From: bguest@ateam.ems.cdc.com (Brandon Guest)
Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
Subject: Re: Deaf Firefighter??
Date: 31 Aug 92 15:04:57 GMT
Organization: Empros Systems International, a division of Control Data

In article <1992Aug28.152050.1@gallua> username@GALLUA.BITNET (Allen Matthews) writes:
>
>Hi...
>
>     I need an honest opinion/feedback from experience firefighter
>like you..   I want to avoid any kind of flames (I do not want to
>use fire extinguisher  :-)  ). 
>
>     Right now, I would like to be a volunteer firefighter.. The
>only problem is that I am deaf.. I have hearing loss of 90dbs..
>In order to get honest viewpoint or opinion, do not worry about
>offended me because of my deafness..
>
>     Can a deaf person become firefighter??  If so, what can he/she
>do to help fellow firefighter without putting anyone in a dangerous
>situtations..  Being a firefighter, I need to know how a deaf
>person can fight fire or assist in whatever it need to be done..
>I need to know how to deal with receiving orders, listening for the
>evacuations sirens, or whatever..
>
>     Does anyone have expierence in having a deaf firefighter??  I
>know some hard of hearing people work as EMT?   I know there was
>once a deaf firefighter trainee in P.G. county of Maryland..
>
>                                   - Allen -
>
>P.S. If you wish to send me a private e-mail, please send e-mail to
>     MATTHEWS@GALLUX.GALLAUDET.EDU..   We are having problem with
>     our network e-mail...  Otherwise, post your comment to this
>     newsgroup.
>
>= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
>Allen Matthews - Supervisor, Computer Operation
>Gallaudet University Computer Services, Washington, D.C. 
>
>  Bitnet: FAMATTHEWS@GALLUA			(202) 651-5276 TDD
>INTERNET: Famatthews@gallua.gallaudet.edu	(202) 651-5300 Voice/TDD

I am the training and safety officer for a 30 member volunteer fire
department in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) area.  Up until
several years ago we had a member who was deaf (birth defect).
Coincidently, this individual was also (and still is) a very good
friend of mine.  I will try and share with you some of our experiences
(good and bad) with having a deaf member and then comment (my personal
opinion) on whether or not I think deaf members should be allowed.

My friend joined our department prior to us having any type of physical
job qualifications or formal training standards.  I believe, however,
he could have easily passed all the requirements we have in place today
(FireFighter 1 & 2, EMS First Responder, HazMat First Responder).
Besides his hearing impairment, his biggest problem was a certain lack
of maturity when responding to emergency situations (completely
unrelated to his hearing problem).  Unfortunately, the two in
combination made for a very bad situation.

Many of the members of our department used his hearing impairment as a
general excuse for attacking him rather than proactively dealing with
his maturity problem.  In general, he was cast as 'unsafe' to be around
on the fire scene.  Eventually, he and the department came to a
mutually agreable separation.  Given the experience of this situation,
I doubt a deaf member would ever be accepted again.  Fortunately for
myself this did not have a detrimental effect on my relationship with
my friend.  I would have to characterize this whole experience as a
classic example of 'ugly predjudice'.

This brings us back to the general question of 'Is a hearing impaired
individual suitable for the fire service?'.  I think the answer depends
on what role you would like to play.  NFPA 1500 (the standard on
occupational safety for the fire service) probably says no- at least
for working on the fire ground.  There are many practical reasons for
this.  Operation on the fire ground is a high stress position sometimes
requiring split second actions.  Any impediment to those actions (like
the communications difficulties in dealing with a hearing impaired
individual) could have adverse effects on a fire fighter's safety.

Consider the consequences of sending a hearing impaired individual into
an interior fire attack situation.  All firefighters are in full
protective gear with SCBA.  At this point no communications between the
hearing impaired firefighter and the other members of the team would be
possible.  Signing or lip reading are not practical or possible (gloved
hands and reduced visibility).  This has obvious safety implications.

A hearing impaired individual may be able to operate in some of the
other roles, however, such as hose tender, relief area, etc.
Unfortunately, most departments typically do not want to deal with
members who have physical restrictions.  Because of the Americans with
Disabilities Act, there is actually a disincentive for departments to
accept members with restrictions (the lawyers are saying that the best
way to keep obviously unqualified individuals off the department is to
make sure only completely qualified members are admitted.

I guess the bottom line is that you will probably find it very
difficult to get on a volunteer department with your hearing
impairment.  It will probably take a very progressive membership with
open minded leadership.  I think your best chance is to position
yourself as filling some role other than interior firefighter.  We have
one position on our department which is for a photographer.  The
individual goes through all the same training as the regular members
(good practice for safety reasons) but he is not allowed to do any type
of fire attack (he has a bad back).  In this case we avoided the ADA
problem by creating a new 'position description' for that of
photographer.  The role filled by this individual is just as important
as those of the other members because it was a job that needed to be
done and by having him it freed up one of our other firefighters.
Other possible roles may be in training, administration, etc.

Anyhow, good luck in your quest.  I hope you are able to find a 
position somewhere that meets your personal goals.  If you would
like any additional insight or ideas feel free to email me.

Brandon
FF1/FF2/Hazmat2/EMT-A
-- 
H. Brandon Guest                | bguest@ems.cdc.com
Empros Systems International    | (A division of Something)
2300 Berkshire Lane North       | Voice (612) 553-4529
Plymouth, MN 55441-3694         | Fax   (612) 553-4018