EMS Capt. Tom Dalman Is Proud Of His Unique, Dual-Job Career
When asked, many youngsters might say they want to grow up to be a firefighter or a police officer — 42-year old Tom Dalman is an example of a someone who grew up to be both.
The 18-year veteran of Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue had served his entire career with the department. He is now a “floating” emergency medical services (EMS) captain on “C” shift, covering for other captains who are on leave, and he is also a member of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team.
Dalman said that he enjoys doing something he loves, particularly working in EMS, which has made possible his second career with the PBSO.
“Working through fire-rescue has afforded me the ability to be on the SWAT team with the sheriff’s office and provide tactical medicine to any squad member who may succumb to any injuries, so I’m a police officer as well,” he explained, expressing his pride in working in both capacities. “It’s a real honor.”
Starting off as a firefighter/EMT at the turn of the 21st century, Dalman worked his way up through the ranks to firefighter/paramedic then to a driver operator.
After that, he was promoted to captain, and later again promoted to EMS captain. He is currently studying for the battalion chief’s test.
“I am very proud of being able to say that I worked myself up through the ranks,” Dalman explained. “I worked in all the positions.”
Dalman said that it’s a great sense of pride when you study hard and get promoted and know all the aspects of a job description, and then move on to the next position and develop proficiency and expertise in that new position.
“It makes you more well-rounded as an employee for the fire-rescue department, and that’s what Wellington residents deserve,” he said.
In his current position, Dalman’s job is to be present at the scene of critical incidents in a supervisory role and to shepherd the response to the situation as requirements dictate.
“I supervise and oversee any critical incident — whether it be a major medical call and that could include cardiac arrest, any type of major trauma-related incident such as a shooting, stabbing or a car accident — where an advanced level of supervision is required,” explained Dalman, who went on to say that he is authorized to carry and administer certain advanced medications that the regular fire-rescue trucks don’t carry.
In such difficult situations, things often do not end happily. However, the expertise of Dalman and his team can mean the difference between life and death. When things go well, the job is very satisfying, he said.
“When you’re dealing with a critical patient, you use critical thinking skills [to help], and then that patient has a positive outcome — that’s always the most satisfying,” Dalman said. “When the patient has walked out of the hospital and has been reunited with their loved ones.”
Dalman, a Grand Rapids, Mich., native, has been posted in Wellington at PBCFR Station 25 on Wellington Trace for the past 11 years. He is married, and he and his wife have three children: Abigail, age 11; Thomas, age 10; and Michael, who is 10 months old.
Dalman said that he likes the hometown feeling of Wellington, and he appreciates living and working in the same community.
“It’s a diverse community. I like the churches and that everything we need is right here — the mall’s right across the street. It’s a great place to raise our family,” he said. “I feel very blessed and fortunate to raise our kids here in Wellington.”
Active in Christ Fellowship Church, Dalman works on “feed the homeless” campaigns. “We help providing meals in our community and for less fortunate countries, so the homeless here in our area as well as overseas can benefit,” Dalman explained.
Dalman and his sister and brother and family provide a college scholarship fund through a family organization called Dalaro, an acronym of his and his brother-in-law’s last names.
The scholarship benefits someone who is less fortunate and would not be able to otherwise afford a college education. “It provides the means for a less fortunate person to attend college,” said Dalman, a graduate of Palm Beach State College.
When it comes to hobbies and outside activities, Dalman said that raising his family is a hobby and plenty of activity in and of itself, but that he enjoys physical activities involving his family. When not on the job, Dalman likes just enjoying time off with his family and raising his young children.
