less effective it is.. but nobody ever respected a guy with new gear...
wash your gear as soon as you get back. You're poisoning yourself and your brothers. I totally get what you're saying, but clean your gear so you can get old and enjoy the memories.
SCBA was made for a reason?
Josh Roark maybe not new gear, but anyone who doesn't respect someone with clean gear is a moron!
MxMillerify A great way to break people who want to be "salty" is to ask them to think of those little kids that want to come up to you and talk to you when you're on a scene. You're exposing those little kids to all that crap on your gear so you can feel "salty".
I don't know any other profession where carrying around cancer causing substances on your uniform supposedly makes you "cool". It only makes you "cool" to people who aren't worth emulating.
I just started taking my Fire Tech classes in hopes to start the academy within this year. I can't wait to be a part of such a special career.
newfound appreciation for a profession I already thought I appreciated! Great video
Being a fire fighter is the most rewarding and best job ive ever have had the pleasure of doing i wouldn't trade it for any other job and i even do it for free.
I’m on the other side of this equation. Firefighters and paramedics saved my life.
I will never forget it. They comforted me too.
One firefighter held my hand on the way to the ER.
That may not sound like much
But it meant a lot to me.
I was delirious but his hand kept me centered
I had lost my wife. Our son was nine. I kept thinking my boy will be alone if I die.
I will never forget those guys.
When I saw the flashing lights it was like the Marines had landed.
I live in San Francisco.
This firefighter is brave for filming this.
It will help others.
im a firefighter and i got image that gets to me a lot about bad 10 50 i been on where young kids was killed and that hurt so much we try to save all but there no way to save all. i been a firefighter for 4 years i seen a lot but it well never stop me from doing what i love helping
To the chap with the honesty and part way of a solution ... I hope all those suffering in much the same fashion find their way...
Really glad to see this guy going after this problem head on. You don't suffer alone brother, we're all with you.
I wasn't ready for this OMG...
This one was very moving. I love these videos.
What a beautiful story, told with absolute eloquence! ♥️
What a great video!! So glad that this brings awareness to this issue. Thanks Greg for being a hero.
when he mentioned he lost his friend, heartbreaking!
Thank you guys, happy Thanksgiving
Bro, this man is a legend. He may look overweight but looking at the stair climb his legs are made of steel
I’m training to be a firefighter and I know there’s gonna be calls that mess me up but I also know that there’ll be calls which show me the joys of life and I know this is my calling because I’ve always felt like it was so yeah there’s gonna be tough times but we always carry the ppl we have saved with us and our fellow brothers and sisters in the force they make us stronger
This was beautiful!
God bless you brother :) greetings from Iceland. keep your momentum, u totally sparked me
Wonderful, thank you for sharing this.
I have been a Firefighter/EMT for 21years now I love my job I love my community. Their is so much that I bottle up inside me that I have to get rid of I just start walking next thing I know I've walked 20 miles just to clear my mind I love it
Volunteer Firefighter. very proud to be apart of the brotherhood. thank you for your service.
I'm a junior fire fighter and this is so true thank you for making this video
I'm going to be a firefighter. Today on this date I was suppose to go to work at Amazon, but my laziness made me stay at the apartment because I wanted to workout. So I came up with an excuse and told my Mom and my step dad that they're doing re modeling at Amazon (my step dad takes me to work because my car is in the shop, so it would've been my mom in the apt alone while she's studying) so I stayed on my phone. 30 mins later my mom came out of her room saying she smelled something burning, now I didn't think to much of it I just said "is there something on the stove burning or the dryer or sum?" Not caring that much. She said no. So I got up and once I stood up I got a whiff of something on fire. My step dad came out the bathroom, and we all walked around the apartment to find where it was coming from. My mom opened the dryer one more time, and inside the lint area down in the corner there was a fire that started in the dryer. So she panicked, and me and my step dad were moving swiftly while claiming her down at the same time, and since we're in a apartment you would think the fire extinguisher would be under the sink or somthing right? But it wasn't. Long story short firefighters pulled up after we put out the fire, but the way they pulled up in their gear uniform. But the way they was moving was fascinating to me. Now I know what I want to be on the side.
to some extend, not even close, I can feel what the firefighters had to go through. I grown up with nothing but respect to firefighters who brave all odds to save life and had witness many heroic actions. My experience in UN's Outreach, Protection & Intervention witness some deaths, families cries, delivering the bad news, and having bodyguards to protect me just in case the grieving families get aggressive. I can only guess how much more these Firefighters feel helpless as life flashes before them. They are my hero, please don't blame yourself, we know you did all you could but each of us do what we could. Thank you, Thank you so much for trying your best.
Keep fighting brother.
"Can you tell me about one of those time when you weren't able to save someone?" and the guy has tears in his eyes. OH MY GOD, GIVE THIS SWEETHEART A BREAK! His job is fucking hard!
I'm an auxiliary firefighter, we rarely have any intense emergencies in our area of responsibility.Those who respond daily to extreme cases are admirable. Bless them!
most people dont recover from those kinda of situations. props to him for over coming such a situation and continuing to save lives. SALUTE!
Amazing man. Firefighters are amazing people, people that run in when everyone else is running out. May not be superheroes, nobody is a superhero, but you are heroes. You have the limitations of being human, yet you still risk life and limb while knowing those limitations to save people you have never met in your life. It's nearly impossible for me to fathom the bravery shown by these great men and women.9/11, these brave men and women of the FDNY ran into the twin towers, each and every one of them knowing they probably won't come back out, but they left everything behind, everything they hold dear to run in and save people they have never met. I hope in my life I can even show a shred of the bravery these amazing men and women show every single day.
Us firefighters aren't anything too special. We're just given opportunities (or, the privilege) to take action - the same actions any decent human being would take - when people are in need.
We're all good at something, for some of us that just happens to be fighting fire. Anyone who has a job that betters society in some way, and almost all of them do, should be considered equally essential.
I'd be willing to bet you're as brave most firemen, we're all inherently altruistic creatures.
With all the terrible things you're exposed to in this job, you see even more great things and great people. Couldn't imagine doing anything else.
Thank you to all the service men and women who put themselves through this emotional grinder so that my family and I may be safe.
Namaste
:-)
Great video! It would be awesome to see another urban explorer themed video too if that is possible
Very educational thank you for the warning
Today I was sworn in at a volunteer fire department in their jr program until i turn 18 this summer and standing up there with my right hand raised in front of the general body felt kind of unreal. i know its not that big of a deal but i got a feeling of camaraderie that ive never felt before. I was extremely nervous but now im definitely sure that this is what I want to do.
Usually there will be professional counseling to attend traumatizing calls. It WILL help out in these issues. I really hope this station is supporting it to these guys.
It almost made me cry!
please keep doing rituals!!!
This is my new favorite series!
[ GreenApple ] Awesome!
Thank you so much
Thank you for this!
Bear
i love this channel!!!
Today I got to see a fire truck that went to the 9/11. 12 people went and only 1 came back.
I am so proud of you dad.
this is the hard part of our job it hits us hard
God bless our fire fighters.
Seriously, we don't need god's blessings. We need better equipment and more man power.
Lily Lord I for one wouldn't mind a bit more blessing from God. And of course better equipment and trucks would be helpful too.
I have a friend who was a NYC police officer for 18 years. he walked away one day and never went back. I asked him why and he said he had seen so much for so long that he became numb to the world and the bad people. The one that pushed him over the edge was when he found a baby in a suitcase dead because the parent didn't want it any more. After that he never went back.
god picks certain people to do things like Greg Colloco did
I always make sure to thank god for this new day
Seeing this encourages me more to be a fire fighter
Good job
I relate to this guy.
Let go of fear, let in the courage!
Part of it is the wide range of calls we face interior fire attack is intense, bad car accidents are intense medicals can be intense ,and that there's no let up we don't get a break really its one intense life threatening situation to the next after a years of it you judt become numb. Its hard to explain but a numbness , it makes it hard being a family man where your kids and wife have challenges that are a big deal to them but nothing to you. A good book for anyone who's changed alot and needs grounded is firefighter zen by hersch Wilson. Highly recommend it you can get it on Amazon too.
Dude has boulders for calves. Way to go, man
Firefighters have my utmost respect
In this together!
I like these.
Very good video
AMAZING!
Can you guys do an interview with an army vet to see his experiences and what he went through during his tours?
Oh I swear he is talking about my career. 15+ years and I remember the smells, what they wore, what was said of all my bad calls.
I ended up having a stroke in my late 20's ending my career. My short term is shot but weird my long term is spot on.
I'm like not crying
Firefighting is not for people like this man, but he is a brave man for doing it no matter what.
True heroes.
those calves are goals!
That was deep
You are not alone my brother
can someone please agree with me that this is without a doubt the best job in the world even considering all the shit we go through?
Hands down, its a privilege to do this job.
God Bless you guys. I hope to become a firefighter someday
+Steve Stack Good luck Steve, don't hope....do, as Yoda would say!
In my county they are doing a massive hiring for firefighters. Can you be overweight and still be a firefighter or emt?
I love my job with passion and respect.
best interview
what piano piece is this!!!!???? please help!? I want to play it for my percussion director for my final exam.
I can smell that structure gear from here lol
Greg im right there with you im the same way as a firefighter.