Medical Problems

[JGallagher]

Here is another one from my mind. What medical conditions should a Fire Fighter not have!! That would disqulafy him from being a Fire Fighter!!

[DoubleHelix]

Epilepsy
Bad Asthma
Panic Attacks

I don't know those are the main ones that originally came to mind.

[bfrd22]

clostriphobia, MS, Parkinsons, heart conditions, deaf, blind, peralisis, epelepsy. (yeah spelling sucks, I'm not a medic)

It would be easier if the question was related to what would be permitted. :)

[Red_Devil]

colour blindess is important!!!, heart conditions, anxiety problems, the need to wear creative lenses that are great then 20/40 vision

[remya]

The top two I can think of are hydrophobia and Pyrophobia or Arsonophobia.

Don't laugh we had an applicant with both of these phobias...

he is now our chief (kidding!!)

[JGallagher]

Some one said Asthma! How bad of Asthma were you talking about? I have asthma. Not bad though!! I can do all that has to be done on scence.

[DoubleHelix]

My Fire Prevention teacher at school has bad asthma which prevented him from being on the trucks. I don't know how bad but its definetly not a good thing.

[bfrd22]

Asthma would have to be a little on the severe side, I too have asthma. Heck about 3 of us on the Dept do. Not a big deal if it's under control, and we have O2 kits on the units. Just in case and for self treatment for smoke inhilation and Rehab. We all have spare meds in our gear. JIC. but in 15 yrs It's has never slowed me down.

[WFD999]

Im thinking the short answer is. A medical problem emotional or physical that would endanger the firefighter or anyone that he\she comes contact with in the performance of thier duties. A little common sense goes along way here. Mild asthma, eyeglasses, sore back, and the good old common cold haven't slowed us down yet.

[knatty_soldier]

Hey, I have a question along the same lines. About the eyesight thing . . . how good does my eyesight need to be? I wear contacts now, and I think my eyesight is about 20/60. Is this going to be an insurmountable barrier, or is it ok? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

[Red_Devil]

i think its around 20/40, so looks like your SOL, unless you do the laser surgery, Cant wear contacts cause they would melt to your eyeballs in a fire dude

[iamvff]

Originally posted by JGallagher
Here is another one from my mind. What medical conditions should a Fire Fighter not have!! That would disqulafy him from being a Fire Fighter!!

No Balls.

I'm Sorry, I couldn't resist:rolleyes:

Be safe,
iamvff:)

[wilderness]

As for the eye sight thing i feel just short of using a seeing eye dog...they don,t make SCBA'S for them yet.

[Toxic]

Originally posted by iamvff
No Balls.


Wait is this the fireman vs firefighter post?:D

Just being sily - no offence intended to our female firefighters.

[firecadet911]

Interesting post. I have type 1 diabetes (insulin dependant). I was told by a recruiting officer that as long as your medical condition is well controlled (if possible, there are conditions that are uncontrollable), and there is no recent history of your condition requiring emergency intervention (in my case, becomming hypoglycemic) and you can prove that your condition will not interfere with your day to day duties as a firefighter, then you're good to go.

On another note, has anybody worked along-side a diabetic firefighter before??

[iamvff]

I have not worked with a diabetic firefighter before, but I have several friends who are diabetic, and although it has it's complications(for lack of better wording), I know that it is quite managable if you want it to be. Once you get to know a person, you can learn to see most of the signs, and I find if these people care about their own health, they can manage it quite well. I would have no issues at all with someone with this ailment on the fire dept., as long as they made sure everyone new about it and was educated about it and what to watch for.

Be safe,
iamvff

[18atone]

Hope everyone is having a safe holiday season.

Medical conditions and how they relate to personnel in the fire service world are well researched. A better understanding of these as most departments apply them can be found in the manual NFPA 1582. This can be found and even downloaded from their web site. It is good to have an understanding of this standard if you have concerns. Hiring agents for FD's can't ask you questions about disease but will check on the goods they are buying before the final agreement. If you have concerns the NFPA manual will help you and your Doctor figure out whether you're endangering yourself and others in this profession.

Happy Holidays!!!

[LtBlondie]

What about the inability to SWEAT! yes we have one of these people who just got hired 8 months ago!! He has to wear a vest and carry a cooler with ice paks in them!! No shit!!

[Michael13]

Yes, I have. Good friend of mine is Diabetic. He can do all the work, but needs to leave the scene around meal times. All out trucks have a package for him, including insulin and pepsi. If the call is long, and he needs food. he goes to get it, or it comes to him. So far, he diabeties hasnt effected his performance of firefighting. He one of the only guys on our department that can last 30 plus mins on a 2216 psi bottle.

[Fireknight]

Originally posted by Michael13
Good friend of mine is Diabetic. He can do all the work, but needs to leave the scene around meal times.

"Yes Chief, I know we have a 4 alarm fire, but I HAVE!! to go and get a snack, Can I borrow your truck?"....;)

The biggest problem with NFPA 1582 as I have read them, if you go by the exact standards, no one can be a firefighter.

[iamvff]

Yeah...What are ya crazy. I would tend to think that any one with this or any other ailment would know enough to have there requirements with them at all times. It's not like they're going to have to leave the scene to get a snack. The biggest disabilities are the idiots that don't try to understand them.
Be intelegent,
& be safe
iamvff

[Michael13]

You have to remember that we are Volly. If he's right in the middle of dinner time and the pagers go off, he will finish his meal, and go to scene later. Its no problem. I dont mean he leaves the scene right on 5 oclock. if we still have 4 hours of overhaul to do, or cleanup, Chief calls for food and drink anyway. And we all understand that he needs food or insulin. When we get back to hall and theres 500 feet of hose to wash and the trucks to wash, he goes home, eats and always comes back. Its better than him passed out, which I have seen him do, he has had 3 close calls. Basically he doesnt leave the scene just as first line is pulled and the attack is being started. You have to understand that his life depends on it. He is dependable.

[FFWannabe]

Originally posted by Toxic
Wait is this the fireman vs firefighter post?:D

Just being sily - no offence intended to our female firefighters.

Hahhaha... I will be the first to say that those balls aren't gender specific!! :) I've got 'em!! ;)

Sue :)

[Red_Devil]

if hes had 3 close calls already, you gotta start asking yourself does he really need to be here?

[Fireknight]

Originally posted by FFWannabe
Hahhaha... I will be the first to say that those balls aren't gender specific!! :) I've got 'em!! ;)

Sue :)

I have mine too, no wait a minute....!?!? I left them in my wifes purse again...damn!!!....:eek:

[FFWannabe]

Originally posted by Fireknight
I have mine too, no wait a minute....!?!? I left them in my wifes purse again...damn!!!....:eek:

hahaha.... that was cute!!! :D

Sue :)

[wilderness]

i loss mine when the wedding ring went on the finger and i didn,t bring my glasses to read the small print.......

[FFWannabe]

Originally posted by wilderness
i loss mine when the wedding ring went on the finger and i didn,t bring my glasses to read the small print.......

hahhahaa... yup, we'll get you on that fine print every time! ;)

Sue :)

[wilderness]

I,m the man of the house when she's not home.... and don,t let me tell you anything diffrent... Sue don't even thinking of starting....... As a medical problem nothing serious, but i would fail the eye sight test for sure...but hell in a smoked filled house i can see as good as the rest of you...............

[JGallagher]

Originally posted by wilderness
I,m the man of the house when she's not home

She is proboly saying dont forget it!!

[Michael13]

I meant he has had three close calls at home. falling asleep at home, and almost not waking up. He is dependable, I thought i said this already. So dependable, I would want him behind me more than any two of you others. thats who good he is.

[Fireknight]

Originally posted by Michael13
Thats who good he is.

Who knew?

[FFWannabe]

Originally posted by wilderness
I,m the man of the house when she's not home.... and don,t let me tell you anything diffrent... Sue don't even thinking of starting.......

hahahaha... I wouldn't dream of it... I don't need someone else's balls, I've got my own! haha! Besides, it seems the men I date hide theirs very well anyway! lol!

Sue :)

[knatty_soldier]

So, if I went ahead and got the laser eye surgery, then I can qualify in "eyesight category" for various fire depts. right? THere's no restrictions against those people who've had bad eyesight and had it fixed through the surgery?

Thanks for your help!

Ben

[colin911]

There's no problem at all getting hired if you have had laser eye surgery. As long as you have 20/40 uncorrected vision (glasses or contacts) or better, you're good to go. I know many people on the dept. that have had their eyes done.

[JGallagher]

Originally posted by knatty_soldier
So, if I went ahead and got the laser eye surgery, then I can qualify in "eyesight category" for various fire depts. right? THere's no restrictions against those people who've had bad eyesight and had it fixed through the surgery?

Thanks for your help!

Ben

That is the best thing that I have ever done. That was awsome. If you want some info and videos on it let me know.

[skidder]

this may be a stupid question but is there any difference from better than 20/40 vision in both eyes together or do they look at individual eyes?

ie: left eye is 20/20 and right is 20/50.

Do departments have the say or is it vehicle licensing areas?

[dentedhead]

this may be a stupid question but is there any difference from better than 20/40 vision in both eyes together or do they look at individual eyes?

ie: left eye is 20/20 and right is 20/50.

Do departments have the say or is it vehicle licensing areas?

Skidder did you get my PM? In Ontario you would qualify for not wearing glasses to drive, 20/40 is the cut off.I was told this when I renewed my license. As I have said before I had the lazer surgery. This was the first license test I have had to do since, finally got the X restriction removed.You would be borderline as your eyes are right at the numbers for good eye bad eye.

Personally I think most visison standards are set by the hiring dept,or is it the OFM?I believe it is 20/30 in each eye as well as combined.

Hope that helps.

Dentedhead