Comments on: To Serve and Protect

By: Sandy

Sandy — Fri, 01 May 2009 06:16:11 +0000

Good point noted there, there is nothing worse than a physically incapable person in charge of a serious or emergency situation. They should all be in a good shape.

By: Mary Siever

Mary Siever — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:53:10 +0000

Jack

It's not a matter of merely being overweight. You can be overweight and in shape. It's being in shape that is important to handle the strenuous work required.

By: Jack

Jack — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:38:53 +0000

Well, I myself have been trained in CPR and other emergency medical proceedures, only at the age of fourteen, many of which I have had to perform in emergency situations, at school, anywhere really.

I'm also over weight, but does that stop me? LOL no. Might I add, these casualties all survived with the exception of one, who looked like a gonner in the first place, he was announced dead on scene.

By: rick

rick — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:15:22 +0000

"welcome to the real world of lack of nursing staff"

Which is beside the point, no? This is an entirely different argument all together.

Staff fitness would not be as much of an issue if they were not required to sprint back to their units.

By: Sally Haysom

Sally Haysom — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:51:53 +0000

whoooaa Ritch that was uncalled for.. wishing someone I love to die needlessly is cruel and uncalled for.It is cruel for my family members reading this as they know I am dealing with Cancer. You could weigh "normal" weight and still be out of shape.. but there is NO WAY you can be obese and be "in shape". I am not denying that anyone that is out of shape is doing their best in their jobs (no I am talking just about jobs from my original comment not from sales etc) BUT... having said that... doing your best but not being able to get to the 10th floor because your can't move another step or you can't do CPR more then 2 minutes as you don't have a breath left in you.. it might be your best but is it the best that you COULD be if you WERE in shape? Yes you are risking your health and life as an Volunteer firefighter but are you risking the patients as well?

Not once did I say that obese rescue workers do nothing but stand around eating donuts.

Rick

Hmmm...

The fact that staff on break would still be responsible for patient care on their unit is a bit more worrisome to me than the weight of my health care provider.

welcome to the real world of lack of nursing staff

By: Mary Siever

Mary Siever — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 03:37:57 +0000

Oh boy, glad you aren't an EMS in our city. With an attitude like that "hope someone you love dies needlessly" it sure sounds like you don't have the caring and selfless attitude necessary to save a person who is in need.

Having suffered from being overweight and out of shape in the past (and I weighed more than you did), I am glad for my sake, and for my children's sake that I took my health under control and did what needed to be done to get in good shape and good health. As I said, weight doesn't need to be an issue if the person is in shape, but in a physically demanding field, it's important to do the best one can. I am a Nutritional Consultant, and being in this field, decided I needed to practice what I preach. It's not a matter of what they look like, it's a matter of being able to do the job that is required and taking care of MY health.

By: Ritch Lather

Ritch Lather — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:52:18 +0000

Kiss My A__!

I myself have been a volunteer EMS operator and I am currently a volunteer Firefighter. Oh, by the way, did I mention I also weigh about 270lbs and I am out of shape. That does not stop me from risking my health and life from at least trying to help someone in need. Anyone who puts someone else before themselves is a step above anyone who would complain about what the person helping them looks like or thier physical condition. I hope someone you love dies needlessly while a "FAT" paramedic or a "OBESE" firefighter stands by and has a doughnut.......breathing heavily!

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:19:19 +0000

I agree 100% with the concept but unfortunately it causes more problems. Eventually other companies will take off on the concept and apply it to their own fat employees using the logic "fat people dont make sales" or "fat people call in sick too often" etc. Its a slippery slope, but in a vacuum you are 100% right.

By: rick

rick — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:01:42 +0000

Hmmm...

The fact that staff on break would still be responsible for patient care on their unit is a bit more worrisome to me than the weight of my health care provider.

By: Sally Haysom

Sally Haysom — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:47:24 +0000

Tiger I don't think it is bureaucracy at all here at work. Part of the requirements of these jobs is to serve and protect, save lives when necessary etc... I am wondering how they can do this when they can't run without keeling over from exertion, or can't do CPR because they have no breath in them. When I used to work as a nurse we carried pagers.. if we were in the cafeteria during a break and a CODE BLUE went off on our pagers it meant get your butt back to your floor, we were never allowed to take the elevator up, we had to run up all flights of stairs. Little hard to do your duties that come with resuscitation when you are still in the stairwell of the 2nd floor and your patient is on the 6th