FAMA Awards Scholarship to Maryland Student
The Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) has awarded its 2016 Phillip L. Turner Fire Protection Scholarship to University of Maryland student Julie Bryant.
Bryant was selected to receive the $5,000 scholarship in recognition of her outstanding achievements and dedication to the protection of life safety. She is a senior at the University of Maryland, and plans to graduate this December with a bachelor’s degree in fire protection engineering. Bryant is also a volunteer firefighter with the Branchville Volunteer Fire Company & Rescue Squad in Prince George’s County.
Bryant is an ongoing instructor for an outreach project designed to teach high school students about important fire protection concepts and serves the university as a teaching fellow for the freshman Hot Topics in Fire class. During her "free time," Bryant completed EMT and Firefighter I courses with plans to become a certified paramedic.
After completing her undergraduate studies in December, Bryant will pursue a master’s degree in fire protection engineering. Dedicated to helping people and ambitious to protect those who protect others, Bryant aspires to focus her career on improving personal protective equipment.
The Phillip L. Turner Scholarship is awarded annually by FAMA and has been sponsored since 2009 by FAMA member Akron Brass.
For more information, visit www.fama.org.
IAFF Calls for Focus on PTSD, Cancer
The greatest threats against firefighters are not the flames they battle, but two brutal enemies that attack from within—cancer and PTSD. The IAFF has released a new report and issued two resolutions promising to promote research and education on both issues.
The white paper, “Firefighters Calling 9-1-1,” states that North America’s firefighters are developing job-related cancers more than ever before and that an alarming number are struggling under the weight of post-traumatic stress.
Firefighters and paramedics respond to the worst moments in people’s lives, and over a career of service to their community, these stressful incidents compound. As a result, a startling number of firefighters and paramedics now struggle with post-traumatic stress, which can lead to PTSD and other behavioral health issues, according to the report. About 20 percent of emergency responders suffer from PTSD, according to the report.
Furthermore, according a 2015 Florida State University study, 46.8 percent of the firefighters surveyed have thought about suicide, 19.2 percent had suicide plans and 15.5 percent had made suicide attempts. Those with PTSD are said to be six times more likely to attempt suicide compared to demographically matched controls.
Only Oregon and five Canadian provinces have added PTSD and other mental health disorders to the list of occupationally related diseases in first responders for the purpose of workers’ compensation benefits, according to the IAFF.
While only one state has addressed PTSD, 34 states have presumptive disability laws on the books recognizing cancer as a job-related risk for firefighters. But that is not enough. The IAFF vows to get all 50 states to comply.
According to the report, today’s fires burn hotter and faster than ever, and more consumer products contain toxic chemicals. The increased use of plastics and other synthetic materials in residential and commercial furnishings, products and construction generate more hazardous vapors and smoke during a fire. Many of these toxic chemicals are carcinogenic. Scientific studies show prolonged exposure to these toxic chemicals is increasing the rate at which firefighters are developing and dying of cancer.
At the IAFF memorial, 59 percent of the firefighters whose names have appeared on the walls since 2002 died of cancer. Officials say those numbers are unacceptable, and stressed the need for preventative measures.
The IAFF announced two new resolutions to address these issues: Resolution No. 44 and No. 45 (see the report for details). The IAFF is calling on its members to get involved to spread the word to battle these two invisible enemies.
The full white paper can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/j9rahvq.
This Month in Fire History
October 2, 1922—First national Fire Prevention Week proclaimed by President Warren Harding
October 8, 1871, Peshtigo, WI—Forest fire kills 1,152 people
October 8, 1871, Chicago, IL—Great Chicago fire kills 250
October 15, 1984, Washington, DC—U.S. Postal Service headquarters fire
October 20, 1873, Baltimore, MD—IAFC founded
October 23, 1989, Pasadena, TX—Phillips Petroleum plant fire
October 29, 1974—Federal Fire Prevention & Control Act of 1974 creates U.S. Fire Administration
Courtesy of NFPA
