A large number of emergency calls across the nation are concentrated among our elderly population. These calls are often due to long-term medical conditions. While prevention education may not be able to prevent these injuries, it remains a valuable tool in reducing the severity of those injuries.
It is possible that the role of the fire service in chronic illness will expand, as it has already encouraged the development of classes addressing topics like “911-Make the Right Call” and the incorporation of early warning signs and contributing factors of heart disease into CPR and First Aid Courses. As our population ages, we are constantly attempting to keep pace with the social demands their special needs place upon the fire service.
FPO Lasher serves as the Social Services Liaison for the fire districts. Any incident or situation that firefighters encounter which falls outside of the fire service’s role, but that poses a safety risk to a member of our community, is passed to FPO Lasher for follow up. FPO Lasher then contacts Clackamas County Social Services. In addition, to this report, FPO Lasher also works closely with Gatekeepers Association, Senior Centers, Chaplain Services Inc., Random Acts of Kindness and other community service related organizations to bring services to those in need. These partnerships are tremendously beneficial and allow for not only open lines of communication and the provision of holistic care, but shared training opportunities as well.
In 2005, FPO Lasher hosted a brainstorming session with the above mentioned organizations, as well as emergency response agencies and begin developing local programs to address injury prevention for seniors.
FPO Lasher hopes to complete a training process to utilize CERT members to address ‘Special Needs’ populations, to perform welfare checks and assist in evacuations by working closely with Law Enforcement, Social Services and Citizen Corps/COAD
|
navigation
In addition, FPO Lasher:
- Instructs classes at local Assisted Living Facilities
- Instructs Adult Foster Care Provider, Emergency Preparedness Classes for Clackamas County providers (2 to 4 per year). Reimbursed for out of district students
- Participates in Senior Center Programs (safety fairs, blood pressure check events, safety classes)
|
