Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Health & Safety
Disabled Public Safety Officer Fairness Act of 2011 Causes Some Concern
Co-sponsored by Reps. Charles Rangel and Tom Reed, HR 3367 revises provisions of the Public Safety Officer Disability Benefit law that pays disability benefits only to public-safety officers injured after 1990....
Firefighting the Second-Most Stressful Job in the Nation, White Paper Reports (with Related Video)
A new job-stress report by CareerCast.com found that firefighters have the second most-stressful job in the country, exceeded only by those enrolled in the military. ...
Indy Safety Chief Says Cities Must Address Abandoned-Building Problem
To protect firefighters and its citizens, Indianapolis now has a system in place to demolish structures after a fire occurs if it can be proven that there is damage to the structural integrity of the building. ...
Never, Ever Give Up
FIRE CHIEF’s annual industry forecast will examine the biggest issues and challenges that are affecting career, combination and volunteer departments today— particularly in the areas of funding, staffing, training and officer development — from the perspective of industry leaders. ...
Cancer
Mo. Chief Battles Against Departmental Cancer
Cottleville Community Fire Protection District Chief Rob Wylie said 10% of his 50-person career work force has been diagnosed with cancer in the last four years....
NIOSH Takes Next Step in Firefighter Cancer Study (with Related Video)
Researchers have collected their individual work histories and are in the process of gathering exposure information, including fire runs made and the dates of when personal protective equipment and diesel exhaust controls were put into place at the departments....
Spin a Yarn
Storytelling isn't limited to sharing childhood memories. Telling and re-telling tales of calls and incidents that went right — or, more importantly, that went wrong — can teach valuable lessons. ...
USFA, NIOSH Launch Firefighter Cancer Study
This multi-year study will include more than 18,000 current and retired career firefighters, a larger sample than previous studies....
Fitness
Firefighters’ Obesity Rate Outpaces National Average (with Related Video)
The rate of firefighter obesity outpaces the national average with about 73% to 88% cases in the fire service, so found a National Volunteer Fire Council and U.S. Fire Administration–funded obesity report. ...
Better Health is Within Reach
Various programs and tools exist to help fire- and emergency-service personnel fend off heart disease....
Southwest FDs Test 'Fit' Factors
Tucson creates a multifaceted training program, while Ponderosa hosts a safety night. ...
NVFC Gets Grant for Heart-Healthy Program
The grant will support a health fair, health-and-wellness advocate workshops, and the National Firefighter Health Week, as well as other new initiatives....
Mental Well-Being
Video: Psychologist Offers Fire Chiefs Tips for Proactive Stress Management
Stress-induced psychological and physiological disorders top the list of health problems in industrialized nations, and fire departments should be proactive with stress management to avoid firefighter burnout — this according to a clinical psychologist who spoke at Fire-Rescue International last month. ...
Rising from the Ashes
Recommendations of the Phoenix Fire Department's Mental Health Task Force....
Rescuing the Rescuers
Trust, peer involvement, early intervention and union buy-in all are critical in addressing the stress and emotional disorders that afflict firefighters....
Behavioral Health at the Forefront
Research has raised significant concerns about the intervention and treatment approaches that commonly are used with fire-service personnel....
