The Pros And Cons Of Firefighter Grieving

Many scientists believe that the reasons may lie in the combination of the extreme heat and the physical stress involved.Dr. Helene Wilson of the British Heart Foundation theorizes that the toxins released during fires and inhaling smoke play contributing roles in firefighter mortality. The Foundation has commenced a study to determine why heart attacks are so prevalent while fighting a fire and what measures can be deployed to improve health outcomes for firefighters. Researchers hope to better understand how fire stresses the body and how to protect the health of firefighters. Initial research findings indicate that small changes such as drinking water more frequently may reduce risk.Sadly, all of these stressors and health challenges have led to other negative outcomes, including an increased rate of suicide among firefighters than experienced in past generations. The National Firefighters Foundation reports that in any year, a department is four times more likely to experience the suicide death of a member than a line-of-duty death.Stress, negative health changes, the physical rigors of the job, and mental health challenges are taking their toll on our nation’s bravest.The brotherhood (and sisterhood) of firefighting is unique, with a strength that is often not available in many other

We are the most technically advanced nation in the free world but yet we have not been able to reduce the number of firefighter fatalities over the years. Its one of the great mysteries of the world today. Our gear is better than what they wore thirty years ago, its better than what they wore ten years ago and we still lose an average of one hundred firefighters every year. I know that not all are dying in structure fires but just one is one too many.

According the agency of the Department of Homeland Security states that motor vehicles crashes are the leading cause of death for an on-line duty fireman. Other significant causes of death are: caught/trapped (10%), fall (5%), collapse (3%), and other (7%). Intentions of firefighters are to make the community safe as possible, but we the people need to think twice before we do anything else when dealing with fire. The other things that it 's a national problem for firefighters is not wearing their seat belts when driving out to an emergency. They are so focused on saving our lives when first it 's supposed to be the opposite, their safety is first, but firemen put their lives at risk.

Grey’s Anatomy, Chicago Fire, my life is nothing like that. Of course there are exhilarating moments on the scene of an incident or on the 5 Center floor of the intensive care unit, however, the realities of working as a fireman or in a hospital are not nearly as glamorous. Running into burning building and extracting people from impossible car accidents are not every day occurrences. In fact, seeing a building fully engulfed in flame is a rare sight that will leave you in awe nearly every time. On the first day at the fire academy I got a reality check about firefighting. At the beginning of each class we take a moment of silence for fallen firefighters. Nowhere in the job description does it say that you have to die in the line of duty,

The day of 9/11, I remember waking up to hearing the news on television that the Twin Towers were purposefully struck by jetliners. Then, I remember the news anchors on the television being dead silent as the towers crumbled to what is now known as, Ground Zero. I continued to watch in disbelief holding my mom’s hand asking what was exactly going on. She then walked me to elementary school down our block and it was the most eerie feeling of silence I have ever heard to this day. Wanting to be a Firefighter/Paramedic since the age of four years old, this event in history has impacted me in a drastic way. Three hundred forty three firefighters were killed by trying to answer the 9-1-1 call from hell. Each and every one of them did not question what they were up against. They knew that their duty was to respond and resolve the situation. In the video World Trade Center Dispatch 9/11/01, from the one minute mark of the dispatcher saying, “send every available unit you got to the World Trade Center” to the forty six minute mark of the dispatcher giving response to every company that was at the scene with none of them responding back; the audio was surreal and unnatural the entire time. This point is vital to include because it shows the extent of what was taking place. The New York City Fire Department needed an army of firefighters to be at the scene and

In his article "New West, Old Story," Timothy Egan discusses the death of several young firefighters, known as the Hotshots, who died in a large brush fire protecting property and he asks, “what did they die for?" He compares them to the firefighters who died in the aftermath of the terror attack on September 11th 2001, highlighting how the September 11th firefighters died saving lives while the Hotshots died protecting property. He goes on to tell of how in the moment most people are frustrated with firefighters for not going fast enough. He follows later by quoting a homeowner who praises the men that saved her home. Overall, he analyzes the situation and leaves his audience with a view swayed by deployment of rhetorical devices.

“Who you gonna call? Ghost Busters” (Brillstein & Reitman, 1984). In 1984, a very popular comedy movie “Ghostbusters” hit the big screen and this quote from the movie seemed to stick in everyone’s head. Today, the question that seems to be raised when there is a crisis or emergency situation is “Who you gonna call? The fire department”. In today’s society, the fire service has become the “catchall” for every kind of emergency. Do you agree? Fighting fire is still a big part of the fire service, “in 2015, every twenty-three seconds a fire department was responding to a fire” (NFPA (Ed.), 2015). However, the fire service has evolved from just “putting the wet stuff on the red stuff” mentality, to a profession of highly trained and skilled firefighters. Ever since the discovery of fire there has been a need for methods to manage it if, and when, it gets out of control. Throughout history, to keep up with the changing environment in which we live, civilization and the fire service have made numerous changes. With fewer fires, and more products being manufactured from plastics and other dangerous chemicals, the fire service must be vigilant in developing new methods to keep firefighters safe and justify their job while providing the most efficient service for the citizens.

Expert first response personnel make all the difference when it comes to saving lives and property; they realize failure is not an option in today’s highly volatile unforgiving world of disaster. Firefighters, police, military, medical as well as any other national/ international first responder are prime examples of people who give tirelessly all that they have, who work twenty-four hours a day, and who often find themselves hip-deep in blood and guts in order to mitigate the situation. These first response veterans aspire to save that one more life; they strive often even at the emotional expense of poorly kept energy reserves to pull people and property from the disaster, but at what cost? Is first response employees

Most firefighters are known to not be open with sharing how they feel because it can possibly ruin their reputation as a firefighter and in the firehouse. It was not until military personnel were presenting symptoms that are currently known to be associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. Meroney presents the article with a list of the most common signs that can be observed in the firefighter. Signs such as substance abuse, depression, suicidal thoughts, and loneliness, once these signs are present try to talk with the firefighter and see what is affecting them. They need professional help to cure this disorder. The fire service is known to be a large family that watches out for each other, the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation created the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives. In which, number 13- behavioral health, this initiative helps prevents firefighter’s deaths. Meroney basically goes over the basics of

Firefighters are highly revered members of every community because they are quick to respond and handle whatever situation confronts them. They put their lives on the line to save people from burning buildings, extricate victims from motor vehicle collisions, fight forest fires, treat the sick, cook pancakes, and give tours of their station and fire apparatus. What isn’t to love about firefighters and the profession? As odd as it may sound, firefighter arsonist. Every year on the average one hundred firefighters are arrested for arson (National Volunteer Fire Council [NVFC], 2011, p. 4).

Throughout the years, researchers have studied firefighter line of duty deaths (LODD) to determine what firefighters are doing wrong. In Pennsylvania, in 1995, three firefighters were lost when a collapse occurred in a house fire, killing all three. Research determined that there was not any effective accountability system in place. In Iowa, in 1999, three firefighters died during efforts to rescue residents confined in a house fire.

Firefighters: Their job is to react when exhales are activated in an effort to control and extinguish their feelings. This is accomplished any numbers of way through alcohol or drug use, gambling, shopping, binge eating. We believe the firefighters are keeping us safe somehow however they are actuality obscuring our heart within us.

     In the past, most people thought firefighters had a pretty easy career. Much of the time they were off work or just laying back waiting for

Firefighters that are having suicidal thought can have symptoms that are similar to PTSD symptoms. Persons who are contemplating about committing suicide or having suicidal thoughts can have a troublesome time focusing on the tasks they are doing. Firefighters may feel as if their world needs to just to stop, a person who wants to commit suicide usually do not tell anyone how they are feeling. They may be embarrassed or simply just do not want to tell anyone because that is how they feel and are choosing not to get treatment. A common symptom one may feel isolated from others, or perhaps feeling hopelessness or worthlessness. Symptoms can include feelings of depression, firefighters can have a hard “shell”, what this means is it can be difficult for others to visualize depression in the firefighter. However, the person is having negative thoughts or ideas, which puts them in this way of thinking. Firefighter

The greatest threat facing the Modern Fire Service is the rate at which firefighters are dying in the line of duty. Excluding the terrible event of 9/11 that occurred in 2001 that forever changed the dynamics of the emergency response services1, firefighter deaths have averaged around 100 fatalities each year for the since 1990. This unacceptable rate of firefighter deaths has found its way to be a benchmark in the industry. The problem is that the benchmark should be zero firefighter deaths while on duty and every year that there is a fatality is a year that the fire service has failed its members. The number one cause of firefighter related deaths yearly is proven to be medical, stress, or overexertion related fatalities2. All of these causes of firefighter deaths can be avoided with implementation of training and awareness.