Chewing and smoking in fire houses?!?!?! gone forever?

ok so i have been hearing talk about smoking ban on all fire houses! I myself am only a volunteer with hopes on becoming a pro in the next few years but it still is a very interesting thing to me! could it affect the volunteer setting as well? im not a smoker ya but i dont mind if people do it! i chew when im around the station wether it be a paid firehouse or my volunteer station i realize that it is a nasty habbit, but it wether anyone likes it or not is very relaxing and its a social piece and if people have a problem with it i usually give them the benifit of the doubt and walk away, even though most of the time they cant tell i have one in! i mean are they taking too much from us as firefighters? and what does everyone think about chewing at the fire house? please help me out!

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Permalink Reply by DUST on July 26, 2009 at 12:12am

In our dept's s.o.p. you only be on the receiving end of oral sex only, for exactly that reason!

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Permalink Reply by lutan1 on July 26, 2009 at 2:00am

and what does everyone think about chewing at the fire house?

Ban both- fortunately over here I don't beleive chewing is a popular habit....

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Permalink Reply by Dewayne and Diana Bean on July 26, 2009 at 12:52pm

I guess they will do what they will and I will just bitch if it happens. LOL I don't think there is very many who DON'T smoke.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Dumser on July 26, 2009 at 3:04pm

Not to mention the chance that someone will mistakenly drink from the tobacco chewer's spit cup. It's happened, (not to me).

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Permalink Reply by John Rulli Jr. on July 26, 2009 at 4:02pm

Its a free country I feel you should be able to do what you want

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Permalink Reply by Glenn C. Rex on July 26, 2009 at 4:33pm

My department has adopted a policy that reflects the Federal Standard on tobacco use in public buildings. A fire station is considered a safe haven and thereby falls in the realm of public building. Our policy states that there will be no smoking within 25 feet of an exit/entrance or window that can be opened to the outside. Our personnel who smoke have to find a place that is within that distance and still be able to hear and respond if the house bells go off. The policy does not actually address chewing tobacco, or dipping as it is refered to. The Station Officer has the ability to allow personnel who chew tobacco to do it inside the station, but he is also taking on full responsibility for the actions of those who are chewing tobacco. There is always the possibility of someone forgetting their spit cup or spitoon. There is also the possibility of it getting knocked over. That Officer will have to account for those actions if it happens. We have a fair amount of personnel who do chew tobacco, far more than who smoke. I would say we have maybe 5 or 6 who still smoke out of a 65 person department, opposed to 10 or 15 who chew tobacco. There is no animosity between smokers and those who chew.
The bottom line is; Policies are put into effect for a reason and we all know the detrimental effects of tobacco use in any form. Our goal should be to remain healthy and in shape so we can best serve the public at large. I chew tobacco myself, and I am also one of the Officers at our house. Many of my crew also chew tobacco and we run as the wildland station. We all know we should quit the habbit and we have actually been discussing it. It is a habbit, and is not so easy to break. Tobacco use should be uniform across the board, and in a lot of places it is one of the first things addressed when hired. Will you let your habit stop you from being a firefighter??

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Permalink Reply by Tony P on July 27, 2009 at 7:51pm

Truly? Anyone should be able to do what they want? So if I'm bored one day I should be allowed to shoot a few of my neighbours just for entertainment?

Yes I'm being ridiculous. But your comment is so brief that it can be taken in any way a person likes. You want to smoke? Fine, but what about the people who want to be able to breath clean air, shouldn't they be allowed to do as they want? It is the chosen act of the smoker that provents others from doing what they want. Surely the smoker is the one that should be taking the corrective action and indulging in their 'habit' in a seperate area to the workplace? Or public building?

I used the word 'habit' again. Is something that induces cravings when you stop doing it a 'habit'? No, I think it's an adiction. Use of drugs induces addiction. The inability of many people to easily stop smoking when they decide to do so implies an addiction, not a habit.

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Permalink Reply by Rick K. on August 12, 2009 at 12:52am

That really suck's!!! Sure there are some departments that dont allow smoking or chewing but I dont think its rt at all ! If someone wants to do either there should be a place outside like outside the back door!! This is my opinion for all its worth but everybody has there own opinion !!

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Permalink Reply by blair4630 on August 12, 2009 at 2:50am

I agree with this, smokers and chewers should have a place. The thing I don't like is that there are people that smoke on the benches just inside the garage doors when kids (their's and other's) are standing right there. You would think firefighters and EMT's would have more sense. Apparently not.