Last post Fri, May 09 2008 2:08 PM by TriDog. 8 replies.
I've been .......Make that WAS a Volunteer Fire Fighter up till about 2 weeks ago. My Chief approached me a few months ago asking If I could get him Something In writing from my doctor on weather or not I could still drive. When I seen my doc I told her of my situation and that they request a note on my driving I told her that If I'm having a bad day I don't respond not only for my safety but the public, my crew and the Borough, There's no way i would put any one In harm. She said that I showed good judgement and could tell I was of sound mind and had no problem making decisions there for she DIDN'T state on her note that she had any problem with me driving BUT she did state that I was to refrain from Ladders, any climbing or anything requiring balance. Well not only did they pull my driving privledges put they also put me on Inactive duty till I see my doctor again. I know my days of driving are numbered but I'm only 44 and Have had PD (Parkinson's Disease) for 6 years. When I'm having a bad day my butt stays home, as bad as I want to help those that need help I'm no good to them or myself.
So If I don't respond to your house because you fell backing up to the john and can't get up or you left the stove on and forgot at 3 in the morning and your house fills with smoke, don't blame me because I want to be there to help you but they don't.
I've helped my fellow man and woman since 1981 with almost 15 years of service and this Is the respect I get from my own brothers and sisters of the Fire Service!!!!
LIFE CAN BE UNFAIR ! ONE DAY AT A TIME ............LOVE RAINEY
Chip,
First, thanks for your service to the public. Volunteer work usually goes un-noticed and at worst, it gets expected. I am a big fan of the Boston Fire Dept. It's a tough ugly job and to do it as a volunteer makes it even more respectable. I tip my cap to you sir.
But, let's look at the facts. You've got PD. That's not going to change, but may only get worse.You say that if you are having a "bad day" you just don't respond. And I'm sure you take that very seriously and you only have the safety of the public and your crew at heart. But, what happens if you start feeling bad and have a slight lose of balance when at the top of a ladder? Or, at the wheel of the truck? Or, carrying a child down the ladder? The department just can't take that risk. With your life or that of the public.
In this law suit happy society that we live in, an attorney would have a field day if you fell and hurt, or worse yet, killed someone. Can you see the headlines? "FIREFIGHTER WITH PD CRASHES TRUCK IN SCHOOL BUS FULL OF CHILDREN" To the department and the town/city/borough it's just not worth the risk. The smallest of accidents could and would cost millions of dollars and could cost lives. Not to mention, how would you feel if the slightest thing went wrong and someone was hurt? I know you do this for all the right reasons. You want to help others. At the sametime, I don't believe you want to hurt someone. I can see how serious you are about being a volunteer fire fighter, are you willing to take the risk with someone else's safety and well being?
Is there something else you can do with the department to continue to with your public service? Dispatching? Teaching? Public awarenes to schools and the community? Granted, not as exciting, but just as important. As I'm sure you will agree.
I have a friend that has developmental disabilties (MR). He is very well advanced considering his condition. I was his special olympics coach for over 10 years. He always wanted to be a Paramedic/EMT. He really worked hard at it. My wife is a trama nurse and she worked with hom and helped him study. He studied very hard. In all the years I've known him I never saw him out so much effort into something. But after 3 attempts to pas the exam, he just couldn't do it. It nothing to do with his desire or physical ability to do the job. It was just too complicated for his particular disabilty. He eventually accepted it after some time and lots of talks with him. But his desire to be involved and help people never faded. After some work, we found away for him to still work with the department. He now stocks the trucks, does equipment maintence, runs and rigs lights at night. It's not the hands on that he wanted, but he does a great job and is still well repected.
Hang in there pal. Things can and will work out for you.
Hopefully you will get a better report next time you see your doctor. You are so self-less because you realize that the safety of others comes before your desire to be in the middle of the action. Best of luck and keep us all posted, please.
That's brutal, Chipster.
I never knew there was such a surplus of heroes that we could just push one away. I thank and salute you. Cheers.
Hi Chip,
My dad was chief of our local volunteer fd (before it was taken over by the county years ago) for a few years, and a member of the dept. for years before that. I appreciate your dedication to your job and helping people.
However, I can see TriDog's point. We live in a litigious society. Is is possible for you to get a different job within the fd? Can you do community outreach or school safety presentations? Fire marshall/inspector? Etc?
I understand your anger and you are entitled to it. But perhaps you can channel your expertise and knowledge into other, related areas? Talk to your Chief and see what the two of you can come up with.
Good luck!
Sometimes when making a new post and trying to be as Narrow as possible things get over looked and the translation lost In this case. I should have added In my original above, WHAT I can DO, that being Driving, Fire Police, setting up lights, getting tools that may be needed for those on the Inside fighting the fire. I gave up when I came back to stay outside Exterior fire fighter only!!! Also Fire Inspections and finding the cause and fire prevention, we have and Instill the later the utmost with great results. Our last major fire here, Whole structure Involved was 4 years ago!!!
I do not Climb ladders or even the truck itself other then getting In or out of the seating area. My driving has been spotless with the dept and Not one person complained I was going to fast or slow, my reactions are dead on and even when having any episdode while driving I'm not alone, having an officer with me the whole time, should anything happen. Which brings me to another point, We have a few other members with health Issues and to me they shouldn't be driving or at least be checked by a professional, one member is Diabetic and his blood sugar has gotten so low that he all but passed out , not while driving though. And we have a handfull of guys that are up there in years and overweight plus a few heavy smokers. So am I getting singled out because my Handicap Sticks out there??? They could have just pulled me from Fire police as balance is an issue and standing In a intersection could be life or death, But to pull all my "Little jobs" Including Fire Inspections leaving me to help out with only fundraising Is a little harsh.
Chipster: We have a few other members with health Issues and to me they shouldn't be driving or at least be checked by a professional, one member is Diabetic and his blood sugar has gotten so low that he all but passed out , not while driving though. And we have a handfull of guys that are up there in years and overweight plus a few heavy smokers. So am I getting singled out because my Handicap Sticks out there??? They could have just pulled me from Fire police as balance is an issue and standing In a intersection could be life or death, But to pull all my "Little jobs" Including Fire Inspections leaving me to help out with only fundraising Is a little harsh.
Well, as that wise old philospher Curly Howard, once said......
"That's a horse of a different color...."
If this were an employment issue, there are a ton of laws protecting you. Seeing that it's volunteer work, I'm not sure what your options are here. It might be volunteer, but it is the chief responsibility to protect everyone invovled. But I don't see how removing you from everything but fundraising seems fair to anyone. Perhaps a sit down conversation with him? Maybe over a couple of beers?
Good luck man.
