Time to recognise our firefighters

Thursday, April 07, 2011

Dear Editor,

Contrary to what some people may think, firefighting is dangerous work. During a fire, floors can cave in and walls can topple. Flames and smoke can burn or kill. Firefighters may come in contact with poisonous gases or other hazardous materials. To protect themselves, firefighters wear protective gear which can be heavy and hot.

Many firefighters work more than 50 hours a week. Their hours are often longer and more varied than the hours of other workers. In some instances, firefighters can be on duty for 24 hours straight. Firefighters put out fires, which is not as simple as it may sound. Fighting fires is dangerous and complex, and it takes organisation and teamwork.

Firefighters in Jamaica do not get the recognition that they deserve. In other countries worldwide, firefighters are highly respected and duly recognised for the work that they do. See www.usatoday.com/money/economy/employment/2005-05-23-prestige.

Firefighters in Jamaica have done considerably well over the years in the execution of their duties, albeit with limited resources. They are constantly lambasted by the public for arriving late at the scenes of fires. Firefighters arrive late sometimes at fire scenes, not because they left the station late, but rather they may be coming from miles away. Because of limited resources, firefighters may at times have to respond to a call whilst leaving the scene of another emergency. Therefore it should be understandable that it will take time on our roads to travel a distance of, say, ten miles, to arrive at the scene of an emergency in good time.

Firefighters are not some of the best paid workers. Yet, because of tolerance, they are not quick to protest or go on strike to demand better wages. Most houses that are burnt to the ground belong to the poorer classes. That is one of the reasons why firefighters always hesitate to go on strike at any time.

Corporate Jamaica should be more cognisant of the needs of the Jamaica Fire Brigade. There are ceremonies that are held annually for "Teacher of the Year", "Police officer of the Year" and "Nurse of the Year", etc. When will there be a "Firefighter of the Year" that will be supported by corporate Jamaica?

I believe that it is time for firefighters in Jamaica to be recognised for the job that they do every day. Firefighters die regularly from job-related illnesses, and that is part of the game. Because their demise is not often dramatic, it rarely makes the news.

Firefighters face life-threatening risks like burns, smoke inhalation and chemical exposure, but the biggest dangers may come from the heart. Cardiovascular attacks account for 45 per cent of deaths amongst on-duty firefighters. Heart disease-associated deaths may increase because the job can be physically strenuous, particularly for firefighters with underlying coronary heart disease. See http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert.

Neville Beckford

Spanish Town, St Catherine

beckkid@hotmail.com

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Time to recognise our firefighters