My husband has a PM and has had one since he was 15 (now 28). He is trying to get into our local city's FD and I am obviously nervous for the medical exam due to his PM. I have been looking for answers and support and so far I have read only one posting (over 2 years old) where the PM Club member got into the FD while already having a PM. All I have read so far is that if you are in the FD and have a PM implanted, most of the time you are ok, but if you have one and are trying to get in, forget it. That doesnt make much sense to me and I am wondering if he can't use that way of thinking as a bargining tool. Why do the NFPA Standards allow a FF to return to duty after have a PM implanted but does not allow anyone to get in the FD if they have a PM to begin with. What is with this way of thinking? Which by the way, the NFPA Standards suggests that you cannot be a FF if you have Sinusitus...I mean come on, really? My dad is a FF and has been one for 30 years, he smokes, has high blood pressure, was (and still maybe) considered morbidly obease, has gone through two eye surgeries, and only has one good kidney (and this was the case when he got in over 30 years ago) and still is employed.
With that all said, does anyone know of any Fire Departments that let applicants in with PM?
And is there anything in the Americans with Disabilities Act that can help with getting in?
My husband's only restrictions are no welding, and he was not allowed to play contact sports. He is completely capable of doing everything else and there would be no job restrictions. His specialist is encouraging him to apply.
Any comments or advice??

 

 

If the department that he is applying for has not adopted NFPA1582,then he should be able to get hired if he is not pace maker dependent. It is a ridiculous rule. I am a firefighter with a PM and got it after I was hired but had some issues with my department before they let me come back. It is mostly ignorance and fear of liability that creates these issues. Best of luck to your husband.
Cqmccann

 

He called the Medical Office today and the woman told him that they have been letting a lot of people in with problems (dont know if that is a good thing...). She said the best thing for him to do is to come to his medical exam with a letter from his specialist. It really depends on the doctor that examines him that day.
What does PM dependent mean exactly? His is set for his heart rate to go no lower then 60 but the woman who checks his PM just said to him last week that it is set too high and needs to be lower to about 50. When it is set to 50, he uses it less then 10% of the time.
I am really starting to learn the ignorance and fear of people and PMs. People dont understand that young people can have PM too and the only things my Hubby cant do is weld, use his cellphone on his left side and play contact sports. And that all is because it might ruin the settings of the pacemaker, not because his heart cant handle it. He also has no limitation on how high his heart rate can go, as we go to the gym and do cardio and weights frequently.
It all just makes me sooo mad...and I dont even have the PM!!
Thanks for your support and answer.
Also, the FD uses the NFPA as a guidance but does not follow it to a "T". If they did, they wouldn't have the half the FF they have.

 

I am a firefighter with a PM implanted while a member of the Fire Dept.

But the key to remaining an active member, with no restrictions, was the clearance letter from my cardiologist (who is well versed with NFPA 1582), which was accepted by the Dept Physician.

As Cqmccann stated, ignorance and fear create these issues.

Good luck to you and your husband.

 

I got my ICD at 16, and went into law enforcement when I turned 21. I'm now 25, and although I have had some discomfort from havening a pacemaker and dealing physically with subjects, I have not had an issue with my ICD and work. It is department preference though. My current department doesn't care as long as I am medically cleared, however, I am moving in January, and have run into some problems with other departments that I have applied to.