Sunday, June 16, 2019

Firefighters Fight Cancer And The System

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-by Tracy B Ann

I am the daughter of a fireman. When I was a kid my dad worked 24 hour shifts. Work a day, off a day, work a day, off three days. Except my dad wasn't home when he was off. No fireman then, or firefighter now, could support a family on the wages they are paid, they all work second jobs.

They run into burning buildings for a living, to save our lives and our property and they get paid shit for doing so. They willingly put their health and lives in danger for US and they get very little thanks in return.

My father was hospitalized for smoke inhalation on several occasions that I know of. Like most firefighters, he just did his job, didn't think he was being heroic, he just did what the job called for. He did it with a sense of humour too. I remember overhearing him talk about a fire in a girls dorm at a local college. He said that as he kicked open the door of a smoke filled room with half dressed, freaked out college women inside, he yelled "Cover your eyes if you're naked, we're coming in."

Later in his career, my dad worked often in elementary schools with young kids; getting them used to seeing a firefighter in full gear. That was to keep them from freaking out thinking Darth Vader had come to get them so that they would come out from under the bed in a fire to be rescued. He appeared on kids TV shows doing the same thing.

My dad was also a union rep, fighting to get the best benefits and pay he could for his fellow fire fighters. My dad didn't live as long as some other members of his family did, not as long as I would have thought, genetically speaking. He died in poor health, also unusual for my family. His mother lived to be 98 and in her own home for all but the last 6 months of her life.

I don't know what he would say about the way firefighters are being treated today but I know that he wouldn't be happy about it at all. I think he would really like Herb Jones, the guy who is running for Virginia's 3rd State Senate District, against Tommy Norment, the Senate Majority Leader. Herb says this about firefighters:
There is presumptive cancer legislation in the code of Virginia, however, cancer is NOT a occupational hazard covered by Workers Compensation. The code requires the firefighter to identify the incident and the hazard that led to the cancer diagnosis. It’s a ridiculous burden of proof. The Republican leadership has played games with this for the past 15 years. One year it will pass in the house, but fail in the senate; the ensuing year, it will pass in the senate but fail in the house
They have to "identify the incident and the hazard that led to the cancer diagnosis" Wtf?!? You can check state by state here, but most states coverage for cancer sucks for firefighters. Though, I have to say, without knowing details, the updated version of Oklahoma's coverage looks good; "existence of any cancer that was not revealed by the physical examination passed by the member upon entry into the department." (Was that coverage enacted after the bombing?)

Firefighters have a higher incidence of cancer than the general population. A 2013 NIOSH study showed that firefighters have a 14% increased risk of dying from cancer, even when using full protective gear. They are exposed to all kinds of hazardous materials that release carcinogens when burned.




My father was most active in the fire department in the 1950's, '60's and '70's. I don't know what kinds of burning chemicals he encountered, but I do know that the house I live in today, built in 1957, most assuredly has lead paint under all those layers and I know for a fact that my kitchen floor is asbestos. When I had a new one put in, they wouldn't take the old one out, a hazmat team is needed for that; yet firefighters are expected to run into what will be a toxic dump if my house catches on fire.

This isn't a problem exclusive to any one state, it's a national problem. In Virginia, Herb Jones says "the only way firefighters and their families will be protected is by a change in the General Assembly and specifically in the leadership." I want to help Herb Jones get elected in Virginia and then I want to help Democrats get elected everywhere. Democrats govern with care because it works better. It will work better for firefighters, and my father, a lifelong Democrat, would for sure like that.



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6 Comments:

At 4:49 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I would think that an activist "lifelong democrat" would have realized a very long time ago that his PARTY doesn't give a shit either.

If you have lung cancer, you can continue smoking or you can do nothing. being a democrap is doing nothing.

why would almost everyone opt for something that might actually work in attacking a cancer... but opt for doing nothing in attacking sociopolitical evil?

it goes beyond stupid. has to be some kind of psychological malady.

 
At 10:49 AM, Anonymous Tracy B Ann said...

Hey Anonymous 4:49am -

That's dead activist lifelong democrat to you and back then the party did a lot more for it's constituents than they do today.

Even today though, I don't think my dad would bitch and moan from his keyboard. He'd work to make the Democratic Party better.

In case you haven't noticed, they're the only game in town, the Republicans don't give a fuck.

Tracy B Ann - I sign my comments.

 
At 1:41 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tracy B. The Democrats used to do a lot more... but that hasn't been true for 4 decades. And that's not bitching. That's objectively true.

the democraps also don't give a fuck!

After 4 decades, I would think reasonable sentient people would realize that they are now a totally lost cause.

Working to make THIS democrap party better is a fools errand. Not to realize this at this late date is classic Stockholm syndrome.

Or do you have an objectively reasonable plan to replace 220 in the democrap house and every one in the senate caucuses with actual progressive altruists? If you have a plan, please do enlighten us. I would be eager to eat crow. truly.

 
At 11:28 PM, Anonymous Tracy B Ann said...

Precinct by precinct. With Lee Carter and AOC to name a few.

Like this:https://youtu.be/UNjiPNd9iwU

 
At 9:37 AM, Anonymous Richard Langly said...

Great post Tracy B Ann! Hope you do more. Great responses to the twisted sociopathic troll too. How sick, no, evil of him to piss on your dad's life like that. I can tell that your dad had more greatness in his pinky toes than he ever will in his whole miserable body. As you said, Mr. Democraps would rather bitch and moan but with him it is all about me, me, me, look at me, and crying for attention. We readers keep waiting for him to announce that he's running for office or to start the third party he often spouts off about, and has a list of constructive plans but he lacks the smarts and courage and sees his purpose as something else. He's more of a Taliban tear it all down and back to the stone age kind of guy or, as one commenter said a day or two ago, a Steve Bannon guy.

 
At 3:43 PM, Anonymous Tracy B Ann said...

Thanks Richard Langly!

 

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