EMT

 
http://strongswiftdurable.com/all-articles/first-responders-tolerate-unfit-police-firemen/

Many excuses came back including poor examples at the command level (i.e. unfit, “legacy” police and fire chiefs), union resistance, not wanting to create a “hostile” work environment for members, and “career suicide.”
 
This statement at the beginning of the article makes me cringe.  First of all, there should be no excuses.  When I was in ROTC, we had a sign above the door to the cadet offices that said "No Excuses!
 
At the command level, there are no excuses.  These are the people that are supposed to be setting the example for the rest of us.  These are also the people that need to tell their staff that they need to be in shape (and preferably the chiefs should also be in shape!).  Set the example, and expect and enforce the troops to follow suit.  If the chief is a fat slob, what motivates me to stay in shape other than my own personal safety concerns?  I, for one, am never concerned about just my safety.  If I go into a fire with three other firefighters, all four of us are coming out.  If one of them is out of shape, I don't want the group to end up like the example from the article (2 LODD, 2 severely injured).  As an officer myself, I'd rather point out that someone should buy a bike or hit the gym a little more than explain to OSHA why half the crew didn't make it.
 
This ties in with creating a "hostile" work environment, as well.  Why are people so concerned with offending others when there's a clear and cut safety issue?  Of course someone is going to get upset when you tell them that they are out of shape, but they need to be in shape for a job that is as vigorous as a firefighter's or police officer's.  If we're not on our A game, someone is going to get hurt (and it's usually the person that brought their B game or lower).  If you are the one that gets told to hit the gym a little more often, then suck it up and get yourself into better shape.
 
And for the love of all that is good, why would a union resist against a physical fitness protocol?  Unions fight to keep the troops safe in their jobs.  Why wouldn't they just rally behind their brothers and sisters to get them or keep them in shape so EVERYONE can accomplish their jobs safely?  Union resistance sounds like a joke to me when it comes to this matter!
 
The last one I don't get.  "Career suicide."  I understand that there are some people out there that just let it all go and stop caring (i.e. just riding it out until retirement, or the volunteer that just let go and decides "I'll just drive."), but this is still a huge safety issue.  Without starting a volunteer versus career debate, because this can happen on either end of the spectrum, let's look at the latter example:  A volunteer firefighter gets older and decides to ride out the rest of his career as a driver because he cannot meet the medical qualification to be interior because of weight gain and the associated medical issues.  His department is struck out for a working fire, he drives the first due, and has a heart attack behind the wheel because the adrenaline and stress overcomes his body.  The rig crashes, sending the other four firefighters to the hospital, and the fire has to wait and grow because the first due water didn't make it.  What I'm getting at here is that just because we get older doesn't mean that we can't be fit.  Granted, fit for a 20 year old is different than fit for a 50 year old, but there are people 60 years of age and older still fighting fires!  I can't account for the law enforcement world, but there are a lot of firefighters that keep trucking along and stay in shape for their entire career!  These are the guys we need to be like!
 
Now that my rant on excuses is over.....Do your fire departments (BOTH career and volunteer) have physical fitness standards?  Should departments have them and enforce them?  Should there be some sort of physical fitness program to keep the troops in shape?

Here's what I heard on the radio:
60 Control repeatedly asking 73-B-2, Sleepy Hollow Ambulance their status, 73-B-2 repeatedly advising awaiting an EMT, an obviously and rightfully frustrated 60 Control dispatcher advising them they are at the 30 minute mark, 73-B-2 still not responding or requesting mutual aid. 5 minutes later, 73-B-2 advised 60 Control per Sleepy Hollow PD, they (Sleepy Hollow PD) are going to be requesting mutual aid, they are going back into quarters. 27 minutes later, Irvington 64-B-2 is on scene. So about an hour for an ambulance to arrive.
What happened there? Maybe I missed the call type. Probably just simply a poorly trained or ignorant member? Why did 73-B-2 wait so long that the PD had to directly request mutual aid? Does a 60 Control dispatcher have authority to override a unit? I would guess no because this dispatcher obviously given his tone would have done so. Sleepy Hollow PD got to override them directly thankfully. 35 minutes 73-B-2 waited for an EMT before they were told to stand down.
#mountpleasantemsproblems

Good question and not knowing what happened it is hard to answer but  you take a stand to make it right first. Maybe they did and go nowhere. But at the end of the day it's the public who suffers. 

Short answer.. never.

Farewell Dr D EMS will miss you !