Public Comment No. 3-NFPA [ Sections 6.1.1, ]

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Public Comment No. 3-NFPA [ Sections 6.1.1, ]"

Darcy Lee
6 years ago
Views:

1 1 of 7 9/27/2016 2:41 PM Public Comment No. 3-NFPA [ Sections 6.1.1, ] Sections 6.1.1, * The medical evaluation of a candidate shall include a medical history, examination, and any laboratory tests required to detect physical or medical condition(s) that could adversely affect his/her ability to safely perform the essential job tasks outlined in I would like to ask that the new standard be very specific about the frequency of having exercise stress tests done by firefighters, and if the frequency needs to be increased at a certain age * This standard shall provide specific requirements for candidates based on medical conditions that can affect a candidate's ability to safely perform the essential job tasks of a fire fighter. Included in the specific blood test requirements I believe serum 25 hydroxy D should be included. My rationale for this is that many adults have a low vitamin D level. Obtaining sufficient vitamin D from natural food sources alone is difficult, and as a person ages, the skin does not synthesize vitamin D efficiently. Vitamin D is not only essential for bone health, but vitamin D status could affect cancer risk. Strong biological and mechanistic bases indicate that vitamin D plays a role in the prevention of colon, prostate, and breast cancers. Firemen are known to be at higher risk for cancers, and this would help protect them. Additionally, vitamin D is found in almost every cell in our bodies. A deficiency in this vitamin can mimic many illnesses, and hence prevent illnesses if a low level is detected and corrected. A growing body of research suggests that vitamin D. might play a role in the prevention and treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance, multiple sclerosis and other medical conditions. Thank you very much for your consideration to add this to your annual blood tests. I have found that correcting a low serum vitamin D a critical means of helping an adult maintain optimum health. Thank you for all of your considerations! Caroline F. Hetfield, ANP-BC Adding a serum 25 hydroxy D test to the yearly blood tests will identify a low serum vitamin D level, <50 nmol/l, or <20ng/mL. Simple interventions to correct a low level will assure healthy bones and decrease the incidence of colon, prostate and breast cancers. Many adults have a low vitamin D level. Obtaining sufficient vitamin D from natural food sources alone is difficult, and as a person ages, the skin does not synthesize vitamin D efficiently. Additionally, vitamin D is found in almost every cell in our bodies. A deficiency in this vitamin can mimic many illnesses, and hence prevent illnesses if a low level is detected and corrected. A growing body of research suggests that vitamin D. might play a role in the prevention and treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance, multiple sclerosis and other medical conditions. Clinically, I have found that correcting a low serum vitamin D a critical means of helping an adult maintain optimum health. First Revision No. 69-NFPA [Section No ] Submitter Full Name: Caroline Hetfield Organization: Fermilab

2 2 of 7 9/27/2016 2:41 PM Submittal Date: Thu Mar 31 14:21:47 EDT 2016 Committee Action: Rejected Resolution: The committee believes that this test in not within the scope of this chapter for candidates.

3 3 of 7 9/27/2016 2:41 PM Public Comment No. 4-NFPA [ Sections 6.1.1, ] Sections 6.1.1, * The medical evaluation of a candidate shall include a medical history, examination, and any laboratory tests required to detect physical or medical condition(s) that could adversely affect his/her ability to safely perform the essential job tasks outlined in * This standard shall provide specific requirements for candidates based on medical conditions that can affect a candidate's ability to safely perform the essential job tasks of a fire fighter. Specifying the frequency (and indication, if appropriate) for stress testing will help to standardize the yearly exams and assure that coronary artery disease is detected early for all firefighters. First Revision No. 69-NFPA [Section No ] Submitter Full Name: Caroline Hetfield Organization: Fermilab Submittal Date: Thu Mar 31 14:56:13 EDT 2016 Committee Action: Rejected Resolution: The committee believes that this is not necessary.

4 4 of 7 9/27/2016 2:41 PM Public Comment No. 12-NFPA [ New Section after ] TITLE OF NEW CONTENT Type your content here... Occupational Cancer Awareness Consultation The fire department physician shall, during the annual physical, inform the member of the heightened risks of acquiring various types of cancer associated with occupational exposures related to fire fighting, and shall make the member aware of common signs and symptoms of those cancers, and shall inform the member of practices that may limit exposure to known carcinogens. Occupational Stress Awareness Consultation The fire department physician shall, during the annual physical, inform the member of the heightened risks of stress associated with occupational exposures related to fire fighting, and shall make the member aware of common adverse signs and symptoms of occupational stress, and shall inform the member of practices that may limit the damaging effects of exposure to occupational stress, and to the best of his ability given the regional resources available, shall provide the member with references to licensed behavioral health specialists trained to recognize and treat stress related disorders in first responders. FD Physician shall incorporate cancer and stress awareness into consultation during annual evaluation to raise awareness to these hazards for fire fighters. Public Input No. 12-NFPA [Section No. A ] Submitter Full Name: Kurt Becker Organization: Clayton, Missouri Fire Department Affilliation: IAFF Submittal Date: Mon May 16 08:53:01 EDT 2016 Committee Rejected but see related SR Action: Resolution: SR-33-NFPA Statement: The committee agrees with the submitter that FD Physician shall incorporate cancer and stress awareness into consultation during annual evaluation to raise awareness to these hazards for fire fighters. They have made some modifications to the submission with the assistance of the submitter as Kurt is a TC member.

5 5 of 7 9/27/2016 2:41 PM Public Comment No. 2-NFPA [ Section No ] Physician Evaluation. Prosthetic cardiac valves compromise the member's ability to safely perform essential job task 8 if anticoagulation is required and essential job tasks 1, 4, 6, 7, and 9 if left ventricular dysfunction is present, and the physician shall report the applicable job limitations to the fire department. Member would be allowed to work on anticoagulants with a prosthetic cardiac valve per in the 2018 edition of NFPA 1582, to include essential job task 8. Per the proposed anticoagulants for NFPA 1582 edition, member would be allowed to work with a prosthetic valve and would not be disqualified. First Revision No. 6-NFPA [Section No ] Submitter Full Name: Shawn Rosalez Organization: Prince William County Fire and Rescue Submittal Date: Tue Mar 29 20:27:38 EDT 2016 Committee Action: Resolution: Rejected The committee has chosen to reject this comment as they believe that any level of anti-coagulation would significantly compromise the members ability to safely perform essential job function 8

6 6 of 7 9/27/2016 2:41 PM Public Comment No. 1-NFPA [ Section No ] Physician Evaluation. Full-dose or low-dose anticoagulation or any drugs that prolong prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, or international normalized ratio (INR) compromise the member's members ability to perform essential job task 8 due to the risk of internal bleeding from trauma with potential for rapid incapacitation from shock or central nervous system hemorrhage, and the physician shall report the applicable job limitations to the fire department, unless the member meets the following criteria: (1) Member is seen by a physician or clinic who is familiar and knowledgable about anticoagulant medication. (2) Prolong prothrombin time (PPT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), or international normalized ratio (INR) has been controlled for a minmium of 1 year at therapeutic levels and is checked monthly once member returns to full duty. (3) Member is not taking any medications that would act adversely with his/her anticoagulant medication. (4) Member will also submit his/her PPT, PTT, or INR to his/her NFPA occupational physician for review during members annual physical. (5) Physician will look at the members medical history, current physical condition/characteristics, results from annual physical, dosage level of anticoagulant, and reason why anticoagulants have been prescribed to assess the members current well-being. (6) Member will wear a medical identification bracelet or necklace stating the member is on an anticoagulant, the type of anticoagulant and any known allergies. Members on Anticoagulant medications would be able to perform the 13 essential job tasks (job task 8) per NFPA 1582 provided they follow the criteria stated in and all parameters have been met. This would not make a binding/blanket statement for the Occupational Physician to follow, but allow him/her the ability to make a sound medical judgement based on the members current physical conditions and characteristics, medical history, and the dosage level of the anticoagulant. Anticoagulants are being used more and more frequently for Atrial Fibrillation (AFIB), Deep Vein Thrombosis, mechanical valves, and a multitude of other medical conditions and should be examined on a case by case basis. This new criteria would allow the Physicians to make sound medical decisions based on their medical experience and the physical, mental,emotional, and medical status of the member taking the anticoagulant medication. First Revision No. 6-NFPA [Section No ] Submitter Full Name: Shawn Rosalez Organization: Prince William County Fire and Rescue Submittal Date: Thu Mar 03 21:45:22 EST 2016 Committee Rejected

7 7 of 7 9/27/2016 2:41 PM Action: Resolution: The committee has chosen to reject this comment as they believe that any level of anti-coagulation would significantly compromise the members ability to safely perform essential job function 8.

VACo 2014 Achievement Award Entry. Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue. Medical Physical Program

1 VACo 2014 Achievement Award Entry Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue Abstract of the Program Prince William County's fire and rescue service is provided through a combination of career