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mentally challenged firefighters
I belong to a small combination dept in upstate New York. We have one company that is all paid staff. The others are 4 all volunteer companies. We also have an explorer post through the boy scouts. The dilemma is this one of the explorers is at the age when he could join as a volunteers and he keeps trying to be let in to one. The explorer in question has a heart of gold and has always wanted to be a firefighter. Now for the problem this explorer is mentally challenged. He got through high school with a special ED diploma. In the few years as an explorer he has made little progress and is not capable of formal state fire training. He has had several emotional outbursts after calls that he was not even involved in bad car wrecks fatal fires Etc. He has tried joining the 3 other companies who string him along. And now it’s our turn. It’s my opinion that he would be too much of a liability he requires constant supervision and direction. As my company is looking into accepting him with special circumstances I was wondering if anyone else has any experience with this or advise I could use. He is a good kid a 10yo in a 20yo body. I don’t want to discriminate against him based on his lack of mental capacity. I just don’t want him or someone else getting injured due to it. Our dept regs have nothing to say yes or no. Any input would be greatly appreciated. I Fear that what we do for one would likely open the flood gates.
Thank you in advance for your input.
Thank you in advance for your input.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Betz on
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I agree with you both. To clarify, I was kind of thinking this would be a verified method to limit his participation (if at all), NOT to find a way to get him in.
I'm of the opinion that he could only have a VERY limited role, if at all. Good stuff guys.
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Permalink Reply by Jonathan on
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As usual FETC makes a good point. Daryl you stated that he's a hard worker and has a great dispostion. But he does know the difference in "fire-fighting" firefighter and "auxiliary" firefighter and doesn't want to be the latter of the two. Explain that he is no different than anyone else and if he truly wants to become a member he has to pass the same training and physicals as everyone else on the department. If he can't do it, then just like those before him who couldn't do it, you tell them thank you for trying and wanting to join, but you just aren't capable of doing the job. We turn away people all the time who can't cut it, and they are (for the most part) far from any mental/physical impairments. It's tough being blunt and stern to such a great person, but if we don't protect ourselves, nobody else will.
-Logue TCSS
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Permalink Reply by lutan1 on
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Tony, it's interesting that about 6 months after our issues with this guy, I had a mate who was an officer at Cranbourne CFA who was asking me to handle a similar situation. At the time (I don't know if it's changed now) the CFA also had no policy on how to handle this....
They too were at wits end trying to work through it.
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Permalink Reply by steve price on
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try participating with firecorps.org ( a civilian support organization through the citizen corps.)
here is an excerpt from firecorps.org [ How can citizens help? There are many necessary tasks that can be performed by community members in the fire and emergency services every day. From creating web sites, to maintaining vehicles, to conducting life safety education programs and providing administrative help, the list is endless - bound only by your imagination.]
there maybe a way for him to participate, also allow him to join a rehab squad or fire police if any of these are viable options .
we have a simular situation in my dept but its not my place to comment on it since my opinions have become subject of scrutiny
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Permalink Reply by Aussie_Wildfire on
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At this time, I think CFA still does not have a policy
But our state does : equal op & OHS
You have to give a person a chance and if they are not safe, out they go. Physical or mental
and with our vols getting older, physical is showing it's head more often
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Permalink Reply by SHAWN FORINGER on
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WE HAVE A MENALLOY CHALLENGED MAN IN OUR FIRE DEPT . . HE HAS A HEART OF GOLD .WE LET HIM SIGN UP AS A SOCAIL FIREFIGHTER .HE DOES GO ON NON EMERGENCY CALLS ,CLEAN THE TRUCKS ,AND CLEAN EQUIPMENT . START HIM ON THAT AND GO FROM THERE .
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Permalink Reply by Jenny Holderby on
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We have two special needs people as "Associate" members. Associate members don't get firefighter cards. They attend OUR training sessions, they do often show up on scene, but they don't fight fire.
One of our guys is in a wheel chair. He joined as an Explorer back in the 90s all he ever wanted to do was to help and to dispatch. He is an inspiration and is a great cheerleader. He has a big heart and his family supports him, therefore, they support us. When we go out on calls they listen. If we are out long he & his family will show up with drinks or snacks. They always help with fund raisers and events.
One of our other Associates is the son of one of our fire fighters. He has Downs Syndrome. He is a helper. He comes with is dad and helps with cleaning up the equipment and the station and helps anybody with anything.
Will either of these guys ever be issued PPE or fight fire? No but is it worth our time & effort to have them around? Sure it is. But both of them are visibly physically challenged. We have a couple of guys who I wasn't sure could get certified because I didn't know how deep their learning disabilities were. The one who has taken training did get his card. The other hasn't taken the training yet because his work schedule wouldn't allow him to go to the classes the last time they were offered. But they are both great members of the department.
One of the "perks" of being a volunteer fire department and voting on your membership is that during the times when you aren't on calls, you still have room & time to let people help who otherwise wouldn't have an opportunity do serve their community.
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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Daryl, there are a few pros and cons about this situation like anything else in life. you have to weigh them all out. some cons would be, what can he actually do without injuring himself, a patient, or another firefighter or personnel. some of the pros maybe would be that you have the opportunity to make someones dream come true. if you do take him on don't think of it as stringing him along. if you think like that before you hire him or whatever he will be dead weight. set out some things that you know he definitely can do either by himself or with a buddy. lay out some ground rules as well, letting him know and other people in your company what he cant due to to liability situation. The point is you don't have to discriminate against him if you don't want to. be creative , but don't be a charity either, we all have a job to do and we need to do it safely. If you and your company members have jobs available for him to accomplish then hes a fit. If not and you cant see him staying on because there are not many things he can do due to safety issues then so be it. Whatever decision you come to I know it will be the right one for the right reasons. Think positive if you can, if all you can foresee in this situations is disaster then by all means do not hire him. Good luck to you and if you can , let me know what you decide, this is a very interesting situation ya got here. take care
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Permalink Reply by Ken on
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Well I have been in those shoes, its tough as a officer worrying about those that have been trained. My department had a guy that when he joined we all thought he was joining as a auxiliary member. I know that I left him at the station several times because I did not want the liability. After some time we all learned what he could do. He also has learned what to setup for our air truck and help the operator. He cares more about the truck being cleaned than most of the guys and he lives for parades. If your guy knows he has limitations and accepts direction he can be support staff.
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Permalink Reply by Jessica Travis on
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maybe instead of having a firefighter supervise him at all times you could get one of his family members to accompany him, make sure he stays safe, out of the way, on task. that kind of thing. you could show the family member how the station runs and how to do whatever task you think he could do and that person could help him accomplish those tasks safely.
That way he's not just kicked out. maybe he could help with the explorer program in some way?
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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on
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good point Charles
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Permalink Reply by Captain Kevin C. Ross on
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Hi Daryl, I don't have an answer for you either, I was wondering if this young man was able to understand that if he was told that his only options were to remain in quarters and help out there (as a houseman,auxiliary, or whatever you call them in your dept.)and that if he did not agree to this then there would not be a position available for him?
I also wondered if there were parents and counselors for this man to help with the process of getting him to take a position that was appropriate for him. That being said under no cicumstances should you create a position for him that is not already established in your dept, because you are right in thinking this will open the flood gates for needing to constantly have to create new positions everytime a new situation arises. Also one last thought, what did he do as an explorer, and what does his explorer advisors say he is capable of doing, also I know he wants to be A FIREFIGHTER, but what about continuing with the explorers as an advisor or Jr. Advisor etc. Maybe the Boy Scouts Could help you in placing him in an appropriate position. I wonder if these were presented to him and he only had the option of these positions or none, maybe he would except them. Good Luck! Let us know how you make out. Capt. Kevin C. Ross Pembroke, NY Fire Dept.
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