FIREFIGHTERS- EMOTIONAL TOLL

THE STATE IS WORKING ON A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD GIVE FIREFIGHTERS AND OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS A SAFE WAY TO DEAL WITH THEIR EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES AND STILL KEEP THEIR JOBS.
ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY, AT LEAST 100 FIREFIGHTERS DIE BY SUICIDE EACH YEAR. ANOTHER SHOWS AS MANY AS 57% HAVE PTSD. AND MANY TURN TO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL TO COPE. NOW, THE OHIO DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IS PROPOSING A NON-DISCIPLINARY PROGRAM. IT WOULD EVALUATE AND TREAT ELIGIBLE EMS AND FIRE PROFESSIONALS WHO NEED HELP WITH ALCOHOL AND DRUG DEPENDENCY OR ABUSE OR ANOTHER RELATED MEDICAL CONDITION OR ILLNESS. THEY WOULD HAVE TO AGREE TO CONDITIONS INCLUDING A TREATMENT AND THERAPY PLAN, SUPPORT GROUP PARTICIPATION, CASE MANAGEMENT AND RANDOM TESTING.