Phil Routhier is passionate about dedicating his time to helping his local community as a firefighter maintaining health and safety and supporting special community events.
A firefighter takes on many important roles in their neighborhood and local community. They stand as someone young kids can look up to and someone everyone in the community can respect and rely on in times of danger and need.
Firefighters go through extensive training to ensure they can take on any call they receive and maintain health and safety of the public quickly and effectively. These brave individuals must be able to drop everything at a moment’s notice to respond to a call, sometimes during dinner or in the middle of the night.
Training for firefighters typically involves a series of written and physical exams certified by the National Fire Protection Association as well as background checks and EMT certifications. During training, Phil Routhier acquired great knowledge and many new skills including:
- Handling rescue tools such as axes and ladders
- Utilizing extinguishers
- Effective firefighting techniques and strategies
- Preventing fires
- Handling hazardous materials
- Performing emergency medical procedures
In addition, firefighters will also often stand up volunteer at other local events, special occasions, and community activities around the town. For Phil Routhier it is such a rewarding experience to be able to give back to his local community. He loves sharing his work with others and meeting with kids to let them try on equipment, ride in the trucks, and feel inspired about becoming caring and hardworking community members in the future.
In many ways, Phil Routhier can compare his passion for scuba diving with his work as a firefighter. As with scuba diving, maintaining the roles and responsibilities of a firefighter allows him to stay in good shape and physical condition while also keeping his mind sharp. Both of these activities also include a great amount of unpredictability. Each time he goes out to respond to a call or takes a dive, he doesn’t know exactly what to expect and must be prepared for anything. The thrill and excitement of firefighting and scuba diving keeps Phil Routhier craving more adventures and opportunities to push himself to new limits.