First responders often enter dangerous places while others seek safety. That duty can expose them to hazards that most workers rarely face.
If you work in emergency response, these dangers can affect your health. Learning about them may help you report an injury and protect a workers’ compensation claim.
Heat illness and severe weather injuries
Long hours in high heat can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Floods and storms may also expose you to contaminated water, falling debris and vehicle crashes.
Opioid and chemical exposure
Police officers and emergency medical crews may find unknown powders during overdose calls. You could breathe in airborne particles or get them in your eyes, nose or mouth. Beyond overdose scenes, fires and chemical spills can expose you to toxic smoke and gases.
Psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder
Repeated exposure to death, violence and severe injury may cause lasting mental harm. You might have nightmares, anxiety or trouble focusing after a traumatic call. The Ashley Wilson Act provides supplemental benefits for eligible public first responders diagnosed with job-related post-traumatic stress disorder.
Burns and structural collapse injuries
Fire can weaken floors, roofs and walls without clear warning. A collapse may cause burns, smoke inhalation, broken bones or crush injuries. These injuries could keep a first responder from returning to duty.
In Georgia, qualifying firefighters and law enforcement officers may receive monthly compensation for certain temporary physical disabilities. The law generally caps payments from one incident at 12 months. It also coordinates them with workers’ compensation and other employer benefits.
Roadside and traffic injuries
Directing traffic or helping motorists often places you near fast-moving vehicles. A distracted driver could strike you or your patrol car. The Georgia Department of Public Safety enforces the “Move Over” law. It generally requires drivers to change lanes or slow down near certain stopped emergency vehicles.
How to protect your ability to recover
These job hazards can require medical care and affect your career. Prompt notice and medical records may connect your condition to a call or assignment. That information often influences the benefits available.
Workers’ compensation rules and supplemental programs do not always cover every condition in the same way. Legal guidance can help you meet filing requirements and respond to disputes about the connection between your duties and the injury.