This letter was e-mailed to me this morning. As we approach difficult financial decisions for the City of Hartford, I think we need to keep in mind the potential consequences of some of those decisions, and the potential human impact. The letter is long, but it provides a very interesting perspective from a front line firefighter. Please take a few minutes to read it.
I am writing this
letter with hope that my message could be spread further with your
help than it could be on my own. I was born at Hartford Hospital and
have spent my entire life living in East Granby, Hartford, West
Hartford, and Windsor. I am 30 years old and at this point have spent
half of my life formally involved in the fire service. My father and
his father were both firemen. I earned a Fire Technology Degree from
Capital Community College and have spent the last eight years as one
of the many proud, passionate, and dedicated members of the Hartford
Fire Department. I am telling you this because although I am far from
being an expert, I have picked up a couple things during my journey
thus far.
As almost all of
you are aware, the city is in a bad financial place. The Mayor said,
“The financial condition is dire”, and “we are in a state of
fiscal emergency”. The debt is beyond my comprehension, and I will
never understand how the people voted into office could let this
happen. Surely there were many contributing factors that led us down
this path and some key players have since been removed from office. I
am not the guy to run the City nor would I want to be. I have no plan
to offer to right the ship. What I do know is that the America’s
fire service is in a very delicate place, and the Hartford Fire
Department is no better off.
I would venture to
guess that the majority of people don’t really know the intricacies
involved when the Fire Department responds to a call and goes to
work. My goal is to provide you with a better understanding of the
life of a Hartford fireman and also bring to your attention the
dangerous decisions Mayor Luke Bronin is willing to make to save
money. There is a great deal of information that will help you better
understand the fire service and I have only included the bare
minimum. So let’s talk about fire, the history of firefighting, the
Hartford Fire Department in particular, and the health and safety of
a fireman.
Fire
Harnessing fire and
its great power was arguably the single greatest revolution in the
history of mankind. Once early man began utilizing fire as a tool the
entire dynamic of human life changed. For the first time ever, fire
was being used as a heat source to cook and destroy bacteria and
toxins. Early man could now extend daytime with light from fire and
keep predators away. Over time, controlled burning became the focal
point for cooking and conversation. Man would gather around fire to
tell stories and pass on important skills. Time spent by the fire was
an early example of school, and by bringing people together societies
began to form. Fire has been the key survival instrument for mankind
for a million years.
I find this important to note because
if you look at civilization today things have not changed. Heating
your home, cooking, traveling in your car, and many other activities
still rely on fire and combustion. Technology and the use of fire
have evolved over time but will never disappear. With the ability to
harness the power of fire and heat the inevitable is bound to happen,
uncontrolled burning. Uncontrolled fire has been a danger to mankind
since the beginning and for as long as we live we will be faced with
this dangerous phenomenon.
The History of
Firefighting
The concept of combating fire has been
in existence since ancient Egyptian times, but really took hold
during the Roman Empire. Paid fire brigades would respond to and
extinguish fires and patrol the streets enforcing early fire codes.
Even early civilizations knew the importance of fire protection. It
didn’t take long for fire to become a major concern in the New
World when America’s early settlers had to deal with fires in the
Jamestown settlement that destroyed apparel, lodging, and provisions.
So as you can see, the history of accidental fires dates back quite
some time and continues to occur to this day.
As cities began to grow, the need for
fire suppression became more obvious. A line of people filling up
buckets and tossing water on a fire was an early method of
suppression. When insurance companies were established many of them
would have their own fire protection companies to protect their
investments. The New England region fireman should be especially
proud of his heritage. Modern firefighting across the World has
developed from innovations brought forth from these northeast fire
departments, including the Hartford Fire Department. Like everything
else in life technology is ever changing and the fire service
continues to adapt and develop techniques to keep up with modern fire
behavior.
The Hartford Fire
Department
It should be noted that the brevity of
this information should be taken into account. Pages and pages of
details have been omitted, but keep in mind that there are countless
other details that could be added. Many important events have
occurred in Hartford’s rich history, which have brought the Fire
Department to its current place. In 1783 the roof of the wooden
State House was burned off when citizens with fireworks were
celebrating the end of the American Revolution. The first half of the
19th century saw major changes to fire protection in
Hartford when early hand powered fire engines and hose were
purchased, firemen were given a wage increase to $5.00 per year, and
large cisterns were built to supply water throughout the city.
Many costly fires occurred leading up
to 1864 when the Common Council passed an ordinance establishing the
paid Hartford Fire Department which has been in continuous operation
ever since. In 1867 we were the first New England department to
install a fire alarm system in the street. In 1876 Hartford put into
service the first self-propelled fire engine in the United States. In
the late 1800’s a new water supply system was created and even
today is among the best in the nation.
Over the years massive, deadly, and
catastrophic fires continued to destroy prominent businesses,
schools, buildings, and even the bridge crossing the Connecticut
River. The tragic Hartford circus fire in 1944, the Hartford Hospital
fire in 1961, and the Greenwood Convalescent Home fire in 2003 are
three fires that gained national notoriety because of the changes
they brought forth to national laws. This organization has continued
to provide gallant service over and over again for the city of
Hartford. Fires will not suddenly stop tomorrow; our service will
always be needed. Sprinklers, smoke detectors, fire alarms, and fire
prevention education will only do so much; they will not completely
eliminate the need for the fire department.
The City of Detroit was walking a
tight rope for years, and when the economy finally came crashing down
the city couldn’t survive. In arguably the most technologically
advanced time in human history, fire protection devices couldn’t
protect the city from an epidemic of fire. Hard times are real and
they are here in Hartford too. The city is 18 square miles of densely
populated and closely packed neighborhoods of buildings, many of
which are at least 100 years old. Vacant property scattered
throughout the city has become the norm. The perfect storm of
terribly unfortunate events that occurred in Detroit are not that
unrealistic from happening right here in Hartford.
We not only respond to fires but any
other problem you may have we show up. We are first responders for
medical emergencies, consistently arriving on scene to render aid
prior to any ambulance arriving on scene. Hazardous materials
incidents, gas leaks, car accidents, people trapped in elevators, a
boat capsizes in the river, shootings, stabbings, air plane crashes,
railroad emergencies, water leaks, bomb-threats, power line
emergencies, a kitten with its head stuck in a desk, I have been to
them all with only 8 years on the job. The list could go on quite
extensively. The Hartford Fire Department shows up for people in
their time of need no matter what the problem is. I’ve been on
multiple calls where people flat-out say, “I didn’t know whom
else to call”.
When the blizzard
of 2013 hit, firefighters worked 48-72 continuous hours rendering aid
throughout the city. Our families were at home snowed in, while we
were doing what we do best. And when the shift ended and we made the
drive home there was a nice driveway waiting for us, ready to be
shoveled. When the DPW trucks stopped plowing where were we? We were
shoveling our trucks out when they became buried in snow on every
call. We were walking block after block to get to people trapped in
their homes who were in need of medical care. I’m not looking for
an award; we were doing our job because that’s what we do. This
letter is not about being recognized or getting a pat on the back,
this letter is about protecting the members of this organization.
So here we are in
2016. Today’s firefighter is being challenged now more than ever to
do more with less. Not only are we here to provide a laundry list of
services to the citizens of this community, we are here to deliver a
professional product backed by hours of training and experience to
get the job done. The training never stops. At the bare minimum we
annually refresh our training on our certifications just to stay
current with the curriculum and State of Connecticut mandates. All of
the disciplines that this job entails involve hours of training for
each member.
This is a typical
day in the life of a Hartford fireman. You arrive at work by 0800 at
the latest and square away all of your personal protective equipment.
At anytime a call could come in where a civilian’s life rests in
your hands. Once you have your personal equipment in order its time
to gather with the crew and hear the agenda for the day. There is no
set schedule, no set breaks, no lunch hour; you will be here for at
least 24 hours. No two shifts are the same. Your company officer has
arrived early to review the reports from your days off. New e-mails,
and notifications are read aloud.
Its 0830 and you’ve
looked over the apparatus and made sure all of the equipment is in
proper working order. You’re in the middle of cooking a couple eggs
and the first call of the day comes in, it’s a fire alarm at the
vacant YMCA building downtown. The elevator is shut down so you take
the stairs to the top floor and start checking all the other floors
on the way back down. Don’t forget your not wearing a pair of
running shoes holding a bottle of water. If you normally weigh 200
pounds you are now pushing 300 pounds with all of your gear and
equipment. Once you hit the 10th floor your really
starting to feel the leg workout you did on your off day. This time
it’s a false alarm, some water leaked into a smoke detector which
set if off. Maybe next time you get to the top floor and find out
there is a fire burning; your climb up those stairs was just a
warm-up.
On the way back to
the firehouse you get a call for a medical emergency so you respond
and take care of business. Once you get back to the firehouse you
replace the medical supplies you just used and run upstairs to eat
some cold eggs. The news is running a story about last nights fire
and you try and see how everything went. The TV you’re watching,
the cable bill, the newspaper, and the ketchup on your eggs were all
purchased with your own money. The city is not responsible for these
expenses.
Every member is
assigned an area to clean so you spend the next hour or so trying to
get that looking good. It is Friday and that means its lawn day. You
mow the grass and clean up the trash that has blown onto the lawn.
You pull a couple weeds and hose down the front ramp. Just when you
think you have finally knocked out your daily chores the boss comes
down and says its time for drill. If the training division has not
already assigned a drill for the day the company officer has some
tricks up his sleeve. Of course another call or two interrupts the
drill. Once you’ve sweated through your second shirt for the day
you give up on putting on a clean one. It may not seem like a big
deal but you will have to bring your dirty uniforms home to wash, the
city does not provide any washing machines. Being exposed to nursing
homes, hospitals, and sick people on a daily basis means you may be
bringing home some unwanted germs.
The rest of your
day goes by quick. You grab a sandwich from the local deli, go to the
fuel pumps to refuel the apparatus, and go on a few more calls. While
you are out of the firehouse you notice a situation that looks to be
violating fire code so you contact the Fire Marshals Office. A night
when you get through dinner uninterrupted is a welcome treat.
By the way, the
firehouses in the Capital City are occupied 24 hours a day. There is
a constant rotation of members in and out of them. Some of the
firehouses are over 100 years old. Horse stables are now locker
rooms, and in one house the hayloft has been converted into a gym.
We, not the city, put the gym equipment there. Don’t think that the
firehouses are some state of the art buildings. Steel radiators, and
window unit A/C’s are still alive and well. One day a retiree
visited the firehouse and said to me, “That’s the same sink that
was here when I came on the job”. The man was over 90 years old and
served as a fireman at the end of World War 2. I want you to know
that when we go to work we are not exactly working at some
multi-million dollar massive firehouse with all the bells and
whistles. Rats and mice are welcome visitors to these buildings.
A big topic that a
lot of people like to comment on is sleeping at work. Yes it is no
secret that there are beds in firehouses. And you know what sometimes
you get a few hours of continuous sleep at night. But tonight is not
the night for that because the City is still awake and the calls
don’t stop. More medical calls, fire alarms, car accidents, you
name it, they will happen at any time of the day. The West Hartford
Fire Department has a fire going on and all of their resources are
tied up so they need some help. You and the crew will spend the rest
of your shift covering a firehouse in West Hartford taking in their
calls.
You are proud of
the work you did over the last 24 hours and you can’t wait to get
home. Your mentally drained and physically exhausted, a nice shower
and warm breakfast are on your mind. For the single guys this will be
easy to accomplish, but for those who are married and have kids to
take care of, good luck. The family is happy to see you come home and
they are fired up. The dog needs to do his business and the kids are
shot out of a cannon today. You’re trying your best to be there for
your family but you still have that one call on your mind. You are
having trouble forgetting about the infant child you saw who drowned
in a bathtub. That’s a tough one to get over but you do, because
you have to. The people in your life depend on you. Family, friends,
and perfect strangers depend on you to be on point and do your job.
If you are the
company officer the burden placed on your shoulders is a heavy one.
The life safety off your crew is on you. Every call requires extra
attention and oversight. You have the final say over the course of
action your crew will take on all of their calls today. Your crew is
relying on you to provide guidance and have their back. The Hartford
Fire Department is currently in a massive transition phase. 48% of
the workforce has less than 10 years of experience, and 25% of the
department is currently eligible to retire. The younger generation of
firemen are well trained, excited to be at work, and are willing to
learn; but nothing replaces experience and we are losing
knowledgeable veterans of the workforce at a fast rate. Company
officers are well aware of this and must take it into consideration.
I have talked to
people who believe that the fire department just shows up, sprays
some water, breaks some windows and then goes home. I refuse to
believe that they honestly think that, but the mindset for many
people isn’t far off. I want to give you a run down of what occurs
when a call comes in for a report of a building fire.
Every fireman must
size up each incident they respond to in order to prepare themselves
for the call. This size up practice is crucial for an operation to be
successful. The company officer will be performing a size up as well
and will transmit vital information via a radio to all of the other
incoming companies that are responding. The point I am trying to make
is that everything we do, on every single call is a well-calculated
move. Nothing is happening by accident, certain things that go
unnoticed by a passer-by are likely to be well thought out and
pre-determined, well before we arrive on scene. Something as trivial
as the position of a fire truck at a scene has to be done
deliberately. There’s a reason for the location of the apparatus,
and the exact position it is parked. This is just one example, there
are countless others. Here is an example of the size-up procedure a
company officer will have to make for a report of a building fire.
Once you get
dispatched for a building fire the clock is ticking. Your size up of
the incident has begun. Many different things need to be considered
in a very short period of time. Incredibly vital decisions will need
to be made in a matter of seconds, especially when you arrive on
scene. Variables of all kinds are rapidly assessed and the best
course of action is quickly chosen and put into work. There is no
time to sit around a table to watch what’s going on and discuss it
over amongst your coworkers. The first arriving company officer is
about to rely on his training and experience to set the tone for the
rest of the incident.
Here is a list of
some of the things that must be considered before putting your
company into operation.
What type of
building construction am I dealing with and how will the spread of
smoke and fire damage the structure that I am about to operate in?
What type of
occupancy is the building? Is it a store, a single-family home, or a
high-rise building?
What do I know
about the apparatus and crews that are responding? Maybe there is
another call happening at the same time and the rest of the
responding companies are coming from the south end of the city, this
could lead to a delay in operations.
Considerations need
to be made about the likelihood of there being a life hazard
involved. It is critical to note the type of occupancy and time of
day when determining life hazards in a building.
What type of water
supply do I have? The water we bring with us in the truck will only
last so long. I need to know where fire hydrants are located before
arriving on scene.
Street conditions
and other special considerations need to be known before over
committing. A street may be closed due to construction. Responses
around Trumbull St. and Pleasant St. need to be approached
differently right now because of the baseball field construction
project.
Weather is a major
size-up consideration that should be assessed. Hot temperatures
fatigue firemen very quickly requiring more resources than normal and
cold temperatures may cause ice to build up. Wind can be a dangerous
contributor to a fire. Recently two Boston firemen gave their lives
battling a fire that was seriously affected by windy conditions.
What types of
exposures are in danger of being damaged by the fire? Many times a
car fire next to a house will start off small but the house will be
exposed to heat and flame and next thing you know the incident
becomes more complex.
What is the
location of the fire in the building and what extent has it
developed? Tactical decisions will be made differently for fires
located on different floors of a building, especially in a basement.
This information needs to be assessed and transmitted to other
companies quickly, so they can formulate their game plan.
The time of day,
week, month, and year all have different meaning when performing
size-up. Is it rush hour? Are we responding to a school fire at 11
A.M. on a weekday or is it midnight on Sunday? Christmas time could
mean that there is a dried out Christmas tree with additional
combustible items inside a home.
What hazardous
materials could potentially be involved? If there is a fire in an
auto repair store or manufacturing building there is a good chance
that some form of hazardous material will be involved.
All of these
size-up considerations are equally important and must be assessed. A
company officer must perform this size-up with-in seconds, and notify
the other responding companies what the situation is and the course
of action that will be taken to mitigate the incident. Every other
fireman responding to the call will be performing their own size-up
with regards to their specific job on the fire ground. The job of
being a fireman is not to be taken lightly and the stakes are high.
I want to briefly touch on the topic
of building construction. A fireman must look at building
construction with a different approach then everyone else. We must
consider the building as our enemy, and different enemies will try to
hurt and kill you in different ways. The city of Hartford has quite
the variety of building types. No fireman will learn them all and
most often we don’t have the luxury of knowing a buildings layout
before we enter it. However, trends in building construction
techniques, state and federal law, and pre-planning a building layout
has taken some of the guess work away.
Understanding building construction is
a valuable component of this job and is an ongoing process. Buildings
come and go, and building modifications and new construction are
always in the works. A lot of the new light-weight wood construction
(The new Nelton Court area) found in these buildings will not hold up
to fire conditions very long and gives us only a matter of moments to
operate inside the structure if necessary. Another challenge we face
is that of illegal building conversions. These illegal conversions
can prove deadly if members operating inside become lost or
disoriented. In New York City in 2005, a fire proved to be fatal when
members were caught in a dangerous and undocumented illegally
converted apartment fire. The fire was in a building very similar to
one typically found in Hartford. These situations are very real, and
could happen at anytime.
As previously mentioned many of the
buildings in this city are aging, pushing 100 years old or more. The
most common type of residential fire that we face requires some
well-placed resources in order to stop the spread of fire throughout
the buildings unique structural design. A typical response to a fire
in this type of building will almost always exhaust the resources
that respond and will require additional resources to the scene.
Every member arrives on scene and performs a job. Not a single
fireman is unused. And this is for a typical fire. Throw in some
unforeseen circumstances and even more resources will be needed to
combat the fire. Before you know it a fire in the north end will
quickly exhaust a majority of the cities resources and has left the
remaining few companies quite a workload.
As I sit here
writing this letter to you, considerations are being made to make
cuts to the manpower of this department. This decision will have
drastic consequences both for the safety of firemen and citizens. I
urge you to please consider the consequences.
Mayor Bronin
delivered a speech to a group of firemen on Monday and provided an
opportunity for a Q and A forum. What struck me as odd was the fact
that he stated that the police department was in need of adding new
recruits to the force. He then stated that, “there are impending
retirements and the vacancies should be refilled, and the hiring
process would take upwards of one year”. I’m not too familiar
with the inner workings of a police department so I can’t comment
on the necessity of their staffing and the need for new recruits.
Here is what I do
know; the Hartford Fire Department has the same need as the HPD,
manpower. Ask any member of this department and he will tell you that
the hiring process doesn’t happen overnight. The application
period, written examination, oral interview, background check, a
second interview, and recruit school will probably take the better
part of one year. It seems to me that the Mayor has made his decision
and I’m not feeling his support.
Right now the fire
departments manpower is barely over minimum staffing, and 25% of the
membership who have committed a lifetime to this department is
eligible to retire. When staffing is this low you constantly have
members working a 72-hour workweek. Working this many hours in not
sustainable long term and dangerous results will follow. Although we
are all trained to the same standard there is something to be said
about crew integrity. Members from different firehouses across the
city are now more than ever working together. These ever changing
crews are just another piece of the puzzle that needs to be
considered when going to work. Knowing your partners every move and
how they operate is a valuable tool, and lately that crew integrity
has become increasingly absent.
Over the years the
fire department has lost resources. Companies that used to ride with
seven and six man crews dropped down to five. And now we currently
operate four man companies. Ladder Company 1 has been disbanded;
Engine companies 3, 4, 6, and 12 no longer exist and two rescue
companies have merged into one. This membership for far too long has
been asked to do more with less and here we are again. In a time of
crisis the city has come to us again asking us to do more with less.
Well this time it can’t happen, there is nothing left to give. The
members are being burdened on all fronts, and I don’t see relief
coming.
Inadequate staffing
has contributed millions of dollars to lost-time injuries, and dozens
of Line of Duty Deaths. Tests conducted with the Houston, Texas Fire
Department indicated that staffing below a crew size of four could
over tax the operating force and lead to high losses. A 2009 study
released on Fire Engineering’s website will provide greater detail
on the subject. A quick Internet search for “Fire Engineering,
staffing a need not a want” will get you the article. If the Mayor
has his way we will be dangerously understaffed.
Health
and Safety
One gripe that I
hear from people is that firemen have a cushy job with undeserving
benefits. People think that the schedule is easy and the medical
benefits are outrageous. I would like to dispel a few rumors.
The schedule is a
rotating one that requires constant fire protection for the city.
Four different groups work a 24-hour shift. Each group works one day
on and has three days off. During the course of the month you only
have one full weekend off. Three weeks of the month you are scheduled
to work Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. By the way, those Saturday and
Sunday shifts are normal pay; don’t think that you’re working the
weekend and getting paid extra. So, for the people out there who
think the schedule is great and “cushy” you may want to keep that
in mind. The typical Monday through Friday employee can look forward
to being home with the family to make plans every weekend, firemen
won’t experience that comfort. School recitals will be missed, kids
sporting events will be missed, birthdays and other special events
missed. Your family will stop in to see you on Christmas and share
pleasantries in between going on a couple calls.
The three
consecutive days off come as a nice break after working 24-hours
straight. We have already discussed what a typical day in the life of
a Hartford fireman could be like. That wasn’t an exaggeration, and
you could very well go into the station tomorrow morning and see that
exact day play out. Lets dive into this some more. If the shift
following yours is in need of some additional manpower because
members are on vacation or out sick it is more than likely that the
vacancies will need to be filled with overtime personnel. Since the
department’s manpower is at a very low point right now it is almost
a guarantee that these vacancies will need to be filled with overtime
members on an almost daily basis.
Members are
eligible to work overtime on an equitable rotation. If you choose to
work the overtime shift, it is another 24-hour tour immediately
following your normal tour of duty. So now we are talking about a
48-hour shift with two days off. Overtime pay is straight pay, no
time and a half or double time like many other jobs. All of the above
information leads me to my first major health and safety concern,
which is sleep deprivation.
A great resource
can be found by searching for a report conducted by the International
Association of Fire Chiefs titled “Effects of Sleep Deprivation on
Fire Fighters and EMS Responders”. Here are the main points worth
considering.
Sleep deprivation
studies have shown that chronic sleep deprivation leads to increased
risk for work-site injures, heart disease, and cancer. Interestingly
enough firefighters average five times the number of work-related
injuries as other trades, and we have the highest percentage of
on-the-job heart attacks.
Many people in a
typical workplace go home each night and have the opportunity to
develop some form of a consistent sleep pattern. Fireman won’t have
that luxury. We will spend at least 25% of the next 30 years away
from the comfort of our own bed.
Even if no calls
occur for your company during the course of the night, you haven’t
really slept. Your mind and body are in a constant state of
preparedness, waiting for that alarm to sound. When the alarm does
sound and the lights automatically turn on you disrupt your natural
circadian sleep rhythm. Constant disruption of this rhythm will break
you down physically and mentally. Ongoing research shows that this
disruption has been linked to cancer.
After completing
your 24-hour shift, or maybe even 48-hours straight your time has
come to go home. Consider this, you could have very easily just
responded to anywhere from 10-40 calls or even more depending on what
station you work at and other factors. The nature of these calls
range in complexity. Some more demanding than others, but even the
simplest and routine calls require physical exertion and/or exposure
to people experiencing medical emergencies. Those calls have you
exhausted and now you are ready to recover. Now instead of three days
off you only have 48 hours to recover. Those next 48 hours will be
seeking your attention from all angles. How well prepared are you to
give your un-divided attention to being a good husband, taking care
of your kids and pets, cleaning your house, mowing the lawn, cooking,
and the rest of your daily routine? Most firemen will tackle this
challenge head on and be great at it, but I want people to have a
better understanding of exactly what it is we deal with on a
consistent basis. It seems obvious now that the demand placed on a
fireman and his intimate relationship could have a debilitating
impact, i.e. Divorce.
The job of being a
fireman is a very self-rewarding one, but it sure has its drawbacks.
Studies show that the divorce rate for firemen is three times that of
the general population. Lets say you work for a local company. You
drive to work in the morning, have a coffee break at some point,
break for lunch, and get back home for an evening with the family.
I’m not saying your day doesn’t have its challenges, but the
daily routine for a Hartford fireman probably looks a little bit
different. The constant grind of coming to work has proven to be a
contributing factor for many divorces.
If the Mayor
chooses to cut man power, close firehouses, and change the shift
schedule to work more hours per week I caution you that we will be
treading dangerous waters. The load that will be placed on the
members of this organization will be difficult to withstand, and it’s
not because we are a bunch of cowards who can’t do the job. It is
scientifically proven that sustaining that lifestyle will be
detrimental to the safety of fireman and in turn the citizens we
swore an oath to protect.
The amount of
firemen being diagnosed with cancer is on the rise. Take a look at
these statistics provided from the Fire Engineering article “What
Every Firefighter’s Spouse Should Know”.
Brain
cancer: 3.5 times more likely in firefighters with 10 to 19 years of
experience.
Leukemia/lymphoma:
three times more likely.
Non-Hodgkin’s
lymphoma: two times more likely.
Multiple
myeloma: 2.25 times more likely; after 30 years, 10 times.
Bladder
cancer: three times more likely.
Kidney
cancer: four times more likely.
Prostate
cancer: two times more likely.
Testicular
cancer: 2.5 times more likely.
Colorectal
cancer (large intestine): two times more likely.
Liver
cancer: two times more likely.
Skin
cancer: two times more likely.
Breathing
smoke, and absorption through the skin are the common ways to be
exposed to deadly toxins. A typical fire can expose a fireman to
Carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, nitrogen oxides, ammonia, phenol,
benzene, hydrogen chloride, hydrochloric acid, methane, and hydrogen
cyanide. Many reports document a direct correlation between
firefighter exposures with these toxins and the increased risk of
cancer. I will stop this very short but just know that there is
increasing research out there providing a lot of good information
about this topic.
Some
other risks we are exposed to on any given day include operating in
adverse weather conditions, exposure to extreme heat and cold for
extended periods of time, heavy lifting, performing work with
cumbersome and heavy equipment, exposure to hazardous materials and
terrorist threats, dehydration, heat exhaustion, constant exposure to
diesel fuel exhaust, trip and slip hazards, contact with sick and
contagious patients, operating on ladders, electrical shock hazards,
weapons violence, exposure to depressing and traumatic events, and
exposure to traffic and distracted drivers while operating on
roadways especially I-91 and I-84.
We
know that firefighting is a strenuous job and can be very physically
demanding. During firefighting operations studies show that our heart
rate can reach almost 100% of its maximum. 164-183 beats per minute
is common, and for a 31-year-old fireman this correlates to about
86.8%-97% of our maximum heart rate. We can measure another way. One
MET (Metabolic equivalent of task) is the amount of energy/oxygen
that your body uses while sitting quietly. Expect to see firemen
expending an energy level of 12 METs while performing normal
firefighting operations. This is just about the equivalent of running
an 8-minute mile while at a 1% incline.
While
performing firefighting operations you can expect the conditions to
raise your anxiety level substantially. Every fireman will react
differently and it takes experience and willingness to remain calm
under pressure. Increasing your heart rate due to anxiety-induced
moments can have devastating effects. At 60-80 BPM your heart rate is
normal, but as it increases to 115 BPM and then to 145 BPM you will
see fine motor skills deteriorating and then complex motor skills,
which are required of you to perform normal firefighting functions.
At 175 BPM cognitive processing deteriorates and tunnel vision sets
in. Loss of depth perception and near vision is setting in. Your are
in a dangerous place now because above 175 BPM irrational flight or
flee, freezing-up, submissive behavior, and even uncontrollable bowel
movements and vomiting may take place.
A
combination of the topics covered in this letter and even more that
weren’t discussed all contribute to the number one killer of
firemen, heart disease. Heart attacks occur at an alarming rate in
the firefighting community. Some contributing factors of heart
disease and heart attacks are exposure to traumatic stress, exposure
to toxic fumes, sleep deprivation, and fatigue. A decrease in
manpower will expose the remaining members of this department to even
more of these contributing factors. On average 100 firefighters in
United States will die in the line-of-duty every year. The leading
cause of death is heart attacks. If the Mayor is serious about
protecting the safety of his firemen he needs to reassess his game
plan. The Hartford Fire Department is already close to operating at
its minimum staffing level, cutting manpower and closing firehouses
is not an option!
This letter has no official support from the
Hartford Fire Department or I.A.F.F. Local 760. I wrote this letter
on my own without their blessing. However I am certain that the other
members of this organization are passionate and dedicated to this
profession and are willing to stand up and fight for their rights.
Mayor Bronin is considering making changes that will directly impact
my safety and the safety of Hartford citizens and its guests. We will
be at the front line prepared for battle at 1100 Hrs. on March 21st.
Come join your Hartford firemen at the Legislative Office Building
where Mayor Bronin begins his pursuit to cripple our rights as a
collective bargaining unit. If Mayor Bronin succeeds in this endeavor
the consequences will have a harsh impact.
Andrew
Beliveau
3/17/2016
