The Bravest
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE
UNIFORMED FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER NEW YORK
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006
Photo by STEPHEN N. SYMBOLIK
President’s Message By STEPHEN J. CASSIDY
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n 2003 six Fire Companies were closed in the City of New York and this was a mistake. The excuse used was a fiscal crisis. Recently, public safety experts were shocked to find out that the city is quietly moving to sell off these vital security assets. To do so defies common sense. Presently there is no financial crunch necessitating the auctioning of firehouses. These firehouses should not be sold but should instead be reopened. Greater fire protection, not less is needed in these growing communities. Greater population densities bring more traffic and significant increases in our response times. The Partnership for New York City released a detailed report titled “Growth or Gridlock?” in December 2006. Analysts forecast that the city will “add a million more residents and 750,000 new jobs over the next 25 years.” The report further points out that “the level of traffic in the city and much of the Metro Region has crossed the dividing line that separates economically efficient traffic flow from destructive, excess congestion. As a result, virtually every business and industry sector in all five boroughs and across the Metro Region is suffering losses because of congestion.” These studies would seem to indicate that
Senator Hillary Clinton & Stephen J. Cassidy confer during a breakfast meeting the day after the November 7th election at Engine 54, Ladder 4. our response times will grow longer with the crippling impact that comes with increased congestion and gridlock. I wrote a piece in the New York Daily News on Tuesday, December 5th addressing this critical issue and will continue to carry this message to our elected officials. They also need reminding that 2005 was the busiest year in the history of the FDNY, with 485,702 total responses and this record could be shattered when the numbers are tallied for 2006. I was delighted to be appointed by Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer in November to serve on his Homeland Security Transition Committee. Already a working list of the State’s most pressing security issues was compiled which included border security, infrastructure, national coor-
dination efforts, better preparedness for natural disasters, and terrorist-related events. It is crucial that fire service is recognized as being central to terrorist preparedness and prevention. The expanded role of today’s Firefighter needs to be highlighted at every level of government. On December 5, 2006, the city’s Office of Emergency Management opened its new permanent emergency operations center in Brooklyn. This center, in tandem with the $17 million upgrade of the Department’s command center which opened in September, provide state-of-the art resources to plan responses to terrorist attacks, fires, snow(Continued on page 2)
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President’s Message (Continued from page 1)
problem. In November the Broward County Retirees Association hosted a retiree’s conference in Orlando, Florida. The event was well-attended and provided the UFA with an opportunity to dispel inaccurate information and provided retirees with first-hand information on variety of union issues. The UFA is looking forward to participating in future conferences to assist our retired members. Two rounds of negations regarding our contract have taken place with city officials since the September/October issue of Fire Lines. I will continue to update you on our progress in both Fire Lines and on the UFA Web site www.ufanyc.org. I wish all of you a very happy holiday season and hope that the new Year will be healthy and safe!
Photo by STEPHEN N. SYMBOLIK
storms, blackouts, other emergencies and special events. Now that all the material resources are in place, the issue of staffing must again be revisited. In December of 2005 we renegotiated the Roster Staffing Agreement, which was set to expire, and got a five-year extension with an increase from 60 to 64 five-man Engine Companies. Staffing is primary to Firefighter and public safety and will continue to press the issue. I was pleased that most of the UFA’s endorsed candidates for national and state offices were swept to victory. On the morning of November 8th, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton joined me for breakfast, along with the Firefighters at Engine 54, Ladder 4. Senator Clinton said, “ I came here this morning to thank this firehouse and really all of out first
responders who take care of us everyday.” As January approaches, I intend to continue to push the UFA agenda with both our newly elected officials and the incumbents. In an interview on NY1 in October, I blasted the department for concealing from the UFA the results of Chief Hay’s safety investigation concerning a faulty latch mechanism on the doors of Seagrave pumpers which led to the severe injury of a Manhattan Firefighter in May. In an October 10th press conference, I further expressed my anger that this safety report was kept secret from the UFA and that the Department failed to implement Chief Hay’s recommendation more than six months after the accident! An estimated 95 percent of the FDNY’s 200 pumpers had flawed latches. I am pleased to report that the Department, after being exposed and embarrassed, is finally correcting the
NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2006
(L to R) Stephen J. Cassidy, James Slevin, Senator Hillary Clinton and the men from Engine 54, Ladder 4.
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2006 Legislative Review By JAMES SLEVIN UFA Vice President/ Legislative Chairman
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his past year will certainly go down as a monumental one for the UFA in the legislative arena. Governor Pataki signed the Stroke Bill, WTC Death Benefit Bill and Widows COLA Bill into law. Normally a great legislative year would be defined as getting one major bill signed, this year we hit a grand slam with the WTC Death Benefit and Stoke Presumption Bill being signed by the Governor. Unfortunately our Terminal Leave Bill was vetoed. We lobbied hard for it right up until the end but ultimately the opposition proved to be too great. We will continue to pursue that bill in the future.
Along with a successful legislative program we also made great strides on the political side. Over 150 members turned out on Election Day to support the politicians that have supported us. This is a great turn around from just 4 years ago when we could hardly muster a dozen Firefighters to turn out for Election Day. Most of the politicians that we endorsed won their election. Firefighters continue to get more involved in the political process as they see the dividends that it pays. Politicians continue to take notice of our greater involvement and a result we will continue to be successful in the future. One politician that we did support that was unsuccessful was State Senator Nick Spano. Despite our tremendous turnout for him, he was unable to hold onto his Senate seat. The “democratic tide� and a changing district made it impossible to win. Senator Spano is a long time friend of the UFA and he will be missed. We
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wish him luck in his future endeavors. Despite his loss, Senator Bruno will continue to be the Majority Leader. Senator Bruno and his staff appreciated our efforts and assured us that we will not be forgotten. This coming legislative session promises to be interesting. We have a new Governor along with a new House of Representatives and US Senate. We hope that they will be as receptive to our Agenda as the outgoing ones have been. We already have great relationships with them and look forward to building upon them. This coming session we will once again be sponsoring Lobby Day in Albany. This will be the major Political Action Team event for 2007. There are no elections that will be taking place in the coming year. The next issue of Fire Lines will include the 2007 legislative agenda along with the date for Lobby Day 2007. Have a safe holiday and a Happy New Year!
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WTC Bill: Making Sure You and Your Families Are Covered By JOSEPH A. MICCIO Recording Secretary Who is Covered & What Forms to File Firefighters must file a ‘Notice of Participation in the World Trade Center Rescue, Recovery or Clean-Up Operations Form’ by June 14, 2007 to qualify for the WTC Presumptive Disability Bill, or they will not be eligible for any of these benefits should they develop one of the qualifying conditions. Also, Firefighters who are retired from service or from ordinary disability are eligible to reapply at any time (by using a ‘WTC Disability Application’) for accidental disability if he/she develops a WTC-related disease—but ONLY if the ‘Notice of Participation’ form was originally filed by June 14, 2007, as noted above. The ‘Notice of Participation…Form’ and also the ‘WTC Disability Application’ are both available on the Homepage of the UFA Web site at www.ufanyc.org. Surviving beneficiaries of Firefighters who die from a 9/11 related disease will receive full line-of-duty death benefits even if the member is already retired (100% of the deceased’s last salary plus health benefits)—but ONLY if the ‘Notice of Participation’ form was originally filed by June 14, 2007 . If the survivor is a spouse, the benefit is paid until the spouse dies; if it is a child, benefits continue until the child reaches 18.
How to File ‘Notice of Participation’ Form All members should return the form ASAP (and in no case later than June 14, 2007) with the dates or date range you best recall—even if you are not yet able to document the actual dates you participated. Make sure you submit via certified return receipt. The Dept conducts its own *verification process and will notify you if additional clarification is required. FDNY Pension Bureau mailed a letter of confirmation this past Fall to anyone who was verified by the Dept. The Pension Bureau also explained that letters were not sent to members that the Department was unable to verify, even though these members had submitted the WTC form. In other words, if you have not yet received this verification letter from the Dept, then you are not yet verified. According to the FDNY Pension Bureau, get your forms in by the deadline—even if you are uncertain if you have submitted all necessary documentation—and your rights will be preserved. After you submit the ‘Participation Form’, if the Dept requires additional *verification information or documenta-
The Wounded Warriors, recently returning heroes from Iraq and Afghanistan were in New York City for the Marine Corps Ball. Hosted by the officers and Firefighters of Engine 33 and Ladder 9, the men were escorted to WestPoint for the Air force-Army football game, were given a tour of Ground Zero, and attended the Giants football game. During their visit, a breakfast ceremony was hosted where they were presented with a check for $50,000, the proceeds from the sale of “New York City Firefighters Support Our Troops” T-shirts. This endeavor was spearheaded by the brothers of Engine 231 and Ladder 120 and supported by firehouses throughout the city. Photo by STEPHEN N. SYMBOLIK
tion that you participated at the WTC, it can be done any time after you file—but only if you filed by June 14, 2007! As mandated by the law, there will be no second chances to FILE late. But, the Dept is permitted to conduct its verification process any time after it has received your ‘Notice of Participation Form’. The FDNY Pension Bureau also informed the UFA that it expects to provide to the UFA this winter a list** for each company Delegate, which notes who filed the application and who was verified. When this occurs, it will be announced via 65-2. FDNY Pension Directors also addressed all Company Delegates present at the May 2006 UFA Delegate Education Seminar. All Delegates present were walked through preparation of the form, many of which were submitted at the conclusion of the session. See your Company Delegate for preparation assistance. NOTE: as excerpted from the form, “This form must be submitted to the Fire Department, Pension Fund Subchapter II, by June 14, 2007. The form is for notification purposes only and does NOT constitute an application for retirement or reclassification pursuant to Chapter 93 of the Laws of 2005. In order to apply for retirement benefits, a separate application must be completed. If you have any questions, please call (718) 999-7041, or (718) 999-0148. All correspondence should be mailed to the Bureau of Uniformed Payroll and Pension at the above address.” * PD - FD Rollover WTC Verification FDNY Pension Bureau has informed the UFA that PD rollover members must send the FD ‘Participation Form’ as per above instructions, and attach PD documentation to the form. PD documentation could include, but is not limited to, a copy of their PD memo book cover and entries from the memo book indicating they were working at any of the qualifying sites; any rosters or command log entries indicating they were working at any of the qualifying sites. Any other PD documentation that would substantiate their dates worked should be attached. Once FDNY receives the notarized FD ‘WTC Participation Form’ with attached PD documentation, FD will forward it all to the PD, which will then confirm the information with the PD’s records. Once confirmed, PD will send FDNY written sign-off of their verification, and then FDNY will enter the (Continued on page 5)
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Response Times and Gridlock
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By DANIEL MURPHY Manhattan Trustee
nder normal circumstances response times continue to be an issue. During the holiday season, however, Engine and Truck Companies are noticeably hindered by the enormous influx of vehicular traffic and pedestrians. Legions of pedestrians and tourists crossing streets slow down turning vehicles. Frequently the flow of traffic is paralyzed. If we have to contend with snow or ice, as they say in Brooklyn, “fugeddaboutit.” The tremendous amount of new construction going on throughout the city also affects response times. Some streets are down to one lane, other streets are temporarily closed. Trucks loaded with con-
WTC Bill (Continued from page 4) member in the FDNY WTC database as verified. According to the FDNY Pension Bureau, members who were Police Officers while working at one of the eligible WTC sites must submit their forms to the FD by the June 14, 2007 deadline. Even if you are uncertain if you have gathered all necessary documentation from the PD—your rights will be preserved if you submit the form to the FD by the deadline. After you submit the ‘Participation Form’, if the FD requires additional verification information or documentation that you participated at the WTC, it can be done any time after you file—but only if you originally filed by June 14, 2007! As mandated by the law, there will be no second chances to FILE late. But, the Dept is permitted to conduct its verification process any time after it has received your timely filed ‘Notice of Participation Form’. ** It is also important to note that according to the FDNY Pension Bureau, members who were Police Officers while working at one of the eligible WTC sites will not be listed on the initial lists that will be given to each Company Delegate this winter, as noted above. The Pension Bureau has not yet informed the UFA as to how it will be providing this info for this category of members. However, the UFA will advise the members via 65-2 as soon as the Dept has this info available.
struction materials or concrete further hinder traffic as they wait in queue to deliver goods. Crane placement and sidewalk rerouting also impact traffic flow. For example, a new building is going up right outside the UFA headquarters on the north east corner of Third Avenue and 23rd Street. Because of crane placement, the southbound lane on Third Avenue is reduced to one lane. In the morning and evening rush, this becomes a bottleneck as drivers try to turn east or west on 23rd Street. Firefighters and emergency vehicles negotiate precarious bottlenecks every day, and it’s getting worse! Despite additional traffic and the building boom, (with the exception of tourist hot spots such as Fifth Avenue) it doesn’t seem that traffic enforcement is propor-
tionate to the needs created by the influx of additional vehicles, tourists, or pedestrians. My casual observation is there aren’t as many tickets issued for “Blocking the box” as in the past. Traveling throughout Manhattan, I frequently see Companies on a run literally stuck in traffic, blasting their sirens, and being ignored by gridlocked traffic. Dispatchers are well aware of calls being delayed because of traffic. Not surprisingly, most of this gridlock occurs in midtown. Ironically, as this problem continues to grow year after year, the Fire Department has done nothing to beef up fire protection in this area. The Department knows this is an historical problem. Instead of being reactive and waiting for tragedy to strike, the Department should be proactive and address this issue beforehand. Response times have a direct bearing on saving lives and property and I, along with Stephen J. Cassidy, will continue to raise this issue with the Department.
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2006 UFA WIDOWS’ & CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY
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place could be found to have a party. Once again Toys R Us generously hosted the annual event, as they have done since December 2001 in the aftermath of 9/11. The store became the domain of widows and children of fallen Firefighters from 8:00 am to noon. Toys R us band played festive holiday music welcoming families as they entered the store. Breakfast
buffets were stationed on each level of the store but kids were noticeably were more interested in checking out the latest video games and toys. This year Chairman & CEO Jerry Storch, along with legions of Toys R Us staff, welcomed Yankee’s superstar Mariano Rivera, Robin Strasser from One Life to Live, and World Wrestling Entertainment’s Jeff
Hardy. UFA President Stephen J. Cassidy, together with the UFA Executive Board and staff helped to ensure an enjoyable time was had by all. Gift certificates were provided by the UFA to every child, and Toys R Us donated gift cards. As always, Santa’s arrival in Times Square on Tower Ladder 35 was the highlight of the party!
Photos by Todd Maisel
ould there be a better venue to host the annual UFA Widows’ & Children’s Christmas Party than the main Toys R Us toy store in Times Square? Judging from the squeals of laughter, excitement, joy, and delight from the more than 600 kids who attended this year’s event on Sunday, November 19th, it’s unlikely that a better
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FF Eddie Tietjen – Deeply Missed! By EDDIE BROWN Bronx Trustee he year was 1982. I graduprobie ated school along with another probie, Richie Straub, and we were assigned to Engine 94 in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx—vacant buildings, drug dens, prostitutes. A life-long Bronx resident raised by my mother in an apartment, the youngest of seven children, my father passed away when I was nine months old. Nervously walking through the firehouse door for the first time, I didn’t know what FF Eddie Tietjen in front of 48 Truck. to expect, since I was the first Firefighter in my family’s history. in need. He and his wife Mary raised two saying, “Eddie!” looking down at the beat Richie and I were told to go to the great kids, Dennis and Nicole, in up boots Eddie was wearing. Eddie kept kitchen where the guys were waiting for Mahopac. Eddie passed away from lung saying, “but Chief, they’re your boots.” us, asking us everything you could imagcancer in November 2003 just when he The Chief said, “Eddie, I need new boots.” ine. They had a lot of fun at our expense. was about to retire. Eddie, all the member of Engine 94, LadDuring the next few months, we caught a One year Ladder 48 was having annual der 48, and the whole Battalion 3 are all lot of work. Engine 94, Ladder 48 was a inspection. The Chief of Battalion 3 was better men for knowing you. We miss you senior house. The thing that amazed me inspecting Eddie’s gear. The Chief kept and we love you. the most was these guys were real professionals. When it hit the fan, everyone stayed calm and did their job. Guys like The officers of Fire Riders Bill Dillon, Dennis Golden, Dennis Pierce, present Stephen J. CasGene Hessler, J.P. Sullivan, Ed Scott, Ed sidy with a $5,000 check Loehmann, Rod Downie, Big John Brauto the Elssaser Fund on nagel, Jim Henderson, Capt. Tom Collins, November 2, 2006 . (L to Capt. John Cunniff, and Eddie Tiejen. We R) Tony Baldino, Fire would go back to the firehouse and critique Riders Secretary; Vic the job-everyone was in a good mood. All D’Aqino, Fire Riders these guys worked two jobs, raised famiPresident; Robert Straub, lies, and made me proud to be a Fireman. UFA Treasurer; Stephen J. Eddie Tietjen, was THE guy who stood Cassidy, UFA President; th out in 48 Truck. He was raised on 138 Tommy “Chang” CiangiStreet in the Bronx, and was a Vietnam ola, Vice President; and veteran. He came on the job in 1968 and Chuck Kotov, Secretary. was one of the best irons man in the job. MUN182_HolLoan_7.5x2_SPOT_RED_FIRLNS.qxd 11/1/06 2:56 PM Page 1 Eddie was a Firefighter, a butcher, Photo by STEPHEN N. SYMBOLIK plumber, and a best friend when you were
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RESULTS FOR BATTLE OF THE BADGES 2006
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or the third straight year the FDNY vs. NYPD Battle of the Badges came down to the final bout. The NYPD Fighting Finest edged out a 4-3 win over The FDNY Bravest Boxing Team before a crowd of over 1300 at Aviator Sports and Recreation in Brooklyn NY. The bout by bout results are as follows. FF Matt Burke of Eng. Co 62 lost a close decision to PO Alex Ayala in the Super heavyweight division. It was a seesaw battle throughout the evenly matched bout. P.O. Ayala swayed the judges by throwing and landing the more effective blows in round three. FF Filipe Irizany of Eng. Co 66 fought a courageous fight against one of last year’s NYC Golden Glove finalist, PO Russell Jung. FF Irizany, in his first bout representing the Bravest Boxing Team, gave PO Jung all he could handle in this open class contest before losing a split decision. It should be noted that due to injuries to members of both teams FF Irizany stepped up and took this bout on short notice. He looks forward to the rematch scheduled for June in San Diego. In his first bout ever, FF Mike Sandhage of Eng. Co 21 earned a 1st round TKO over P.O. Tom Miserandino. FF Sandhage came out slugging and did not stop till the referee ended the one sided bout at 2:13 of the 1st round. FF John “Zorba the Freak” Soukas, of Lad. Co. 8 fought 3 tough rounds against P.O. Will Johnson, they battled back and forth but FF Soukas won each round and was rewarded with the majority decision. He remains undefeated with a record of 4-0. FF Mike Lazzari of Lad. Co 35, who recently returned home from serving a tour in Iraq, served PO Greg Hamilton a steady diet of hard body shots that eventually wore down his opponent and won Mike the fight. Mike had just completed the NYC Marathon wearing 25lbs of firefighting gear to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. In the fight of the night, team Captain, Mike “the bowery bum” Reno from Eng. Co 33 fought last year’s 165lb Golden Glove finalist P.O. Jamaal Spence. Reno was dominating the hard-hitting and bigger Spence and won each of the first three
FF Mike "The Bowery Bum" Reno from Eng. Co. 33 hitting PO Jamaal Spence with a right uppercut in their 152lb open class thriller. rounds before getting caught with a sharp right hand, left hook combination in the 4th and final round. The referee stopped this 152lb open class thriller at 2: 34 of the 4th round. In the final bout of the night, with the score tied at 3 wins a piece, FF Jack “HURRICANE” Kirrane of Eng. Co. 59 took on P.O. Greg Waithe. Kirrane fought an aggressive fight and repeatedly tried to land his big right hand but he could not catch the wily southpaw Waithe. The decision and
the team win went to the NYPD. In other bouts, FF John Dadon of Eng. Co. 309 lost a split decision to Angel Ruiz of Vets Gym and in an all out slugfest PO Alex Chapparo stopped a very game Brian Hart of Electchester Boxing. As always, the Bravest Boxing Team welcomes new members and is currently in search of additional coaches and trainers. If you are interested please call team President Bobby McGuire at (917) 282-8727
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To: All Participants
To: All Participants
From: Board of Trustees
From: Board of Trustees
Re: Annual Membership Report
Re: Annual Membership Report
In compliance with Directive 12, Employee Benefit Finds – Uniform Reporting and Auditing Requirements, issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the City of New York, set forth below is a report of the financial condition and operations of the Fund for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005. The Security Benefit Fund of the Uniformed Firefighters Association provides death, dental, prescription drug, optical, supplemental hospitalization, supplemental medical-surgical, surgical anesthesia, obstetrical anesthesia, hearing aid appliance, and inhospital private duty nursing and widows benefits, to all eligible participants, which include firefighters, marshals, and uniformed wipers pursuant to an Agreement and Declaration of Trust entered into between the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York, Local 94, I.A.F.F., AFL-CIO (the UFA) and the Trustees of the Fund. Such benefits are funded through employer contributions, which are established by collective bargaining agreements entered into between the UFA and the City of New York. The value of Fund assets, after subtracting liabilities of the Fund, was $31,386,558 as of June 30, 2005, compared to $27,917,669 as of July 1, 2004. During the fiscal year the Fund experienced an increase in its net assets available for benefits of $3,468,889. Additions to the fund totaled $15,700,228. These additions included investment income of $1,521,719, contributions of $13,933,381 and other income of $245,128. Deductions from the Fund totaled $12,231,339. These deductions included benefits paid to or for participants of $11,708,170 and administrative expenses of $523,169. For additional information write to: Board of Trustees Security Benefit Fund of the Uniformed Firefighters Association 204 East 23rd Street New York, NY 10010 Or call (212) 683-4723
In compliance with Directive 12, Employee Benefit Finds – Uniform Reporting and Auditing Requirements, issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the City of New York, set forth below is a report of the financial condition and operations of the Fund for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005. The Retired Firefighters Security Benefit Fund of the Uniformed Firefighters Association provides prescription drug, dental, optical, and certain other benefits to all eligible participants, which include retired firefighters, marshals, and uniformed wipers pursuant to an Agreement and Declaration of Trust entered into between the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York, Local 94, I.A.F.F., AFL-CIO (the UFA) and the Trustees of the Fund. Such benefits are funded through employer contributions, which are established by collective bargaining agreements entered into between the UFA and the City of New York. The value of Fund assets, after subtracting liabilities of the Fund, was $6,787,670 as of June 30, 2005, compared to $4,882,097 as of July 1, 2004. During the fiscal year the Fund experienced an increase in its net assets available for benefits of $1,905,573. Additions to the fund totaled $16,149,027. These additions included investment income of $163,800, contributions of $15,488,642, and other income of $496,585. Deductions from the Fund totaled $14,243,454. These deductions included benefits paid to or for participants of $13,847,575 and administrative expenses of $395,879. For additional information write to: Board of Trustees Retired Firefighters Security Benefit Fund of the Uniformed Firefighters Association 204 East 23rd Street
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New York, NY 10010 Or call (212) 683-4723
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The WTC Medical Monitoring Program – 5 years later By WILLIAM ROMAKA Health & Safety Officer he World Trade Center Medical Monitoring Program is the term applied to both the FDNY Program and the Mt. Sinai Program which covers five clinical centers in New York City and the surrounding areas. This program is currently being expanded to cover individuals outside the Metropolitan area who meet certain criteria. This program was set up with input from the Unions and was designed to take full advantage of the fact that the Bureau of Health Services had baseline records of all its firefighters from 1997 forward. The Program at Mount Sinai and other clinics was designed to mimic what we were already doing. When problems arose early on, they were addressed. The Pulmonary Function Test was enhanced to bring it up to the technology of the day and additional blood testing was added. Lately we have had the computer Mental Health component shortened to better reflect the realities of the present. To clear up some confusion when an active member goes for their annual medical with their company, the members who were active on 9/11 information goes into the WTC Medical Monitoring Program and become part of your personal medical history. The newer members’ data becomes part of their medical history. It is always prudent to take your results to your own personal physician and have them follow-up or confirm these results. A recent outreach poster that was sent out needs a little clarification. This poster was sent to all the firehouses and some of the retiree organizations. The phone number on the poster is for retirees to make appointments. Active members are generally seen at their annual Company Medicals. It is helpful to keep track of when you have gone, and when you are next scheduled for a company medical. For those who might have been on light duty, vacation, or prolonged medical leave and may have missed your medical, you can call the Bureau of Health Services at 718-9990221 to schedule an appointment. Should an active Firefighter come down with a disease or illness that you feel might be WTC related and you are not scheduled to go for another medical in
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the near future, we respectfully ask that you call the Bureau of Health Services at 718999-1948 to schedule a medical exam. Recently, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene have released the “Clinical Guidelines for Adults Exposed to the WTC Disaster”. Both Dr. Kelly and Dr. Prezant helped created this important document with many other noted doctors and advisors. It would be of your best interest to make certain your personal physician is familiar with its content. This important document can be downloaded at the following web address: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/chi/chi25-7.pdf In my position I am constantly getting calls about how best to treat our firefighters. While I will always listen to what is being said, my participation in many WTC Medical Monitoring Meetings and attending seminars with Medical Experts, has led me to some necessary realizations on how best to proceed. As your Health and Safety Officer who is working closely with both Dr. Kelly and Dr. Prezant, I very much want to stress that there is and never will be one test that can or will detect all possible illnesses or diseases. It is my wish that our Firefighters take an active role in monitoring their own health on a periodical basis. This can best be accomplished by going for your annual exams by the Fire Department and having annual exams with your own personal physician. As individuals we know best when something is wrong or different with our bodies. It is of urgent importance that we do not dismiss these differences and make the extra effort to seek professional guidance. There are many things that the members can do to best take care of their bodies. Stop smoking, eating right, and regular exercise are the most common examples. Some organizations are offering our members different avenues that they can take to help themselves. A few of these are at no cost, while most involve out-of-pocket expenses that are not covered by insurance. Some members have experienced benefits from
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things such as heavy metal removal programs, herbal medicines and juices, acupressure treatments, and yoga among others. Additionally, air purifiers and nasal care systems can usually benefit our members who are experiencing pulmonary problems. All these things, while having some benefits, require commitment, dedication, and sometimes expense to achieve their goals. However, none of this should ever take the place of regular annual exams with the Fire Department and your own physician. Body scanning is another subject that gets a lot of attention. There are both upsides and downsides to this method. Some of the benefits are the ability to spot heart disease and some cancers in the early stages. Some of the downsides are that it is usually not covered by insurance, there are sometimes false positives and it might not pick up everything. Additionally, there are radiation concerns and many times the detection may not increase survival. That is why it is generally only used after some symptoms are uncovered. When these symptoms are uncovered in the Medical Monitoring Program, the firefighter will be sent for a CAT scan at the Department’s expense. It is always recommended to have your life insurance in place before you begin testing. Counseling needs are always going to be available to our membership. The CSU has satellite offices which make it convenient to access. I also believe that our members should have the option to seek outside counseling, and firefighters always have the ability to go through their health care provider. Organizations such as Friends of Firefighters (718-6430980) and Safe Horizons (212-747-8581) have always demonstrated to have our best interests at heart and are able to provide counseling services at little or no cost to our members. With NIOSH funding we will be able to fund more treatments and counseling needs of the active and retired membership. This is a complicated evolving process that is moving quickly to implementation. With added incentives it is hopeful to get the data from the active and retired firefighters so as to best spot trends and implement the best protections for our membership. We appreciate your involvement in helping us protect you the best we can. Any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.
Uniformed Firefighters Association
FIRST CLASS U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT # 14 HUNTINGTON, NY
OF GREATER NEW YORK
204 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10010-9998 Tel (212) 683-4832 • Fax (212) 683-0710 www.ufanyc.org
STEPHEN J. CASSIDY President ENG. 236 JAMES SLEVIN Vice President
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JOSEPH MICCIO Recording Secretary
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ROBERT STRAUB Treasurer
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WILLIAM ROMAKA Health & Safety Officer Sergeant-at-Arms
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LESTER LAYNE Fire Marshal Representative
STEPHEN J. CASSIDY Editor-In-Chief
BFI
DONALD RULAND Trustee-Staten Island
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JOHN KELLY Trustee-Brooklyn ENG. 201 Chairman, Board of Trustees STEPHEN HUMENESKY Trustee-Queens
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DANIEL MURPHY Trustee-Manhattan
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EDWARD BROWN Trustee-Bronx
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STEPHEN N. SYMBOLIK Managing Editor
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