Compare+and+Contrast

5/3/10 Police Officers and Firefighters Every little kid dreams of becoming a fireman or a police officer when they grow up. There are numerous differences, as well as similarities, between police officers and firemen. Most people say that they are compared as apples to oranges when it comes to their job descriptions and what their daily life is like. Even their differences are similar because it is all for a good cause to help our society and keep our public and environment safe.

Firefighters are most obviously recognized by their big protective uniforms and their yellow or red helmets. The uniform is called Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), or bunker gear. The uniform is always turned inside out when removed, so when responding to their next call, they can don their gear as fast as possible. They wear steel-toed, insulated rubber boots, a helmet with goggles, and insulated pants and jacket. They carry a radio and a flashlight on them at all times. The primary function of their uniform is to keep them safe from the heat of the fire. To provide breathable air when there is not enough oxygen, a firefighter will most often use what is called a Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. It is compressed air carried in a high-pressure tank that is exerted into a mask or mouth piece they wear. Firemen use several different types of equipment for their job. Everyone knows of the big red fire truck driven everywhere they go to respond to a call. A fireman’s primary weapon for his job is most likely going to be the fire hose. Almost every call they respond to needs a hose to eliminate a fire. Another key instrument is going to be the long ladders from the fire engines that can reach up to 110 feet high. The ladders are extremely useful to reach the tall buildings when fighting fires, and the high windows to help rescue victims.

When most people think of a fireman’s job, they think only about them fighting fires. Firemen do much more than that. On every crew, almost every fireman is a certified Emergency Medical Technician. Firemen are usually the first ones to arrive on the scene of any accident, because they can handle medical issues as well as fires. An EMT can administer CPR, and knows basic first aid to asses a victim and get them the help they need until an ambulance arrives to transport them to the hospital. Both firemen and police officers are very courageous and have dangerous jobs. More often than not people seem to have a different aspect between the two departments. Although I consider them both heroes, most people only consider firemen to be. They have a different perspective on police officers because they uphold the law, so most often when people come into contact with a police officer, they get in trouble.

Police officers are closely related to firemen when looking at the big picture. The black uniforms of a police officer are most recognized by civilians. The duty belt worn by a police officer has numerous weapons for a police officer to defend themselves if need be. As you know they almost always carry a handgun as their primary weapon of defense. Also on their belt are handcuffs, OC spray to subdue victims when needed, a baton, and flashlight. Police officers also wear a bullet-proof vest for protection. For communication they have a radio attached to their belt, as well as one in their car.

A police officers’ job is to protect society and make sure that the laws are being obeyed. They patrol the streets and public areas. While out on the streets, they look for traffic violations, such as speeding, not using turn signals, not stopping at stop signs, running red lights, and many more. Officers must know exactly what the laws are regarding these infractions. Officers respond to many different types of calls. From car wrecks to burglaries, they do it all. Police officers are often thought of as the bad guys, because most contact with them results in a ticket of some sort. But in reality, they are the ones responsible for keeping our cities safe from harm. Without police officers, burglars, murderers, rapists and other criminals would be free to roam the streets.

Although police officers and firefighters have different duties, their jobs are also very closely related. They are both here to protect us and keep our neighborhoods and cities safe from harm. Whether it is fighting a fire, arresting a criminal, or helping someone that has been in a car wreck, they are out there to keep us safe. Both jobs are very tough and strenuous, but often rewarding as well.