5 THINGS FIREHOUSE SUBS FIREFIGHTERS WANT YOU TO KNOW
5 THINGS FIREHOUSE SUBS FIREFIGHTERS WANT YOU TO KNOW
International Firefighters’ Day started in 1999 as a way to say thank you to first responders for all that they do to keep our communities safe worldwide. It is a time to honor the lives of fallen firefighters and reflect on the sacrifices and dangers these heroes face every day.
We asked five Firehouse Subs franchisees and team members – with a combined 90+ years of active duty and volunteer firefighting experience – for one thing that they want the general public to know about life as a first responder. Here are their answers:
1. WE STRIVE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY AS MUCH WE SAVE LIVES
One thing that the general public is not aware of about being a first responder and firefighter is that we don’t just save lives, but we also always try to help our community with whatever the current need is in whatever way we can. Sometimes that includes responding to calls, staying calm in an emergency, or just listening to people and doing what we can do to help them out of a bad situation.
- Lyric Murphy, Current Macclenny Fire-Rescue Firefighter
Home Restaurant: Macclenny, FL
2. IT’S A LIFELONG, HEARTFELT COMMITMENT
To quote an article written by Mark Moorhead in 1992, “It is often said that firefighting gets in your blood.” However, that’s not true. If you become one of us, it gets in your heart.
- Bob Gregg, Current Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department Firefighter
Home Restaurant: Cleveland, OH
3. COMMUNITY SUPPORT IS ESSENTIAL
When a first responder goes to work, we can see some pretty terrible things. We see people at their lowest points and within hours of witnessing a tragedy, you may see us at our kid’s soccer game pretending that everything is fine. To be a first responder, you need an awesome support group, whether it be family, friends, clubs, etc.
- Olimpia Panella, Former Milton Fire Department Firefighter
Home Restaurant: Ontario, Canada
4. A SIMPLE ‘THANK YOU’ GOES A LONG WAY
It’s important to remember that first responders are just like every other human. We have emotions and feel the pain of those we help. We are affected by the incidents and if we seem like we are not showing emotion, it’s not because we don’t care. One time after finishing a shift at Firehouse Subs, I showed up to a pediatric cardiac arrest call. I was one of a few onsite to help during the incident and afterwards, the older sibling in the family hugged me and said ‘thank you’ for helping her brother. Moments like those really stick with you.
- Robbie Carroll, Former Rural Metro Fire Department Firefighter
Home Restaurant: Crossville, TN
5. TIME IS OUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET
The work schedule is awesome and has played a huge part in helping me become a franchisee. Some shifts are 48 hours on, with the rest of the week off or on call, which allowed me time to get the restaurant business started. However, at the same time, the schedule can be really taxing and challenging when it comes to missing holidays, birthdays, special events and more.
- Chris Morris, Former Idaho National Laboratory Fire Department Fire Captain
Home Restaurant: Idaho Falls, ID
For more information on the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, or to find out how you can help support firefighters and first responders, visit: https://firehousesubsfoundation.org/
Photo cutline: Firehouse Subs franchisee Olimpia Panella, a former Milton Fire Department firefighter, scaling a wall during a training drill.