It's owned by Chester County, and issued to the Twin Valley Fire Department. Then it goes to me so long as I'm an active member.
If something happens to it WHILE RESPONDING TO AN EMERGENCY, I'm not held responsible. But if I screw up and spill coffee on it at home, that's something else entirely.
Here, I'll give you a basic run-through of how the pager works. It's pretty simple. When it needs charging you stick it into the console here (which works as a charger and speaker). The big knob to the left to the pager itself adjusts the volume.
- See that knob on the far right? That's both the on-off switch and the volume dial. Turn clockwise till it clicks, then it's on and from there you adjust the volume. Turn it backwards to lower the volume till it clicks again, and it's turned off.
- The other knob on the pager has four settings, lettered A through D. Here's what they're for;
- A- This is the setting it's often best to have it on (unless you're at the movies or something). It'll be quiet up until you get a call/dispatch. Then it's gonna beep a few times and then give you the info on what the emergency is. Good thing I'll still get the text messages on my phone, 'cause then I can be 100% sure that I get the street names right and all.
- B- This setting is where you just hear the dispatcher talking.
- C- "'C' for 'Chatter'." That's how I remember it. When it's set on C, then I can hear "just about everything"; dispatchers, people using radios from the fire engines and squad trucks, etcetera. What my lieutenant tells me he usually does is have it on A till he gets the beep/call, then switch it to C so he'll get more information. That way he can hear someone else on their radio talking about whether or not it was a false alarm or if the emergency call just got recalled (for example).
- D- Same function as the A setting, only it vibrates instead of beeping (much better for when you're at the movies lol)
Now when I tried turning it on to listen at home, over the next week after receiving this first pager me and the guys realized it wasn't working. It was shot, as they put it. So eventually I may end up getting a new pager, but till then I'll keep using my phone's emergency texts and see how often I'm even able to go help out.
(Now this is something that may come in handy if I wind up helping carry hoses... minus the "children and wife" part lol)
"When I am called to duty God, wherever flames may rage, give me strength to save some life, whatever its age. Help me embrace a little child before it is too late or save an older person from the horror of that fate. Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout and quickly and effectively to put the fire out. I want to fill my calling and give the best in me, to guard my every neighbor and protect his property and if according to your will, I have to lose my life, please bless with your protecting hand my children and my wife. Amen."
