Can A Diabetic Be a Firefighter?

[x635 4,066]

Interesting story. Here are some of the quotes from the full article, which you can read at the link below.

Syracuse, NY - A Syracuse firefighter with lifelong diabetes is suing after the city fired him for fear he'd put others in danger.

John Williams claims the city broke civil service law by forcing him off the job without explanation on Aug. 25, 2011. That was a day after Williams suffered from low blood sugar at an extinguished fire and removed himself from the action.

A lawyer for the American Diabetes Association said Williams' situation is not unlike a firefighter struggling with weight, smoking, high blood pressure, cancer, epilepsy or heart problems.

"We feel this is a bigger issue than John," said Syracuse Firefighters Association President Paul Motondo. Like the diabetes lawyer, he wonders about another member struggling with a chronic disease. At what point can the city fire a worker?

The National Fire Protection Association believes diabetics are able to fight fires if they've controlled their diabetes for a year or more. Williams believes he had controlled his diabetes as firefighter - arguing he never had an episode that required help from another firefighter -- but the city disagreed. The arbitrator ruled there was enough reason for concern to remove him in 2011.

FULL ARTICLE: http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/04/syracuse_firefighter_with_genetic_diabetes_says_life_has_been_hell_since_he_was.html

[JM15 386]

Apparently it wasn't controlled if he had the incident in question?

[LTNRFD 266]

But if this guy was a hard core alcoholic or drug addict and went to the chief and said "I need help", off to rehab he goes. After months of rehab, at the city's expense, he can go back to work. Not knowing if this "rehabbed" individual could be trusted not to fall off the wagon while working.

It seems there are other reasons the fire department wanted this guy to leave. If the reason was they don't know when it could happen again and others would be at risk, then anyone who needs glasses to see could be fired. Someone who needs glasses to see and can not wear them during a fire may do something to put others at risk because he couldn't read the right floor button in the elevator etc.

[RWC130 594]

I have to agree it sounds like some other reason(s) the FD or City wanted this guy gone.

It's not uncommon for Firefighters to have Medical Issues including Cardiac but he was let go over

ONE incident? Hmmmmm

It's important for ALL of us... Volunteer or Career to stay in shape and get annual physical exams

including full lab work up and EKG. Stay on top of any Medical Issues. IT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE!

[dwcfireman 656]

I've worked with a few firefighters in my career that have Diabetes, and only once in my 15 years did one of them need assistance. Diabetics these days have many more reliable options for controlling their blood glucose and insulin levels. It definitely sounds like something more is going on, and neither side is elaborating.

[voltage1256 42]

I've worked with a few firefighters in my career that have Diabetes, and only once in my 15 years did one of them need assistance. Diabetics these days have many more reliable options for controlling their blood glucose and insulin levels. It definitely sounds like something more is going on, and neither side is elaborating.

Could it not fall under the same principal that you cannot obtain an Aviation Class 1 medical if you have diabetes? Not taking sides here, just interesting how one industry varies from another yet both are responsible for human life at the end of the day...

[dwcfireman 656]

Could it not fall under the same principal that you cannot obtain an Aviation Class 1 medical if you have diabetes? Not taking sides here, just interesting how one industry varies from another yet both are responsible for human life at the end of the day...

It's definitely interesting how the industries vary. One of my best friends is diabetic, and an exterior vollie. His doctor can pass him for interior status if my friend is elligble for an insulin pump, which unfortunately he is not (bummer). Yet no where in aviation will you find an airline pilot diagnose with Diabetes. What vexes me further is the fact that firefighters have more thorough medical exams (yes, including the vollies) than pilots. I've heard way too many stories of pilots zipping through their medicals because. Some of the doctors out there will pass a pilot on their medical simply for having a pulse! (I know that's a bit simplified, buy my Class 3 physical was a mere vitals and basic blood work. Scary to think that!)

[CHIEFPHIL 90]

I do not see a problem at all.... diabetes is a controllable disease. Properly maintained, there should be no problem at all.

How many of us have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, eye sight problems.... the list goes on and on and we all function.

I have two friends, both career firefighters who have diabetes who wear insulin pumps , one even needs to wear a Ostomy pouching system . They both function with out any problems.