Daniel B. Hamilton/Professional/The American Triumph Journal

Daniel B. Hamilton is an EMS (emergency medical service) Captain for Henrico County
Division of Fire. He has been a captain since May 2008 and has worked for the Henrico
Fire Department for 18 years saving lives and property. He has a office in station seven
located at 2701 E. Laburnum Ave. There, he works 24 hour shifts and supervises the
firefighters and EMS crew on duty. Americantriumphjournal.com spoke with Daniel B.
Hamilton August 7, 2008; at the time he was 38-years-old. In the following paragraphs
his triumph will be celebrated.

“My job is supporting them (firefighters), helping them to help citizens and making sure
they stay safe,” Hamilton said.

His job specification as defined by Henrico County on their website, http://www.co.
henrico.va.us/hr/cc/classes/bt07.pdf, states that: “a position in this class reports to a
Fire Battalion Chief and is assigned to Fire Suppression, Training or Prevention. An
incumbent directs the activities of a fire station, with responsibilities including the
supervision of personnel and maintenance of grounds, buildings equipment and
apparatus; in addition to holding responsibilities for training and maintenance within the
company.”

Hamilton said, he trains individuals for emergency medical procedures.

"Medical emergencies make up 75 percent of what a fire department responds to," he
said.

He said, he ensures vehicles in the station are properly equipped and ready to go. He
monitors dispatch and ensures proper distribution of fire engines and fire medic
ambulances in different areas in the county. He said, on the scene of a fire he can
assume command, or he can become their EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) or
work as a firefighter depending on the situation. He said, as captain he is responsible
for speaking with victims at the scene. He also most often performs as the public
information officer to the media, when he is on scene. He spoke about some of his
achievements over his career as a firefighter.

“I have worked at different locations and I feel I have made a positive impact everywhere
I have been," he said. "I am proud to be part of a team. We (firefighters) are not a
bunch of individuals and we don't have egos.”

Hamilton was born and raised in Henrico County, Va. He graduated from Freeman High
School. He has an associate's degree in fire science from J. Sergeant Reynolds
Community College and a bachelor's degree from Bluefield College in organizational
management development.

He always wanted to be a firefigher. He said, he got the itch as a kid from watching the
television series, “Emergency!,” which aired in the 70's. He was raised in a two parent
household. Growing up, he was involved in the boy scouts and progressed to eagle
scouts. He said, his parents raised him as a Christian and his family attended Sunday
services at Trinity United Methodist Church. His mother, held part time clerical jobs and
his father worked as a salesman. Hamilton said, he was a skinny 98 pound high school
freshman and many people at that time couldn't see him fulfilling the physical demands
associated with being a fireman. He described himself as a quiet, introverted honor
student in high school. He said, the physical side of being a fireman was hard for him,
and he worked hard to achieve the standards.

Hamilton's rise to becoming a captain for Henrico County Division of Fire, started when
he was 16-years-old and a volunteer for the Tuckahoe Rescue squad. He volunteered
four years. He spent a year working as an EMT for a local hospital. He became a
firefighter for Henrico County when he was 20. From there, he was promoted to a
lieutenant and now he is a captain. He gave advice for people considering a firefighter
as a career path.

“Do well in school," he said. "Be a team player. Gain some experience, for example
volunteering for a rescue squad, fire department, EMS or having some military
experience can be helpful. Do some research and fully understand what this job is
about."

The job of a firefighter can be extremely hard, stressful and dangerous. Hamilton's
closest near death experience, he said, occurred when he was a lieutenant in charge at
the scene of a fire. He was outside and his crew was inside when a backdraft occurred.
He described a backdraft as when a room is sealed off and a fire is starved for oxygen.
In a backdraft situation a fire has two of the three elements needed to ignite flames: heat
and fuel. It happens when firefighters enter a sealed room and give the fire the oxygen
that it is lacking and it can be catastrophic. In his case, he said, his crew entered the
room and it was like a huge explosion; flames ignited everywhere. As the fire spread out
the crew went out and managed to escape safely. He said, him being on the outside
and in command was the closest near death situation he has experienced.

Besides being a captain, Hamilton also works as a peer fitness trainer for the Henrico
County Division of Fire. He said, it's an interest of his. He helps to promote physical
fitness among firefighters. Being physically fit, he said, is a very important function of
the job.

He shared his opinion on the relationship with the media and the fire department. He
said, he believes the fire department has a a good relationship with media. He said, he
believes the department as a whole should be proactive when dealing with the media
and that historically they have been shy. He encourages everyone who talks to the
media to be factual. Hamilton was asked, if there was anything he wanted the public to
know about fires or firefighters.

“Get out and stay out," he said. "Do not go back in for personal possessions or animals."

Today, Hamilton is married and a father of three children; one girl and two boys. His
wife's name is Ellen. He ball parked his annual salary in the neighborhood of $70,000.
He said, he was not into it for the money. He said, he was “called” to be a firefighter. He
gave insight to why he felt he has been successful.

“I trust in God," he said. "I believe, God, has a plan or purpose for all of us and if you
are obedient to his will, he will help you to prosper.”

August 7, 2008

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Daniel B. Hamilton

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