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Can I schedule a tour of the fire station?
Yes, if you or your group would like to tour our fire stations please complete and submit the "Station Tours" form under the Public Info tab. You can also schedule a date and time to tour the station and our apparatus. If you or your family would like a tour of the fire station simply stop in station 1, 42382 Highway 445 (next to Champ Cooper School), Monday thru Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00pm and a firefighter would be glad to help you.
Can I have the station come to a block party or our organization?
Yes, if your neighborhood is having a block party or your organization would like the fire department come to you please complete and submit the "Contact Us" form under the Public Info tab. We ask that you understand that the firefighters that will come are on duty, so they may arrive later than planned or have to leave unexpectedly to answer an emergency call.
Does the fire department re-charge fire extinguishers?
No, there are many licensed fire extinguisher companies in the area. Please conduct a web search for the most convenient company for you.
Why should I join?
It is the most amazing feeling to be able to help someone in need, and to be part of an organization that by its very nature does so much to make the community a better place. There are other, more tangible perks as well; the excitement of responding to a call, the rush of being ‘part of it,’ and the pride of being a trained professional.
What type of people volunteer?
Our department is made up of members of our community that come from many different walks of life. They are parents, brothers, sisters, and neighbors. We have nurses, realtors, teachers, plant workers, trade-workers, store clerks, over-the-road truck drivers, school bus drivers, commercial fishermen, and many other occupations represented as members. They are the people you see every day as you go about your day. They are people who want to be part of something that is committed to serving the community and reaching out to comfort those in distress.
Do I have to be a resident of Tangipahoa Parish to volunteer?
Yes and no. Our volunteer firefighters must reside in or very near to the Eighth Ward coverage area. Our Auxiliary members can reside outside the covereage area. We have members from neighboring St. Tammany Parish.
What area does the Eighth Ward VFD respond?
We respond to incidents in approximately 86 square miles.
The western boundary is Tangipahoa River.
The eastern boundary is the Tangiphoa/St. Tammany Parish Line.
The southern boundary is the mouth of the Tangipahoa River.
The northern boundary is a line at Chappapeela Road from the Tangiphoa River to the Tangipahoa/St Parish line.
What is the minimum age to join our Department?
You must be at least 18 years old before you can join as an Operations Member.
You must be between the ages of 16-17 to join as a Junior Firefighter.
What are the benefits?
If you ask every member of the Department what the benefits are, no two answers will be exactly alike. The vast majority would say that serving their community, having the security of knowing what to do in an emergency, and being able to reach out to render aid and comfort when someone is in their darkest hour are the greatest benefits.
What is the maximum age?
There is no maximum age for Operations Members, and you can be a Member as long as you are physically and mentally capable. We have some members in their sixties.
What are the physical requirements?
Each Operations applicant, volunteer or employee, is required to complete a non-DOT physical. This is conducted at our expense. A rule of thumb is that Operations applicants must have no physical or mental impairment that would render them unable to perform all practical skills required for that level of certification.
What is the application process?
Please check out the “Join Us” link on the home page. A chairperson of the Membership Committee will contact.
How much time is required?
Operations members are expected to participate in training that is conducted every Tuesday evening from 7:00pm to approximately 9:30pm. If interested, we also host training on various days and nights throughout the year for certifications and specialized training, and also have many community events. You will also be required to respond to a percentage of our incident calls. Exceptions are of course allowed. For instance, if you are required to be at work because of a plant turn-around you will be excused from the mandatory events.
Do I have to be first-aid certified to volunteer?
Yes; however, we provide all of the training and its associated costs. Most of our members are certified Emergency Medical Responders; while we also have many members certified as EMTs.
First Responder - The first responder level knows first aid, and CPR, and is used mainly for firefighters. SVRS does not use any first responders. In the future, first responders will be known as Emergency Medical Responders (EMR)
EMT - Basic (EMT-B). This is the entry level EMT. They have a basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology, along with a working knowledge of many of the diseases prevalent in the general population. They also are trained in bandaging wounds, and how to care for a multitude of different types of injuries. They can give a minimum number of drugs. In the future EMT-B will be identified as Emergency Medical Technicians.
How much does training cost?
The department absorbs the training costs if you successfully pass the instruction.
Do I have to purchase my own equipment?
No.
Could I get hurt?
Possibly. You're more likely to get hurt on duty than sitting at home watching TV, but less likely than going skydiving, dirt-bike racing, or driving on the roadways during high-traffic times. You have a much greater chance of getting injured playing any type of competitive sport. We have the equipment, skills, and training necessary to minimize any chance of injuries.
When I called 9-1-1, this person in jeans showed up in a pickup truck. Who are they?
All of the Eighth Ward VFD coverage area is still very rural, and even under the best of conditions, it might take a while for a firetruck or Acadian Ambulance to reach you, Because of this, Eight Ward VFD allows off-duty members to use their own vehicles to respond to nearby emergency calls. A person in plain clothes and privately owned vehicle (POV) is a member who has elected to leave his/her bed, dinner, gardening, family and friends, etc. and come to your assistance. In an emergency, time counts, so he/she may not have taken the time to change clothes and go to the station to get the firetruck.
Why did a firetruck come when I called 9-1-1 for a medical emergency?
A firetruck is automatically added for several types of serious emergencies, including difficulty breathing, altered level of consciousness, and chest pain calls, this serves two purposes. First, it provides additional manpower if needed. Sometimes the additional manpower is used to simply help load the patient into the ambulance.
Secondly, the firefighters can also start emergency care before the ambulance arrives on scene. Today, significantly more emergency calls are medical emergencies than are fire emergencies, so it’s possible that the closest ambulance may already be involved elsewhere. Oftentimes firefighters from our department ride to the hospital in the ambulance to provide emergency medical assistance for the Acadian crew.
What can I do to help in a medical emergency?
The best thing you can do is be prepared for it BEFORE it happens. There are several things you can do in advance that will make our job easier.
In advance:
- Provide large, visible, house numbers. If your house sits near the street, please put up large house numbers in a location where they will be lit at night, and visible from the street. If the house is further back from the street, please put large (4” or greater) reflective numbers on BOTH sides of the mailbox or other sign post. We may have to look for the numbers at night or in the rain, so the larger the numbers, the better. MINIMUM of 4” reflective.
- Provide clear, wide access roads and/or driveways. In rural areas, we frequently encounter driveways and private roads that are overgrown, and have limited clearance. Just because you can drive your subcompact through does not mean we can drive a Rescue Vehicle or Fire Truck through. Overgrown driveways significantly slow our response.
- Create a “File of Life” if someone in the family has a long-term medical condition. This file should contain a list of the patient’s vital information, including medical problems, medications, allergies, doctors, and any insurance cards.
- Learn CPR and First Aid. These two are the most important steps you can take in advance. In the event of a medical emergency, CPR and First Aid can keep a person alive until we arrive.
When you call.
- Light up the house and walkways. After you call 9-1-1, turn on the outside and inside lights. This will help to get our attention and also prevent us from tripping on items left out.
- Move furniture away from doors and hallways so we can have access to the patient and to allow room for the gurney.
- Lock the dog up. This step is important, no matter how small or how friendly your dog is. Dogs are very sensitive to the emotional atmosphere in a house, and when you get anxious or excited, they also get excited. Frequently in an emotional atmosphere, dogs will be protective of their “family” and treat responders as enemies.
I know that I’m having a medical emergency. Can I call you directly?
No! Please call 9-1-1. The station phones are not meant for emergencies, and are not monitored continuously. If we are on a call, outside washing the trucks, etc., your call may go unanswered. The 9-1-1 Center can dispatch additional units and can give pre-arrival instructions while we are in route.
What is a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order?
A DNR order is a medical/legal document that lists what advanced medical interventions should be performed on a person. It is generally seen with people who are in imminent danger of dying, such as elderly patients, or patients with terminal illnesses. Among some of the areas it covers include questions like “do you want CPR to be performed if you go into cardiac arrest,” or “Do you want to be mechanically ventilated if you stop breathing?” Many people who know they are dying, decide they want to “die with dignity,” and only receive pain medication and supplemental oxygen when their time comes. If you are elderly, or have a terminal illness, we recommend that you talk with your doctor about the topic.
Is an Advance Directive different from a DNR?
Yes. An Advanced Directive is a document drawn up by a lawyer that lists what actions are to be taken if you are no longer able to make your wishes known for your medical treatment. It only comes into effect when you are no longer able to make your desires known and is generally used to guide your family should you have a condition where your quality of life is diminished. This includes things like life support, feeding tubes, etc. We recommend that all adults discuss the topic with their family, and have a lawyer create the document. If the worst-case scenario happens, and you are critically injured in an accident, knowing your wishes will be one less thing your family needs to worry about. It also empowers you to maintain control of your life, even if you can no longer make your wishes known.
How do I get a DNR?
A DNR can only be created by your doctor. Discuss your thoughts and feelings with him/her, and decide what treatment options you want. Once you have decided, he/she can create the DNR and provide it to you. Store it in a safe but accessible location.
What if my family knows I do not want resuscitation, but I don’t have a DNR? OR, What if I have a DNR from my doctor, but it is not with me. Will you perform CPR anyways?
Unfortunately, Yes. By law, we can only honor a written DNR given to us at the time of the medical emergency. If the DNR is lost or not available, we must provide any and all medical treatment necessary to preserve life. Also, if we do have to start medical interventions because you cannot produce a valid DNR, DO NOT attempt to interfere with the treatment. Doing so can put you in serious danger of both criminal and civil penalties. The best advice to give is that once you have the DNR, store it in a secure but easily accessible location. A good idea is to seal it in a sandwich bag, and use a magnet to stick it to the refrigerator alongside your “File of Life.” You can make copies of the DNR and store/carry them as needed.
I was asked to sign a document when I didn't want to go to the hospital. Why was that?
The form is called a “Refusal of Care” form, and it documents that you do not want any further medical treatment from EMS at that moment in time. It does not preclude you from calling us back later if you change your mind. It does document that you are aware of the possible consequences of not seeking further medical care for your injury or medical condition. In short, the ONLY definitive way to treat/rule out an injury or illness is to see a doctor. We are not doctors, nor do we have the diagnostic equipment to rule out many medical problems. If you have a concealed injury or serious medical problem and it is left untreated, the end result could be death.
Can I get a copy of the run report from when I was transported?
Patient Care Reports (PCR) is governed by federal privacy laws, and is generally only available to the patient and the medical staff directly involved with the patient. Others may see the report ONLY if the patient signs a release. The rules are quite complicated and there are some specific exceptions.
My neighbor was taken away by ambulance last night. How can I find out what happened?
Ask him/her. That is the only way. As mentioned in the paragraph above, first responders are strictly limited on what patient information can be given out.
What should I do if I have an ambulance coming up behind me?
According to state law, you MUST pull over to the nearest shoulder and allow the emergency vehicle to pass. This is LAW. Pull to the shoulder and stop until the ambulance goes by. This is also true if an ambulance is approaching from the other direction, as long as the road does not have a central divider. If you are waiting at a red light and an ambulance comes up behind you, DO NOT pull into the intersection against the red light. Units will often try to go around stopped cars using the turning lane, or the breakdown lane, in which case stay were you are. If a unit does come up directly in back of you while you are stopped at a light, try to move to the side as long as you can do so safely. If you cannot safely move, wait until the light changes, then pull through the intersection and move to the right as soon as possible.
What are the ‘normal looking’ vehicles with the red lights on them? Because of the rural nature of much of many areas of Tangipahoa Parish, Eighth Ward VFD allows its off-duty members to use their personnel vehicles when responding to incidents close to their home. This allows us to reduce the time before medical interventions are started.
What should I do if I see one of them coming up behind me?
Please pull over and let them pass.
Do you guys turn on the lights and sirens to just cut through traffic or get through a red light faster?
Absolutely not. The only time the emergency light will be on is if we are going to a call. We sometimes also turn on the lights for safety when backing units.
I saw you coming up behind me at an intersection with the lights on, but after everyone got out of your way, you made a turn and shut the lights off. What gives?
Frequently, we will be responding to a call, and Dispatch will cancel us before we arrive. This often happens with motor vehicle accidents. People driving by will report the accident by cell phone, but when the police get there, they determine there is no need for fire/rescue, and cancel us.
Speaking of automobile accidents, what should I do if I see one?
Call 9-1-1 and give as much information as possible. Most important is a good location. On the interstate, give the nearest mile-marker, and if it's eastbound or westbound. On other roads, give the closest physical address or house number, or the nearest intersection. Also it's very helpful to tell the call-taker of how many cars are involved, descriptions of the vehicles involved (i.e. a red mini-van and blue pickup truck), and other pertinent information.
If someone is still inside the vehicle, should I pull them out?
YES and NO! For example, should the occupant be in imminent danger or life threathening injuries, use good judgement in moving the patient away from the accident scene. However, oving a person with neck or back injuries can result in permanent paralysis, or even death! If possible, many times it is best to leave the occupants in the vehicle to prevent further injury.
What is with the different types of sirens? Do they MEAN different things?
No. The different sounds are just additional ways to make you aware of our presence.
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