The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Can you have Asthma and be a Firefighter?
Healthy Lungs...
One of the subjects researched was asthma which led to my discussing the topic in more detail. When I asked her if a firefighter could or could not do the job, she answered, and typically vague... that it depends...
It depends on how bad the asthma is. How much medication they have to take. Were they diagnosed with asthma at a young age or was it an adult onset. What are the triggers... Is it seasonal asthma connected with allergies? Have they been hospitalized before? Is a steroid used daily and have they had to use a rescue inhaler before. The list goes on and on... And if it's exercised induced asthma, then they are screwed...
For those never experiencing asthma, or a restricted airway issue, please allow me to share with you a teaching tool that is used to simulate the effects of an asthma attack. All you have to do is use a straw to breathe in and out. You now know what an asthmatic feels, which is complete fear because you cannot exchange air. Often it's not too difficult to inspire or breathe air in, it's just the getting air exhaled that is close to impossible, or at least that is how it is described by some. Hopefully, someone with more background can shed some light on the subject as well as share department policies or experiences with the ultimate goal of answering the question...
• Can you have Asthma and be a firefighter?
• Does your department permit asthmatics to work as firefighters?
• Have you responded to a serious asthmatic emergency?
• Do you know the mechanism of what causes or what 'triggers' asthma?
Note: Asthma PPT included for your review and use to help you answer the above questions.
Train often and when possible, let someone else do all the work... Enjoy!
- Attachments:
-
-
ASTHMA-1.ppt, 952 KB
-
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by FETC on
-
Sorry but your question can't be answered. Guys can say YES, I currently am a firefighter, or Hey I know a guy who.... but it comes down to each individual department's standard.
Like I said, depends on your department's health and wellness standard. NFPA 1582 SubPart A; deals specifically with medical conditions which a POTENTIAL "new hire" firefighter cannot have when he or she is subjected to a physical exam. Part A entrance physicals are more stringent because you need to have a healthy firefighter to start with, and then maintain that health throughout your career. Not adopt someone's elses pre-existing medical condition, loss time, rehabilitation, or career ending disability retirement when he or she is exposed to something a healthy firefighter could handle.
Sorry but there are MANY conditions that you CANT be a firefighter if the department uses NFPA 1582.
Then again there are many fire department's that don't have a medical standard at all...
-
Permalink Reply by ashfire on
-
This the connection
http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=101005&catid=28
or just go to http://www.wusa9.com go to Living Well fo Heat Therapy Helps Severe Asthma Sufferers
-
Permalink Reply by Volker Brammertz on
-
I think with asthma you do not keep aut of the fire service. You can't take a SCBA but you work as a driver or something in the back ground. I think there is a lot of work todo withou SCBA
-
Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
-
I was wondering how the fire service in europe, specifically Germany in your situation dealt with asthma. Not all cases are developed at a young age. As noted previously, some exposures to a myriad of things can cause asthma symptoms and problems to develop. In these situations, I would hope that fire departments would do their best to accommodate individuals who developed asthma as a result of the job. As you mentioned Volker, there are many other tasks and job responsibilities that can be done in the fire service that don't require IDLH atmospheres and the use of self-contained breathing apparatus. We need to take care of our own, and make it a number one priority.
CBz
-
Permalink Reply by Tony P on
-
Interesting thread. Thankfully I don't suffer from asthma, but I know people who do.
The fire service I'm with has guidelines administered by a retained medical Doctor. If there are any questions about a person being a Ff for any medical reasons, he is the last word. Do we have any people in the service who suffer from asthma? I don't know. I do know of one asthma sufferer who has clearance from his own specialist asthma medico, but the official Doc still says "No". So therefore that person cannot be a firefighter with us. This person is very unhappy that his own medical specialist's opinion seems to be disregaded, but the question has to be asked, does his specialist truly understand what a firefighter can be expected to face? Perhaps 'our' doctor, though not a specialist, does understand more of the risks than others not closely involved with the job? Perhaps it's simply that the FRS itself has instructed him that 'if any doubt, say no' - this could be from the point of view that if it was to turn out that something bad did occur then not only could the individual be in a bad position, but also the FRS itself for knowingly allowing the possibility?
As has been said, there are different levels of asthma suffering. We may well have asthma sufferers in my FRS in the volunteer side. Are there any in the career side? I have no idea. As has also been said, it comes down to the organisational guidelines - and how well those conditions are implemented.
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- Next ›
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
