Becoming a firefighter is a wonderful accomplishment. It takes a lot of nerves and courage to do so, but in the end, you are doing something that really makes a difference – saving lives. This is the big reason why people choose firefighting as their career, because you are making a difference.
Unfortunately, waiting around all day for that bell to go was never in the brochure. Although I’m sure you do not want the bell to ring every single minute – that would mean the entire city was on fire – it can get pretty boring waiting around for something to happen.
Each firefighter has a different method of dealing with this boredom. Some read, some sleep, some watch television, and do other things. There is one common activity that almost all firefighters love to do though while waiting for a fire call to happen – play poker.
There are quite a few different reasons for this. First off, they enjoy spending time together. Everyone needs their own space, but sometimes if you are reading all day waiting for a bell to ring, it can just get lonely. Poker is not only entertaining, but many people can take part in it – meaning quality time is spent together.
That in turn strengthens the relationships of all the firefighters. By spending additional time with each other in an unstressed environment, firefighters will be able to build on their communication methods and might just be able to work more efficiently together – avoiding unnecessary mistakes during a fire.
Furthermore, playing poker can pass time very quickly. It is competitive and you are so focused on the game that time just flies by. This can certainly make the day seem less long, and give everyone a more enjoyable mood. Also, you can include everyone – there is no limit as to how many people can play. The more the merrier.
Now, many people question – why poker? With so many different games out there, why would they go with poker? First off, poker is an adult game that is usually played by males. That being said, it also promotes competition. Competition makes everything more entertaining as you try to prove your worth. This is especially true for males.
Additionally, you can even play for small amounts of money. Even playing for just fifty dollars can make the game more interesting and competitive. For this reason alone, playing poker is much more entertaining than playing Monopoly.
While playing poker is fun for many people on a weekly basis, perhaps it should be deemed as the firefighters’ game. Not only does it provide hours of entertainment and competition, but it also gives them a chance to bond and strengthen their relationship.
By doing this, they are more likely to make the correct choices when putting out fires and saving people’s lives. Obviously, for these reasons playing poker while waiting for that next fire alarm should be encouraged for all firefighters, regardless of location or age.