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EMS Tips

EMS Tips – FD Harassment – Learn Leadership – Emotional Support Animals

1. There was supposed to be change at Fairfax County Fire and Rescue 

Investigations, reports and training programs were supposed to change and improve the culture at the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department after the suicide death of FF/Paramedic Nicole Mittendorff. Instead a Female battalion chief in charge of gender issues resigns in protest.

Chief Kathleen Stanley was appointed Women’s Program Officer by Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department Chief Richard Bowers, a position that was to help women succeed in the department without harassment.

Chief Stanley said she has been unable to do her job because of the department’s stance on harassment, and outlined the issues in her resignation letter.

“Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tolerates, and often defends, sexual harassment, retaliation and a hostile work environment: ‘zero tolerance’ is a hollow term thrown about with false commitment,” Chief Stanley said.

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2. Leadership can and must be learned

The problems in Fairfax County are just one example of the ongoing leadership crisis in public safety, business and politics.

We all have opportunities to lead and being a student of leadership is critical to your success as a leader. Read, listen, discuss and self-evaluate.

I’ve been listening to episodes of the “How I Built This Podcast.” Famous business leaders like Ben and Jerry, Michael Dell and Reid Hoffman, discuss their paths to success,  how they built and led teams and the choices they made about the type of company they wanted to lead and how they wanted to lead their employees and in their industry.

How are you studying leadership?

3. Airline says ‘No go’ to Emotional Support Peacock

In a victory for common sense United Airlines said no to a passenger who wanted to fly with her peacock.

Have you recently reviewed your EMS agency policy for transporting patients with a service dog? How will you respond if a patient asks to bring their emotional support rabbit, peacock, miniature pony or pot belly pig?

Not in my ambulance! (Photo The Jet Set / Facebook)

 

By Greg Friese

Greg Friese, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, is an author, educator, paramedic, and marathon runner.

Greg was the co-host of the award winning EMSEduCast podcast, the only podcast by and for EMS educators. Greg has written for EMS1.com, JEMS.com, Wilderness Medical Associates, JEMS Magazine, EMSWorld.com and EMS World Magazine, and the NAEMSE Educator Newsletter.