Volunteerism has taken a hit lately, especially with service organizations and emergency response groups.

Given today’s fast-paced lifestyle, the need for two-income families and general family obligations, there’s often little time left in someone’s day to spend in service to others.

Just ask local fire companies or ambulance squads. For years they’ve been doing their best to recruit new members. Often, volunteers serve two or three groups, responding to incidents wherever they’re needed.

That may not be the case in Slatington, though, where volunteer numbers in the fire service are growing thanks to a group of women who have recently joined the ranks.

Borough council members learned at their November meeting that at least eight women have come forward to help as firefighters, fire police and emergency medical technicians.

In the past, women served mostly in a support capacity, helping with fundraising as members of an auxiliary organization. That’s not to say that females have never been firefighters at the career or volunteer levels.

Ronald Hausmann, fire chief, said female firefighters have been part of the organization, but usually only one at a time.

Some records show that women were fighting fires in cities in the early 1800s, mostly out of necessity.

And during World War II, when many men were in the military, females helped extinguish fires.

Current estimates show approximately 6,500 females involved in the fire service, a small percentage representing the job. Of all the volunteer firefighters in the country only about 11% are female.

But these days, more women are stepping to the forefront of many one-time male occupations. Often, we’ve come to see female police officers joining the ranks of male counterparts. Emergency Medical Technicians and fire police are increasingly positions being occupied by women.

The trend toward regular firefighters comes as welcome news. But for females, it carries some special challenges.

First, there are issues with training and methodology given the difference in physical and mental attributes.

Inherently, females are more empathetic and caring.

I can remember during my days in the newspaper business, we found that women were more interested in reading the police columns and things related to emergency response. Why?

By instinct, women generally are more protective and interested in safety.

In crisis situations, they’re more calming and reassuring, for the most part.

From a physical standpoint, key parts of battling any blaze involve mostly lifting and carrying, whether it’s a ladder, a hose or a person.

Naturally given a more diminutive stature than men, women find ways to get things done.

While men tend to have more upper body strength, women train to use their lower bodies, mostly their legs, to accomplish things.

Then, there’s the issue of equipment.

Companies just don’t make coats, pants, helmets and boots that accommodate females - at least for now. They’re stuck with guys’ clothes.

That’s not to mention the air tanks and masks firefighters use regularly.

And that equipment weighs nearly 50 pounds, if not more.

So considering all the obstacles, why would females even think about being a firefighter?

Is it a desire to be part of a team? A sense of serving their community? To continue a family tradition?

Whatever the reason, Slatington’s fire service is growing.

It won’t be long before we’ll be seeing these new members representing the department not only at fires or emergencies, but also at community events.

They’re great recruiters and role models for young girls who might want to try their hand in the service.

Chief Hausmann said that someday if a woman held his job, he’d be among the first to applaud.

It’s a good bet that others would be right there with him.

ED SOCHA/TNEDITOR@TNONLINE.COM

ED SOCHA is a retired newspaper editor with more than 40 years’ experience in community journalism. Reach him at tneditor@tnonline.com.

The foregoing opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or Times News LLC.