Retired Firefighter Honors Brothers Lost to Cancer

Retired Orange County firefighter walks across state for fallen brothers
Click Orlando
By Amanda Castro - Reporter/Anchor
Posted: 12:18 PM, April 14, 2018

Tom "Bull" Hill raising awareness for cancer-related death benefits

MELBOURNE, Fla. - A retired Orange County firefighter is carrying the burden of his fallen brothers while walking hundreds of miles across the state to raise awareness for cancer-related death benefits.

Tom "Bull" Hill started his 700-mile journey in the Keys March 20. The 58-year-old has walked up the state and made his way to Melbourne Fire Station 74 Friday night.

On Saturday, he continued his journey up the Space Coast.

"It's an honor to carry these guys. That's the truth," Hill said.

Hill called it an honor and a burden as he stood over a table covered with photos of fallen firefighters and members of law enforcement. On the table were three large backpacks filled with more than 500 badges, shields and names of first responders who passed away.

The retired Orange County firefighter said he's keeping a promise and walking in memory of two fellow brothers who died from work-related cancer.
read more here

Canada Wants to Expand PTSD Coverage to Nurses

Ontario wants to extend PTSD coverage to frontline nurses

Ottowa Citizen

Joanne Laucius

December 15, 2017

The Ontario Ministry of Labour wants to extend “presumptive” post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) legislation to include up to 140,000 frontline nurses.

If the proposal becomes law, it will cover the nurses for “stress and impairment to functioning,” including painful flashbacks, nightmares, outbursts and thoughts of suicide and guilt or sadness following a traumatic event.

There are up to 140,000 frontline nurses in Ontario. SUNMEDIA

“With the new proposed presumption, once a frontline nurse is diagnosed with PTSD by either a psychiatrist or a psychologist, the claims process for WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) benefits will be expedited, and nurses will not be required to prove a causal link between PTSD and a workplace event,” said the ministry in a statement.

In April 2016, Ontario passed the Supporting Ontario’s First Responders Act, creating the “presumption” that PTSD diagnosed in first responders was work-related — so covered workers do not have to prove the link between their work and PTSD. 

The act covered about 73,000 first responders in the province, including police officers, firefighters, paramedics, corrections workers and dispatchers. But nurses were not included, sparking an outcry from the group.

read more here

Bill allows first responders suffering from PTSD to get workers' comp

Cocoa firefighter fighting for PTSD bill: We're not going to stop
News 13 Orlando
By Julie Gargotta, Reporter
April 14, 2017

In January he returned to work. But, for the last few months he's also found new purpose -- fighting for a bill which would extend workers' compensation to first responders with PTSD.

COCOA -- Although the clock is running out on the legislative session, those fighting for a bill which would provide workers’ comp for PTSD-suffering first responders aren’t deterred.

Firefighter Josh Vandegrift was working a scene where a pedestrian was hit by a vehicle, but when he looked at the victim he saw his own brother. The situation left him struggling with PTSD. Now he's fighting to get a bill passed to allow workers' comp for first responders with PTSD. (Julie Gargotta, Staff)

Bill allows first responders suffering from PTSD to get workers' comp
Bill in danger in Florida House, Senate
Josh Vandegrift, firefighter, fighting for the bill

“We’re not going to stop," said Josh Vandegrift, who is heading to Tallahassee this weekend to share his story during Monday's hearing. “I was stunned, because I can sprain my pinkie on a call and be covered through workmans' comp. But, seeing my little brother dead in the middle of the street isn’t covered.”

A call last July changed the Cocoa firefighter's life forever: While on duty, Vandegrift was dispatched to the scene of a vehicle versus pedestrian crash.

“I’m clearing the people out of the way and I look down. And my brother had a tattoo on the side of his neck and I saw the tattoo. I was like that’s my brother," he said. “I was screaming his name, crying. It was like a flashback of our lives together, because I knew it wasn’t good.”

Emergency crews rushed Vandegrift's youngest brother, Nate, to the hospital, but he died.

“It’s a firefighter or cop’s worst nightmare, is running in on a family member. And it happened to me. And ever since then I’ve been dealing with it," he said.

Ten days later, Vandegrift sought treatment, later diagnosed with PTSD, acute anxiety and depression. The firefighter said that he couldn't eat or sleep, and began immersing himself in wood projects for the therapeutic effects.

“I wanted to make a place for myself and my family to be able to relax. I built a table completely out of pallet wood, took me six weeks. I call it the family table," he said, skimming over a large, lacquered table in his backyard. “It helped me mentally to create something from nothing.”
read more here

Canada Workers Compensation Added PTSD!

Manitoba listing PTSD as occupational disease
The Reminder
Flin Flon Reminder
December 31, 2015

Changes to the Workers Compensation Act recognizing post-traumatic stress disorder as a work-related occupational disease in Manitoba come into effect Jan. 1.

Effective that date, the Workers Compensation Board will presume that someone’s job caused PTSD if a worker experiences a traumatic event on the job and is then diagnosed with the disorder.

This will make “it much easier to access supports, treatment and compensation,” Premier Greg Selinger said in a news release.
read more here