As we slowly wind down our Safety, Health and Survival week there always seems to be the scramble as to what safety challenges to tackle. I sometimes struggle, as I do with fire prevention week, as to how we somehow become more sensitive to the issue by proclaiming a week in its honor when we are actually dealing with a 365 day challenge.
Today's fire and EMS vehicles are just basically a rolling emergency room that makes house visits multiple times a day. In years past we have had a worries about infectious disease transmission, but in today's world we must stop and not only be patient advocates, but protect ourselves. Infectious disease is defined as an illness resulting in exposure to a pathogenic microbial. Most of these germs are invisible to the human eye and can infect you before you are even aware that you are getting exposed.
As firefighters, line officers, and command staff, when you think about physical fitness are the first pictures that come to mind fighting structure fires, high-level rescues, vehicle extrications, and other common high-demand, life-saving responses? The types of responses, or maybe better stated; the reasons why you became a firefighter, and the reasons you stay. Or, do you think about the time in between the high-demand responses?
You are in the business of fighting fires, protecting property, saving people from injury and even death. It's what you do and you do it well. But how attentive are you to your own health and your body's needs for optimal performance?
An exceprt from this article appears in the December 2009 issue of Firehouse Magazine.
Editor's Note: Chief Trevino's share a brief story about his good friend Dave Jacobs in this article. Mr. Jacobs lost his battle to cancer before the article could be published.
If you ever hear the words that you have cancer you want to hear them as soon as possible; early detection increases your odds on beating many forms of cancer.
In California, a judge allowed a lawsuit when a woman pulled her friend from a car crash, which caused life-changing injuries.
Legal Lesson Learned: Fortunately in most states, the courts have broadly interpreted their "Good Samaritan" statutes, thereby encouraging people to stop and render emergency care while awaiting fire and EMS responders. Unfortunately, the California Supreme Court has gone the other way. Hopefully this decision does not lead to litigation in other states against Good Samaritans.
