Like most people, you may not appreciate public safety members until you need them. Then, firefighters, law enforcement officers and paramedics become saviors and heroes.
However, these individuals consistently put themselves in danger to protect the public, moving toward the dangers everyone else runs from. This is information about their hidden injuries.
Job hazards public safety members encounter
Public safety members receive regular exposure to violence, infectious diseases, toxic chemicals and other hazards. Some run into burning buildings or breathe in toxic smoke, while others come into contact with infected bodily fluids. Still, other public safety workers lift heavy loads and protect the innocent, often against violent individuals.
Common hidden injuries in public safety members
First responders often suffer from overexertion due to their long hours and strenuous work. Their injuries can include minor muscle strain and pain to sprains, slipped discs, nerve damage, stress fractures and torn ligaments. These workers may experience hearing loss due to loud, frequent noises, and repetitive motion injuries, such as bursitis and tendinitis that appear more gradually. Some contract medical infections and diseases on the job.
This type of work also has a psychological impact on first responders, placing them at high risk for PTSD, stress and anxiety disorders and depression. All of these conditions impact their ability to do their jobs.
How public safety members can get compensation
In some cases, public safety members receive legal presumption, which means that they do not have to prove they suffer from an injury. However, because this legal presumption has specific guidelines, such as the conditions it covers and the individual members who receive coverage, safety members should consult a legal professional.
Public safety members provide vital services to the people, so it is important to protect them and help them do their jobs.