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We Support the IAFF’s “Campaign For A Smoke Free Union”

As a combination Paid/Volunteer station we are obligated to help meet the needs of all who a part of the Silver Hill Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad Inc. One may find it odd to have a quote from the IAFF on our site but those who work in our station know we care about the health and well being of all our people. These dedicated professionals spend more time with us than they do with the management of the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department. Because we are a service organization we put kindness and concern for others over politics no matter their affiliation. We work together to put the needs of others over our own individual needs. Why, because we got it like that. This is what we do. Serve the community that live, work and play in Silver Hill, Suitland and surrounding jurisdictions.

What follows is excepts from the IAFF website on smoking.

The IAFF asks, “Why Quit”?

Their Answer:

Health Risks To Fire Fighters

Fire Fighters face serious risks on the job. They face heat, flames, physical and mental stress and high levels of carbon monoxide (CO) and other toxic risks in the areas around fires. Fire fighters face a high risk for many diseases. Fire fighters who smoke are at greater risk. Smoking increases the risk of getting heart disease, cancer, respiratory illnesses, stress, and poorer treatment outcomes for certain diseases, such as hepatitis.

Heart Disease. Heart attacks account for 45% of all work-related deaths among fire fighters. This risk is high during fire fighting itself. It may be caused by heavy work near hot fires, exposure to carbon monoxide, and other stresses associated with the job. Lack of physical fitness, being overweight, and smoking makes these risks higher. Fire fighters who also smoke have a higher risk from CO and other pulmonary risks. High levels of physical and mental stress makes the heart need more oxygen, but at the same time, breathing in more CO reduces the amount of oxygen a fire fighter gets. This can cause heart attacks from both coronary artery disease and from abnormal heart rhythms.

Check out the story at IAFF.org for more information.

We place no smoking signs all over the fire station supporting the State and County’s drive to have a smoke free environment. Sadly, no matter how much we talk about it, meet about it and use mitigation, preparedness and response type interventions to reduce smoking in the fire station it is a continuous process. Smoking is addictive and it leads to premature death. We will continue to help our fire fighters eliminate smoking from their lives as the IAFF encourages.

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Our Risk Management Program Should Be Recognized But…

The Chief of Silver Hill Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad is implementing a risk management program but guess whose not listening? The Chief has included all supervisors, battalion leaders and upper management in the discussions.

As a leader, the Chief is informing everyone at Silver Hill VFD&RS about the latest tools and techniques that can keep them safe and healthy. The purpose of the program is to help each person to alter their behavior.

Clear and effective signage is highly effective for reinforcing positive, safety-conscious behavior change. Unfortunately, everyone is not getting the message. The Chief knows that as a leader of the risk management process at Silver Hill VFD&RS, he must educate everyone on the risk management program and its priorities.

We believe effective reminders and messages that succeed in changing behavior are often grounded in models of behavioral change theory as indicated on usfa.fema.gov.

This research information is available through contacting FEMA-NETCLibrary@fema.dhs.gov

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We See the Effects of Worker Burnout and Report It – But We are Ignored

We understand that being in the busiest company in the County has its effects on most workers. The service is physically, emotionally and psychologically challenging and with the added pressure of performing safely and effectively under significant time constraints, it is too much for any firefighter. The difficult work conditions at the Silver Hill Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad is leading to burnout among some workers.

Burnout is generally defined as a psychological response to chronic work stress and is recognized as having three major components:

  1. Exhaustion
  2. Disengagement or withdrawal from workplace and co-workers.
  3. Cynicism or unsympathetic attitude towards the people and the goals they serve.

Study results clearly showed that burnout leads to diminished safety behaviors in firefighters. It should be considered a legitimate safety concern within the PGFD. Work stress and work-family conflict are not directly linked to bad safety practices. They can, however lead to burnout over time, which is the major predictor of unsafe work practices. When firefighters are burned out, they are less likely to voice their concerns, to use PPE properly, and to perform their work in a routinely safe manner.

Suggested safety interventions that are needed.

The research team had these recommendations for fire department leaders to prevent burnout and promote safe behaviors:

Place an emphasis on a safety conscious transformational style of leadership. This will counter many of the stressors that lead to burnout. This style of leadership also promotes fairness and equity and it builds engagement.

Require supervisors to provide rest and rehabilitation during firefighting operations, and allow for post-event rest and recovery.

Promote health and wellness goals and a positive safety climate. This will help to counter the effects of stressors that may lead to burnout.

Learn more about this research. This research article is available through contacting FEMA-NETCLibrary@fema.dhs.gov

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Assessing Cardiovascular Disease Risk With Push-ups – Firefighter Study

The US Fire Administration posted an article about the use of push-ups as a way to assess cardiovascular disease (CDV) risk in firefighters.  The Protocol was described as follows.

Researchers looked at the records of 1,562 male firefighters aged 21-66 from Indiana who had medical screenings between Jan. 1, 2000 and Dec. 31, 2010.

The firefighters’ initial screening and follow-up exams included push-up capacity testing.

Clinic staff counted the number of completed push-ups in time with a metronome set at 80 beats per minute.

Staff counted push-ups until each participant reached 80, missed three or more beats of the metronome, or stopped due to exhaustion,

Researchers looked for any CVD-related events among the participants during the ten year period.

Outcome

Those firefighters who completed fewer than 10 push-ups at their initial exam were at significantly higher risk of CVD over the course of the 10 year period.

Participants who did 11 or more push-ups at their initial exam were at significantly reduced risk of experiencing a CVD event.

CVD is a leading cause of on-duty death among firefighters. Recent studies show that even moderate physical activity can significantly reduce CVD risk factors.

Learn more about this research. Summary information for this article was provided by the NETC Library. You can request access to this research study by contacting the library at FEMA-NETCLibrary@fema.dhs.gov

 

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Don’t Give Up on Your Training Program

The road to becoming a certified EMT or Firefighter may be long but it is worth it. The career field has too many benefits to walk away from. While training isn’t glamorous or exciting it leads to the type of lifestyle you want to enjoy. When you compare your future with training, to your life without training you can see why you started the training.

Don’t quit because of the time commitment. Anything worth doing takes time. You can’t expect to treat patients and respond to fires with little to no training. The training we provide is very targeted to get you providing services in the shortest time. We are providing training through accredited post secondary educational institutions like the University of Maryland and the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services. Many of the courses can be turned into college credits saving you thousands of dollars in college fees. You can get the same training with us that you take from colleges and universities much faster and at a much lower cost. In most cases our training is free.

We provide free on-line training and in station drills to help you meet your fire service goals. So if you want to serve your community and make yourself available to the fire service market come to the Silver Hill Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad at 3900 Old Silver Hill Road. Go to our apply now page and Come Join Us!

Address

Silver Hill Fire Department
and Rescue Squad
3900 Old Silver Hill RD
Suitland, MD 20746

Contact us!

Email: silverhillvfd@comcast.net

Phone

Emergencies: 911

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