An important component of a prospective Firefighter/Medics training is the “ride-along”. You may also hear it called a “ride-out”. A ride-along is typically 8, 12 or 24 hours in length.
During your EMT class, you will be required to complete at least 1 ride-along during the semester. Those Firefighter/Medic candidates who are highly motivated, will ride-along many times with different crews in different fire departments, to witness first hand how paid professionals respond to emergencies.

The following are some guidelines that will help you to understand what a ride-along does, how you should act and how you can put yourself in a position to be invited back. This is advice that is based on widely accepted cultural norms within the fire service.

Everything we included below is based on those 3 basic rules. On a related note, you should approach everything you do in your career with those 3 things in mind – when you attend a class, take part in training, or interview for a job. Your reputation is something you need to develop and protect over the course of your career – start things off in a positive manner by approaching everything you do with a good attitude. Be humble and treat others with respect.
 

The details

Have a good attitude

While this doesn’t necessarily need explaining, as it relates to the fire service, there are some important things to keep in mind. Everyone you meet on the job has been in your shoes, so they understand that you don’t know everything. Be interested in the job. Ask questions. Try to soak up every detail. Pay attention when someone takes the time to teach you a skill or show you a piece of equipment.

You are a guest, act like one

Firefighters treat their station like a home. When you arrive, make sure you do as well. That means asking politely to use the restroom. Do not assume that food in the kitchen is yours to eat, or that the coffee is yours to drink. Wait to be invited to sit down at the kitchen table or to work out with the crew. When you are invited to sit down, make sure you are not sitting in a firefighters spot at the table. You also should not be reading the newspaper or watching TV. Remember, you’re there to learn.

Treat others with respect

When addressing others, use their rank and last name (example: Captain Smith, Firefighter Jones, etc). You may be asked to relax and address people by their first name. This is something you can feel out on your own, but by starting with rank and last name, you are showing respect for that organization and the individual.

Show up 30 minutes early

This is a rough guideline. Before you show up for a ride-along, it’s a good idea to call ahead and talk to a supervisor about things such as when shift change occurs, where to park, and what to bring. Your phone call should be placed at least 24 hours in advance of your ride-along date. Based on this conversation, pick a time to arrive that shows your interest level. If you arrive right on time or late, this will most likely be interpreted as disrespect. On the other hand, showing up an hour early is probably unnecessary. 30 minutes allows you time to meet the off-going crew, get your belongings in an appropriate place, and get ready for the day.

Dress appropriately

If you are doing a ride-along as a requirement for school, there may be a dress code outlined for you. Likewise, you may learn of some dress requirements when you call ahead and speak with a supervisor as was mentioned earlier. In the absence of those guidelines, the following is a safe bet:

2. Dark blue pants.
   Make sure they are ironed and that they are not baggy. Wear a black belt with a normal belt buckle.
3. A white (or solid color) shirt with a collar.
   No bright colors. Tuck it in to your pants – no exceptions.
4. Boots, with a steel toe, and a fresh coat of polish.
   There’s a good chance your boots will be noticed by the crew, although they might not mention it to you. The polish job is considered an indicator of how much you pay attention to detail and respect the job. The better the shine, the more time you put in to get it there. This is a time honored and simple way of making a good first impression.
5. No make-up, no jewelry, no hats.
   If you simply have to wear make-up, keep it simple and understated. Make sure to wear a watch, but keep earrings, necklaces etc at home or in your car.

Other dress code rules:
Have a clean shave
No shorts
No dresses or skirts

 
Keep in mind that you are not on a ride-along to make a fashion statement. You are there to learn. The more you blend in with the crew, the more opportunity you will have to learn. Dressing appropriately is the first step towards that process.

If you are just starting your career and don’t have these clothing items, you do have some options.

Jeans are acceptable for your first ride-along experience, and black tennis shoes may be worn in place of boots. It’s understandable that you may not have the money to invest in boots or work pants right away. If you are not dressed as we recommend, and you are just starting your career, make sure to mention to the crew that you are new to the field. If you follow the basic 3 rules we outlined in the beginning of this document, what you are wearing will probably not be heavily scrutinized.

Bring some type of food

Again, think of visiting someone’s home – bringing some type of goodie shows that you are interested in making friends; shows gratitude to them for inviting you to take part in their work-day; shows respect towards the fire service in general. Dessert dishes are good, if they are homemade even better. Ice cream, bagels or donuts are typical things that a ride-along would bring to the crew. Bagels are great because most likely you’ll be arriving in the morning when the shift starts, and most people will be looking to grab a bite of something to eat for breakfast – so your gift will be appreciated right away. If you do bring bagels, don’t forget the cream cheese!

Be ready to cook dinner or help out in the kitchen

Just as with any other task performed during the day, you should be volunteering to help out, or at least observe what others are doing. When it comes time for dinner, these same rules apply. Preparing and eating dinner is typically a big part of the day at a fire station. The crew may ask if you’d like to make dinner, you should be ready to prepare some type of dish, even if it’s just something simple like spaghetti. Learning how to cook can be an intimidating part of becoming a firefighter, so you should also feel comfortable letting the crew know if you are not ready to cook for others. Be honest, have a good attitude, and be willing to learn if someone is willing to show you around the kitchen while preparing dinner.

Be prepared for anything

This goes along with having a good attitude. We have outlined how you should dress, but you may also want to have clothes ready that you can change into for a workout. Remember, being invited to work out with the crew is a privilege – don’t assume it’s okay to join them. Bring your own lunch in a paper bag, don’t bring things that need to be refrigerated. Have some cash with you in case the crew steps out for a meal or a cup of coffee. Bring some energy bars in case you are away from the station all day running calls. If you are in a class at the time, bring a textbook so you can study if there is downtime. You want to always use your down time to improve yourself. To summarize: a backpack with workout clothes and running shoes, some cash, lunch and snack foods, and a book, are all appropriate things to bring.

Get clear direction about your role

When you arrive, it’s a good idea to find your supervisor (at a fire department ride-along, this will probably be the Captain), introduce yourself and ask about their expectations or rules you need to observe. Each supervisor will run their crew a little differently, and they may have some clear guidelines they want you to follow: some supervisors will allow a ride-along to interact with patients on a medical call, or help out with equipment. Other supervisors will ask you to only observe the work of others. You want to make sure you know exactly what is expected of you BEFORE you go on a call.

Have a clear idea of how long you will be staying

This is something you should discuss with the supervisor in your introductory conversation. Make sure that you are asking politely about how long you would like to stay, and not making an announcement. Example: “If it’s okay with you, I would like to ride-along until 4:30.” This puts the supervisor in a good position, as they are planning out their day, they know exactly what your needs are, yet you have treated them with the respect that allows them to ultimately make the decision of how long you’ll be allowed to stay. Remember that most crews will eat dinner around 5-7 pm, if you plan to leave, make sure it’s before or after dinner so as to not interrupt their meal. Make sure you have been invited before you assume that you can join the crew for dinner. If you are staying 24 hours, bring: a sleeping bag, a pillow, and the necessary bathroom/shower stuff.

Find the lowest ranking person on-duty, and ask if you can work alongside them

As a ride-along, you should be acting like a probationary firefighter – which means that you are constantly learning, cleaning, training, etc. You should not be in a recliner under any circumstances, and only sitting down if there is a meal to eat. To be able to work alongside a newly hired firefighter will be extremely valuable to you – you will be able to learn everything about the job from someone who is a few years ahead of you in the process.

Stay off of your cell phone

If you need to be close to your phone for family emergencies, keep the ringer on silent or vibrate. Talk to the crew, or the supervisor, and let them know you’ll be keeping your phone with you. In general, you should not be using the time spent during the ride-along talking with friends, or exchanging text messages. The best thing to do is to turn the phone off, and leave it in your car or backpack.

Don’t engage in gossip or jokes

It’s easy to feel comfortable after a short time as a ride-along with some crews, and you’ll feel tempted to join in during conversation regarding department issues, or when people crack jokes. Remember, you are a guest, and this is not your place. Some people may even try to test your resolve by inviting you to join them – don’t take the bait. You can politely turn down these invitations while being respectful of a crew and their conversations. Keep your conversation and questions to the job at hand, or things that are directly related to the career of a firefighter.

Leave on time, and thank the crew

When the ride-along is coming to an end, make sure you leave at the agreed upon time. Grab all your belongings and don’t leave anything behind for others to have to pick up for you. Thank the crew and the supervisor for their time, then leave the premises.