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Health, fitness for firefighters
It may be a common assumption that more firefighters die as a result of fires, but heart attacks are the killer of more than 50 percent of the firefighters who die every year in the line of duty.
In Richmond, the city commission has acknowledged the importance of the health and fitness of firefighters with an ordinance that passed first reading Oct. 10.
The National Fire Prevention Agency (NFPA) updates guidelines for physical fitness standards every couple of years, said Richmond Fire Chief Gerald Tatum. The last revisions came in 2002.
The new guidelines call for more on-scene medical support, a fire department physician who is in charge of administering all physicals for candidates and employees, scheduling of annual physical fitness and agility testing.
Other revisions require that all specialized tests including prostate examinations, rectal examinations, stool blood testing, pap smears, breast examinations and mammograms be done by the firefighter’s private physician, unless the fire department physician determines that there is a line of duty injury or fitness issue that may call for one of these tests. If so, the city is responsible for the cost of the procedure(s).
Paula Maionchi, a physician at the Instant Care Center on the Eastern Bypass, will serve as the fire department’s regular physician.
Providing additional on-scene medical support is another new guideline that is the responsibility of Tatum.
“When you’re on the scene of an incident, you must have medical staff there,” he said. “We have EMTs who work here and any time we have a structure fire or a rescue, we have the Madison County EMS stand by for us also.”
Another effort to protect the health of firefighters also includes fitness opportunities for Richmond’s law enforcement officers.
The City Commission has allotted $16,000 in their 2006-07 fiscal year budget to purchase equipment for the facility that is to be located at the Fire Department Training Center on Four Mile Road. The new equipment for the gym should arrive in about 10 weeks, Tatum said.
The need for the city’s own facility stemmed from several areas, one being the cost of private gym memberships for all police officers and firefighters. The other is the fact that several firefighters have been forced to take leave of absences for failing their annual physical.
The gym will be available to all firefighters and police officers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Todd Platner will be the fitness trainer for the firefighters who are required to use the facility to workout, and Shawn Moore of the Richmond Police Department will help train police officers.
“They will be able to set up a program for each person and come back in 30 to 45 days to evaluate the individual’s process,” Tatum said.
The ordinance must be passed a second time for it to be considered the law.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.
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EKU to host National Junior Classical League Convention
The 2011 convention of the National Junior Classical League will take place July 25-30 at Eastern Kentucky University.
Up to 1,600 high school students from around the country who study Latin or Greek language and history are expected to attend, said Bari Clements, a Latin teacher at Madison Central High School who will co-chair the event with Kathy Elifrits of Covington Latin High School. -
Arts Gala, Pottery Festival kick off autumn activities
A nearly non-stop string of festivals and other fall events starts on Friday.
The Richmond Area Arts Council will get things going on Friday with its 20th annual Arts Gala at the home of Marilyn and Ralph Hacker, beginning at 5 p.m. It will be highlighted by a 6:30 p.m. dinner show with the Cool Waters cowboy band. For tickets, visit www.artsinrichmond.org or call 624-4242.
On Saturday and Sunday, the sixth annual Great American Pottery Festival with eight potters demonstrating their craft will take place in Richmond’s Irvine McDowell Park. More than 40 arts and crafts vendors will have their wares for purchase. Although getting a chance to turn mud into a pot or vase is great fun for children of all ages, the annual Kids Fest on Saturday in the park will have loads of other entertainment for youngsters. Both events are free. -
Alford plea for two suspected in Iowa robbery
Two men accused of an Iowa bank robbery pleaded guilty Thursday in Madison Circuit Court to receiving stolen property less than $10,000, a Class D felony.
Both men entered Alford pleas. By entering an Alford plea, a defendant admits that enough evidence exists for prosecutors to convince a jury the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, but does not actually admit to performing the crime of which they are accused. -
Delinquent taxpayers given warning to pay
The City of Richmond is giving those who owe delinquent property taxes a chance to pay before their name and owed amount appear in the Richmond Register.
The names of those who owe and how much they owe the city is scheduled to be published as a legal advertisement in the newspaper Saturday, Sept. 25. The deadline to pay before the name and amount are listed is Tuesday, Sept. 21 by 4:30 p.m.
The delinquent taxes being sought are for 2009, and bills for 2010 collections will be mailed out on Oct. 1. -
Hearing delayed for 3 accused of violating graves
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Hudson to retire from Pattie A. Clay
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EKU to host National Junior Classical League Convention
