Firefighters: Mental & Physical Skills to Handle Disasters - Research Paper

Introduction

Firefighters are groups of individuals who have specific skills concerning how to handle disasters that occur in various societies. Some of their work involves the use of the mind, while others require the application of physical means. Mental work is a kind of task that entails the use of the brain to cope with the calamities which may occur. Firefighters usually apply this method by looking for strategies that can quickly ease a disaster without using more energy. Physical work involves the use of manual means as a way of preventing calamities. These categories of people are usually valued in different societies because they always sacrifice their sleep to save lives. They usually do this by looking at some ways of preventing the spread of fire from one place to another, thus minimizing loss of lives and damages of properties. They are involved in the activities which may expose them to diseases such as sleep disorders and fatigue. Although, they are performing their work up to the extent of denying themselves a right to sleep, and some critics have raised their views concerning whether if they should be compensated. I would, therefore, argue for the compensation of lack of sleep by the firefighters.

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Based on my argument, I propose that the institutions in charge of firefighters are caring about the welfares of their workers. Federal Labor Standard Act (FLSA) is one of the organizations which have taken actions to protect the rights of the firefighters. When it comes to overtime, they provide them with extra money on the top of their usual salary as compared to other departments of work, which rarely include income on extra hours worked. They usually considered overtime as hourly worked and therefore, they pay for it. Also, they are being compensated for daytime sleep. They often enjoy this privilege in a way that their employers consider sleep time as hours worked, and this has encouraged them to do their work effectively (Jahnke et al.,2017).

Moreover, they have been subjected to the issue of advance salary. Their employers have introduced advance salary to every firefighter where there are paid before the actual payment. Through this, they can gather for their basics needs without worrying where to get money, thus motivating them to perform their work to the best they can since they are being appreciated.

Also, by way of compensation, they are being subjected to rest. Most of the organization relating to firefighting provide their employee's leisure time period. They usually do this by allowing them to work in shifts. These shifts have been set such that they do not collide with each other. The introductions of shifts have, therefore, enabled them to get enough time for rest hence making them be active while they are at their respective work. Moreover, meals are provided to them with meals at their places of work. These meals are usually excluded from their income, and in this way, they are able to use the money which they could have spent for consumptions in other expenses, which benefits them and their entire families. Also, through being provided with meals, it has enabled them to have time for rest since they are not required to use more time while looking for foodstuffs.

Health insurance coverage has also been provided to them. This insurance cover has enabled them to get proper access to medical health care services whenever they are involved in calamities, which may be accompanied by some injuries. Also, insurance has contributed a lot to them when it comes to their salaries. Their salaries are rarely affected, but instead, extra income is provided to them hence making them invest in other activities that might benefit them. Lawyers have also been hired for them in order to act as a watchdog for those who are violating their rights. These groups of individuals have assisted in filing cases upon those who are violating their rights, such as delay improper payment even after lack of sleep. This has made the employers be more concerned about the welfares of their employees because they may end up being jailed if they fail to do so.

Furthermore, they are compensated through base pay. Base pay is the amount of money which is usually provided by the employers to their employees as a way of giving appreciation to them. Such compensation includes the inclusion of bonuses in their usual salary. These bonuses are normally given out to the employees based on hourly worked hence making them provide quality services whenever they are needed. Bonuses have also encouraged more people to join the institutions in charge of fire firefighting, therefore, making work easier when disasters occur.

Also, in an instance, such as sudden death, their families are gathered for. These families usually impacted indirectly. On the issue of indirect impact, they are being allowed to get access to payroll even after the death of the deceased person. Similarly, their children receive an indirect impact through education programs. Children of these families are normally exempted from paying school fees hence making them feel proud of themselves. Also, education has also been introduced in the department of firefighting. This has aided in teaching them on matters related to health issues due to inadequate sleep.

Also, their departments have established individual dorms for them, unlike before, where they usually share rooms after their work. These dorms have been set in such a way that they cannot allow light to pass through, thus enabling them to recover from the lost sleep. Moreover, they have been built such that there is no congestion, but instead, everybody is given an individual room. For this reason, the issue of noise pollution has been minimized, therefore making them have a peaceful period of sleep (Jay et al., 2016).

Technologies have also been adopted by various organizations so as to cope with the issue of interrupted sleep. These improvements consist of people, such as the department of army officers. The work of these institutions is to give orders to their officers and, thereafter, send them to different stations of firefighters. They have achieved this through the adoption of sleep-cycles, whereby one person is allowed to sleep at a given period of time (Billings, & Focht, 2016). Through this, firefighters are able to get enough sleep, thereby making them feel like they are being treated well.

Also, educational programs have also been introduced to them without requiring them to pay for it. This education aims at offering knowledge to the firefighters, and it has been attained through the use of various methods. Firstly, people acquire this education from their experts. These experts usually enroll people and teach them about sleep disorders after they are allowed to get free access to screening programs. It is considered important by the people because sleep disorders can be easily detected, thus looking for ways of preventing it (Guidotti, 2016). Furthermore, online programs have also been used to educate people on matters relating to adequate sleep, and this is more beneficial to them because they are able to learn from different parts of the world. All these programs have created awareness to them on matters relating to sleep disorders, and they have learned how to cope with the issue whenever it occurs hence making them live a healthier life (Vargas de Barros et al.,2013).

Resources have also been allocated for people who are prone to diseases such as sleep disorders. Some of the resources which have been put aside for them is the issue of money and personal needs. This money is normally included during the calculation of budget in most of the organizations. These resources have helped them to gather for their needs whenever they have problems.

The regular assessment has been introduced to them as a way of ensuring appreciation for their work. This assessment majorly dwells on the idea of sleeping fitness. People who have conducted these programs have ensured that there is proper sleep fitness among all the firefighters. This has given them a chance to hire out the problems which are affecting them after interrupted sleep since they are able to talk face-to-face with their organizers. The regular assessment has also made their employers be more responsible about the welfares of their employees such that they started to treat them in a humane manner thus enabling them to feel appreciated on the work they have done as well as motivating them to engage in calamities which occur in their various societies.

Conclusion

In summary, I strongly propose that most of the organizations which are in charge of firefighters are treating their workers as required. They have achieved this through the provision of adequate time for rest. Through resting, they are able to recover their lost sleep, thereby making them abstain from diseases such as sleep disorders, and this has increased their lifespan. Also, regular assessment has been introduced in various institutions. This has brought a lot of benefits to them because it helps to supervise the works of the employers hence eliminating out the issue of discrimination in the workplace. The organizations have also established sleeping rooms for each individual, and this has reduced the problem of congestion and more so the noise pollution, which might bring some disturbances to the firefighters while they are trying to recover their sleep. Educational programs have also contributed a lot towards coping with the challenge of interrupted sleep. Institutions have enrolled all the people. These programs have been conducted both publicly and also though the use of online means. The main purpose of these educations programs basically to teach them about the importance of having adequate sleep and other related disorders, which may be caused by fewer hours of sleep.

References

Billings, J., & Focht, W. (2016). Firefighter shift schedules affect sleep quality. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 58(3), 294-298.

Guidotti, T. L. (Ed.). (2016). Health risks and fair compensation in the fire service. Springer.

Jahnke, S. A., Poston, W. C., Haddock, C. K., & Jitnarin, N. (2017). Health, wellness, and readiness in the fire service. Int Fire Serv J Leadership Manag, 11, 7-13.

Jay, S. M., Smith, B. P., Windler, S., Dorrian, J., & Ferguson, S. A. (2016). Does suspected sleep-disordered breathing impact the sleep and performance of firefighting volunteers during a simulated fire ground campaign?. International journal of environmental research and public health, 13(2), 173.

Vargas de Barros, V., Martins, L. F., Saitz, R., Bastos, R. R., & Ronzani, T. M. (2013). Mental health conditions, individual and job characteristics, and sleep disturbances among firefighters. Journal of health psychology, 18(3), 350-358.