I Love a Fire Fighter: What the Family Needs to Know | 
 enlarge | Author: Ellen Kirschman
Publisher: The Guilford Press
Category: Book
List Price: $15.95
Buy New: $9.88
You Save: $6.07 (38%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 27022
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 299
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 6 x 0.9
ISBN: 1593850638
Dewey Decimal Number: 363.37019
EAN: 9781593850630
ASIN: 1593850638
Publication Date: August 11, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Patterned on the outstanding success of I Love a Cop, this is the first book of its kind written exclusively for fire fighters and their families. Challenging two-dimensional stereotypes, Dr. Ellen Kirschman portrays fire fighters as they really are: complex men and women doing one of the world's toughest jobs and trying to fit comfortably into two families-the one at the firehouse and the one at home. I Love a Fire Fighter takes us on a journey from stationhouse to four-alarm blaze, from a harrowing ride with paramedics to a family dealing with shift work. Along the way, Dr. Kirschman addresses occupational health and safety issues along with domestic concerns including unpredictable schedules, lack of communication, and anxiety. Vivid anecdotes and practical tips show families how they can pull together when job stress threatens to spill over onto home turf, and shed light on what spouses and partners can do to help themselves, their mates, and their children live with the "best job in the world."
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Real life advice in an easy to read format October 13, 2008
I've been a firefighter's wife for 15 years. It wasn't until after our department suffered a tragic loss that I found myself struggling with what never used to bother me. I purchased this book with the intention of "previewing" it so that I could recommend it to the rookies' spouses. I am so glad that I did! It is well written and in every day language that ensures you can relate to the situations that are covered. Anyone with a firefighter in their family should read this book.
 The fire service September 9, 2008
I had my wife read this book. I thought it would shed some light on the life of a firefighter and really help her see things through my eyes. She did read it, but I felt like it really brings out all of the negatives in the fire service instead of all the GOOD things that come from being a firefighter. Sure, it touched on some good things, but I really feel like it had a lot of downfalls. I do agree that the life of a firefighter and how the family plays in can be stressful, at times the feeling of being alone for my wife, bringing the "baggage" if you will from calls home, etc. BUT, for me and my family the fire service has treated us very well. I really don't think this book gives the fire service a fair chance. My wife told me "this book isn't anything like our life". Sure the job is dangerous, can be extremely stressful, and at times I am away from home for a period of time, but it has been one of the best things in my life. Others may disagree with my stance on this book, but that was my take on it...
You either get this or you don't April 22, 2008
I have been with my firefighter husband well over 15 years and have always wished for so much - one being this book.
No one on the outside can really get the job unless you live it and even when you live it you don't always understand it. The Dr. states issues that I have always wanted to communicate and put out there but never knew how. There has always been things I have wanted my man to do but never knew how to communicate it to him without having him withdraw. There are now practical things we just never thought about that have been put into place so we can work more together than against one another.
She simplifies it - she makes it easy to get. I get it now. I wish that my husband was the one that made me get it but thats for another book.
What Company Officers Need to Know December 15, 2007
This book has an incomplete title. I think it should be required reading for company officers, shift commanders, and chiefs. Employees are a valuable asset and understanding that we are all the same, yet different will help staff officers preserve those assets. The book may be a little too detailed and not "fuzzy" enough for some family members, but those who are truly interested in what their firefighter relative does at work will benefit from the book. Considering the current ratio of male-to-female firefighters in the US today, I thought the book paid adequate attention to female FFs and their perspective. The book also discusses couples that are FFs or FF/law enforcement. Read the Book. It's worth your time.
Some good points... June 5, 2007
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
First, I'll counter J. Brown's review above - the book does not exclusively apply to male firefighters, but given that the vast majority of firefighters in the world are men, it does focus primarily on that.
Now, moving on to the book. I am a (volunteer) firefighter, grew up in a fire family, and work as a 911 dispatcher. I'm pretty familiar with this side of the fence. I bought this book for my significant other, who occasionally has some issues with my running out at all hours. I decided to read the book before I gave it to her, because I wanted to be sure it was worth reading and a fair description of things. Kirschman obviously spent a lot of time on her research and has a pretty good grasp of things - not perfect, but far better than most.
The book makes a lot of good points. It goes into detail about a lot of our daily grind, the things we face, and the ups and downs of the fire service. She obviously tried to understand what we do. No, she didn't do a perfect job, but I don't expect that from someone who is doing research and doesn't feel the call.
She makes quite a few good suggestions - learn to listen, learn to read moods, and decide how much you *really* want to know about what we do in our days. The social network (support network, she calls it) is a major aspect of the fire service, and while she suggests working to grow it, she doesn't make a lot of suggestions how.
My biggest gripe? It seems like Kirschman has a bit of an ax to grind about women in the fire service. I'll make it clear, lest someone call me sexist. My mother was a firefighter. One of my best friends is a female firefighter. I really don't give a rat's hind end what gender you are or what plumbing you have - I need to know that when bad things start happening I can trust you (male or female) to do a job to protect all of us.
So. If you're a firefighter, get this book for your loved ones. If you're a firefighter's loved one, you owe it to your relationship to get this book. Emergency services are hard on relationships. This is a good start.
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