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ADA and Firefighters
I was wondering how people felt about recruits who are disabled going through academy? What is your opinion on this? We have a recruit with uses a handicap placard whenever he goes someplace, even to the station. He is very overweight, I would like to say grossly. I do not know the reason for his acceptance except maybe to satisfy a portion of the American with Disabilities Act. That way no discrimination is show? Or to prove a point that maybe he should not have joined? I don't know the full reasoning so this is only my viewpoint.
How do other stations handle applications from those with handicaps?
I know that the three out stations that I drill with do not feel comfortable being on a call with this person cause if poop hit the fan we do not trust that he would be able to perform. If he is on a call with me do I as a probie have the right to tell my commanding officer that I do not feel safe in this persons hands or trust his abilities?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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So far, no. Anyone I've had to work with has been capable of performing what ever was required of them. If I thought there was a problem, I would deal with it appropriately.
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Permalink Reply by Fabulous Heather Days of Summer on
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I don't have the FF handbook in front of me - but those were the instructions my department functions under and my FF training taught me.
And yes, if you are not prepared to follow directions - all directions - then you better deal with it off the fire ground - this is why I told her to talk to her Chief/Officers... THIS SHOULD BE DONE ASAP - BEFORE - SHE FEELS IN DANGER ON SCENE !!!
And I would rather be challenged for insubordination than be the star in a LODD funeral.
The guys on my list to NOT do interior attack with were also on my Chief/Officer lists - because they had seen these guys do dangerous unsanctioned things. But when they are dangerous in training, you know they are just going to be worse on scene. (These were not guys on my dept, they were MA) And as a general practice we always tried to only go interior with our own dept guys anyway.
But you also do not want to have someone SCARED while trying to complete a task - because then they are not effective - they are distracted and that will lead to death and injury. So yes, while I have never been Chief, I have had to give command, and I would rather someone tell me BEFORE they get in over their head, than do a task and tell me later they were scared, or that they get injured later when they saw (or perceived) a danger that I did not see (or perceive).
In my humble opinion
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Permalink Reply by Patti Walz on
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If one of your guys came to you with concerns like this how would you handle it?
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If someone came to me with safety concerns about another person, I'd walk them into my Lt.'s office and have them tell the Lt. what the problem is. If I had a concern I'd do the same thing, if I felt that talking to the individual in question would not be effective.
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We did a round table last night after drill becasue quite a few of us are concerned and how do we deal with a vollie from another district assisting our district.
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Thank you.
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Yes Patti, it sounds like you need to be proactive about each of these matters. Chief Mike (and others) make a good point you can not really deal with this on scene - it is too dangerous to not have a good working relationship with everyone - and certainly a level of trust and confidence in personal safety.
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p.s. i never, in all my years - refused - an order on scene...
i am all about prevention...
and I never served under a command that did not take safety feedback from everyone...
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That is one thing my Lt stressing each and everytime we drill or are on scene and he listens to what everyone has to say and will fight the bighouse for us.
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Permalink Reply by Stephanie Shirk on
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Im sorry let me be more clear.... This is nothing to do with me, I am simply stating that you do not have to follow any order just because it is given too you. If the conditions are unsafe and you feel as if you cannot perform them because of fear then you can tell your officer that you cant do it. Then it would fall to the officer to reassign the order or work around it. I certainly dont encourage it but it can be done. I dont find it acceptable, some people do!
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Permalink Reply by Vic Silverfish on
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It cuts both ways, Jack. I've seen tons of career guys hang back, injure themselves on the way to a call and otherwise do things that should get them fired from a real job. I even knew a couple that could never pass a fitness test. It impacted their promotion schedule, but there was almost no risk of any real action taken against them. Don't get me started on some of the the crap-ass paramedics we had. Thank gods the IAFF protects its members from any actual accountability
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I was using sarcasm, if we are talking about twisting words, you kind of mutalated my posts.
I never stated that fear was acceptable on my own standards but I do have to say if fear stops someone's ability to do an order then they are not refusing it.
And I didnt say its impossible to get kicked out, there are plenty of ways to get kicked out. I just dont see how any Volunteer department will be able to justify on legal terms kicking someone out for being scared! I do not see fear as a cop out I would rather get the shit beat out of me then chicken out over an order.
And lastly my post said there are some people I dont trust in my department other than those few I have full confidence in these guys...
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