[maxwellp]

"....pulling a 165-pound dummy". Many people, particularly large men, weigh more than 165 pounds. And "pulling" bothers me. A female fire person (see how PC I'm being), therefore, cannot pick up a 165-pound or more person, so she's going to drag the person. Well I live in a house that has a rather long staircase. So she can't pick up my husband who weighs a little over 200 lbs., therefore, she'll drag him down the staircase! As a woman, I recognize my lack of strength. If I decided I wanted to join any Fire Department, it would be as a person capable of doing something where I'd make a contribution, e.g., cook, clean, paperwork or answering calls.

[GussiedUp]

"....pulling a 165-pound dummy". Many people, particularly large men, weigh more than 165 pounds. And "pulling" bothers me. A female fire person (see how PC I'm being), therefore, cannot pick up a 165-pound or more person, so she's going to drag the person. Well I live in a house that has a rather long staircase. So she can't pick up my husband who weighs a little over 200 lbs., therefore, she'll drag him down the staircase! As a woman, I recognize my lack of strength. If I decided I wanted to join any Fire Department, it would be as a person capable of doing something where I'd make a contribution, e.g., cook, clean, paperwork or answering calls.

Well said. I am also a woman and have never in my life - inside and outside of the military - known a woman who could even pick up 165 pounds, much less pick up and carry 165 pounds.