It's an issue that impacts every single one of us - our safety. However, the people who's job is to do just that - keep us safe - are becoming harder and harder to find.
The Rock Island Fire Department is having trouble recruiting firefighters.
"The first thing they come in for is an agility test," explained Rock Island Mayor Dennis Pauley. "Twenty-one showed up for that agility test and 11 passed it. Then you go to the written test. You have 11 people, but only 10 show up for the written test. Nine passed it, so currently we have nine people on our list."
Mayor Pauley and Asst. Chief Yerkey say those nine people are probably also on the lists of all the surrounding cities in the Quad Cities Area, so once they have an opening - the list could be obsolete.
"They're looking for a job and they can't wait a year simply for a job to come open," said Mayor Pauley.
When it does, a candidate needs to have three things: a high school diploma, to be 21 years old, and have a paramedic license.
"What that entails is about three semesters of coursework," explained Asst. Chief Yerkey. "You start off taking EMT-Basic, then you enter into the Paramedic Program, which is about two semesters along with your clinical and field time."
Not all fire departments require their firefighters to be paramedics, which may be one reason why recruiting in Rock Island is such a challenge. Asst. Chief Yerkey says it's a lot of coursework and it's expensive, but it's also essential to the job. 85% of the calls crews go on are not fire-related, but medical.
"We're not just a fire department," he said. "We're kind of an all-hazards department; and by having the ambulance here in the city covering our city residents, we keep our response time very low."
You can get your paramedic license at Black Hawk College or Eastern Iowa Community Colleges. There's also an accelerated program offered at the University of Iowa.
Once you complete (or are close to completing) the Paramedic Program, then you start testing which takes about six months. You fill out an application online, take a physical agility test, a written exam, then interview with the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners.
Mayor Pauley and Asst. Chief Yerkey say the Rock Island Fire Department is basically fully-staffed right now, but they are looking at anywhere from two to four openings later this year.
"I don't think we have trouble hiring people," said Mayor Pauley. "The problem is you have to keep a list of people and the problem is that list is not always going to be accurate."
So why is that list not getting bigger? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare occupations and industries - which includes EMTs and paramedics - are expected to have "the fastest employment growth and to add the most jobs between 2014 and 2024."
In addition, the job outlook for firefighters is expected to grow at an average pace of 5% with a salary that is more than the U.S. average of all occupations.
"It's a good starting salary," he said. "It's a good place to start. From there, you're eligible for step increases and merit increases."
There's opportunities for advancement as well. Asst. Chief Yerkey says you can test to become a Lieutenant, a Captain, a Battalion Chief, or become a member of a specialized team like Hazmat.
That could be another reason why recruiting is a challenge - it's a challenging job. Firefighters have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. It's dangerous and Asst. Chief Yerkey says there's more jobs out there these days that are higher paying and less risky.
"It could be more high school kids are going after technology-related fields," he suggested. "The Paramedic Program may be a little scary for them. You have to be able to deal with those types of situations on medical calls like trauma. You're going to see some bad stuff, so you have to be able to handle that."
With all those reasons under consideration, Asst. Chief Yerkey and the Rock Island Fire Department knows they need to take action in a different way than they're used to. They plan to start talking about the job more. Some of the perks include financial aid for those who complete an accredited paramedic program, preference points for military members, and tuition reimbursement if a firefighter wants to take college courses.
"It's just a genuine need to help people - so that's what I wanted to do was help my community, my neighbors, and my friends in their time of need," he said.
"It's a very challenging career, but it's very rewarding too," he added.
"It's not a job," added Mayor Pauley. "It's a lifestyle. It's something you have to really, really like to do. It's something you have to want to do."
And while recruitment is a challenge, retention is not.
"They're very dedicated individuals and they're here for the long term. You get very few firefighters that are going to leave right away. They stick around," Yerkey said.
"It's just getting them in the door," laughed Asst. Chief Yerkey. "Once they're hired, they see how rewarding it is. They see how dedicated we are, see how loyal we are to the city and the department."
This issue is being seen statewide and some changes may address it at the state level. Yerkey says the state has contracted with an agency to develop a test and come up with a statewide hiring list, which might help Rock Island and other cities with recruitment challenges.