The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Language Barrier
After a trip to Mexico and talking to the Firefighters over there, or "Bomberos" as they call themselves, I became curious as to know...
How many of you have ever been faced with a language barrier, and how did it affect the incident?
What do you do if you're faced with someone who speaks little to no English in an emergency, who do you call?
Does your department carry those quick reference sheets made specially for EMS and Fire?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Forrest Post on
-
Que? Que esta su pregunta Senor? Jaja
-
Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
-
Learning 26 letters... that's all you have to do to enable communicating with folks that cannot hear, which includes the ability to verbally communicate with you. This is worth saving and carrying with you. You never know...
When I went through paramedic school, the doctor that ran the school had a child that was totally non-hearing. The importance of being able to communicate with hearing impaired folks was identified and basic sign language including the alphabet and some medical questions were taught.
I've actually used the skill set of sign language signing on a handful of calls, including delivering a baby from a very silent young woman who was concerned whether or not her baby was crying... it was. Life is good being able to use basic communication tools to do our jobs.
-
Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
-
...pasa?
-
Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on
-
Forrest....You must have been reading some of the posts here.....From what I have seen some of these people can't speak or write English.....I put a sticker on my motorcycle helmet....kind of expresses my point of view.....reads like this...."This is America...Speak English or get the hell out......"Getting tired of being politically correct for others.....LOL
-
-
Illiteracy is my BIGGEST pet peeve. I won't name any names, but reading thru a handful of discussions a day on here, I think some of us need to go back to the first grade, or just keep themselves as far away as possible from all pens, pencils, and keyboards. Hahahahah
-
Permalink Reply by marc loreas on
-
due to language barrier and the loss a childs life my department started to hire Spanish speaking men and women back in the 80's so now our department has one or more spanish speaking member on each engine and ladder truck, each tour. There are also Italian speaking, portugese, Jamaican and a few other languages in the department. Languages facinate me.
-
-
You belong to a big city department I take it?
-
-
Sorry but I really don't get it....We have to hire or train people to speak other languages.....? I thought this was America....isn't our National language English...? My prior comment stands..........
-
-
If you don't get it i will try to explain. This is America and as an American of PuertoRican decent the fact that i am Bi-lingual, happens to benefit my department in situations where language is a barrier. America is the melting pot of the World and many people speak different languages. My personal view as political as it may sound is that " if you live in America your should Learn the National Language". I totally agree. But it is sadly not the case. By me being a Firefighter, I choose to help my fellow citizens in anyway I can weather they are here legally or Illegally, I use the term legal and Illegal because we also have them here. To know another Language is beneficial in many ways, learning is what being human is all about. If it benefit me to learn another language then I welcome the challenge, because It makes me that much better and marketable. I have been studying French since last year, ever since I meet a French lady at an EMS call and there was a language barrier. The mind is a terrible thing to waist, Look at the big picture we are a global community. I'd also like to make clear that i am not pro Illegals. They are Breaking the law and should be deported. I will tell you this, My department did not hire me because i spoke Spanish. They hired me because I spoke English, I am a Law abiding citizen with a great employment history and work ethic, I am a USN Veteran, I have excellent credit and I happen to be Spanish speaking.
-
Permalink Reply by Vic Silverfish on
-
Jamaican speaking?
-
-
no, you don't have to hire or train linguists, just like you don't need the latest rescue kit, better ladders, lighter SCBA, flashier warning lights etc. It's a quality of service issue. If you are in a department with a large population that does not speak English, you will better serve them by having the skills to communicate.
We can go round and round about immigration law, building a fence, and the rest of it. None of that matters to the issue at hand: as public servants, we need to figure out how to best serve our community, and sometimes that means learning a bit of a language.
-
-
I am with you 100%. Well said
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
