Firefighter physicals would be required in Prince William
By: David Sherfinski
Examiner Staff Writer
March 26, 2009
The Prince William County Board of Supervisors has passed emergency legislation requiring medical evaluations based on national standards for all firefighters and rescue workers after a volunteer firefighter recruit died in November.
The plan, still being finalized by county staff, would authorize Fire and Rescue Chief Kevin McGee, in consultation with the county’s Fire and Rescue Association, to monitor and enforce the medical evaluation program. The county code currently mandates physicals for only paid fire and rescue staff.
Board Chairman Corey Stewart stressed the need for what he called “drastic action.”
“The longer we delay this, the greater the possibility [it] is that some volunteer personnel who has a latent health problem that is not apparent right now, but would be discovered with a physical, is going to die on the job,” he said.
“Now God forbid that happens,” he continued, “but if it happens, and we fail to act on it when we have the chance ... how do we explain that?”
Cecilia Turnbough, who was training to become a volunteer firefighter, died during a training exercise in November.
The Fire and Rescue Association’s board of directors voted last week to reject a similar proposal by McGee.
“I was confident that all the information necessary for discussion and decision [was] made and shared,” McGee told the supervisors. “Our members are at risk due to the fact that no medical evaluation program is in place.”
Scott Ackerman, chief of the Stonewall Jackson Volunteer Fire Department, said the volunteer departments were in favor of physicals, but noted that the county code makes them optional for volunteers.
“I believe we can get there … without compromising or adding additional risks to the county,” he said.
