Volunteer Spotlight: Christine Kline

Name: Christine Kline
Title: Firefighter
Department Name: Funkstown Volunteer Fire Company
Location: Funkstown, MD

How long have you been an NVFC member?
Since 2003

Why are you an NVFC member?
Our fire companies register us to be members automatically as volunteers in order to benefit their membership.

What is your occupation?
Implementation Consultant

Why are you a volunteer firefighter, EMT, or rescue provider?
It is as simple as loving to help people on their bad day. I also love taking my work passion for disaster planning and mingling it with my volunteer work to become better at both things.

What year did you join the fire or emergency services?
2003

What are your memorable moments as a firefighter or EMS provider?
I would say as an EMS provider the most memorable moment would be catching my father’s stroke in time to make him a candidate for a new surgery in Pittsburgh, PA, on 3/31/2016. It is hard to believe when your actions were the difference in saving one of your parents. The doctors had to tell me for me to believe it.

Another EMS moment was my vacation in Ocean Isle Beach, NC. I wasn’t supposed to stay another day after my friend’s wedding, but I did. I went up front to get my room card reactivated when someone rushed in exclaiming a baby was hurt. The front desk called 911 and I gave myself over to God’s will. I said I could help and went to find the baby who really was handed over like a hot potato. I knew how far out the fire company let alone the ambulance was from this location because of my visit to them the day before. This baby couldn’t go without breathing that long without an impact. CPR worked like a charm and brought her back. I will never forget how long it took for the shock to wear off and realize what just happened.

As a firefighter, I remember conquering my fear of confined spaces in class by singing Jesus Love Me. I have never been afraid again. I remember running my first fire call to a barn we had to let burn because it was stocked up with ammunition. Even from our safe distance, you could still hear the ammunition going off. My gear was new and stiff. My friends sang the umpa lumpa song to me. I knew then, I needed to keep wearing that gear and really break it in.

What contributions have you (and your department) made in your community?
This year I have joined the county recruitment and retention team (REV) and really feel like we are reaching the community through this program. At my job, I have been nominated twice for Volunteer of the Year for my contributions to the community I serve. Our department has been instrumental and noted for our life saving skills with not only the townsfolk, but with their animals. We partner with our animal clinic for training on first aid and CPR on animals. Our rescue squad is equipped with breathing devices for the animals. They have been used and we have saved some extended family members (pets) with our skills.

* Interested in serving your community? Find volunteer fire service opportunities at www.MakeMeAFirefighter.org