August 17, 2012 (Press-News.org) In June, Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy signed a bill into law that will allow firefighters with Post-Traumatic Street Disorder, or PTSD, to collect workers' compensation benefits to treat the disorder.
Connecticut Firefighters Now Eligible for Benefits
The new law passed with unanimous support in both the state House of Representatives and the state Senate. It allows firefighters to collect workers' compensation for treatment of PTSD caused by the death of a coworker. Police in the state already enjoy similar protections.
This new law does not grant firefighters benefits to cover lost wages but does extend benefits for treatment to both volunteer firefighters and paid, uniformed firefighters employed by cities. To be eligible, individuals must be diagnosed by a licensed, board-certified mental health professional who determines the PTSD is a direct result of witnessing the death of a coworker.
What Is PTSD?
Experts began to study PTSD in firefighters and other emergency personnel after the events of September 11, 2001. They found these events had a significant impact on the mental health of New York's first responders, including an elevated risk of PTSD for several years after the attacks.
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that affects individuals who have experienced a traumatic event that threatened their well-being. This can include witnessing the serious injury or death of a colleague. PTSD changes how someone responds to stress. Symptoms include:
- Reliving the event through flashbacks, nightmares and memories
- Avoiding normal activities
- Suppressing normal emotional responses
- Experiencing outbursts of anger and irritability
Sometimes, individuals with PTSD may feel guilty about having survived the traumatic event when a co-worker did not.
The changes to Connecticut's workers' compensation benefits rules will help firefighters who have witnessed the death of coworkers get the treatment they need to manage their PTSD and move forward with their lives. If you or a loved one suffers from PTSD after witnessing the death of a fellow firefighter, please contact an experienced workers compensation attorney.
Article provided by Gillis & Gillis
Visit us at www.gillislawfirm.com
Connecticut to Allow Firefighters Workers' Comp for Mental Illness
A new Connecticut law allows firefighters to collect workers' compensation for treatment of PTSD caused by witnessing the tragic death of a coworker.
2012-08-17
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Bankruptcy Filings Down Nationwide, While City Filings on the Rise
2012-08-17
In the midst of the recession, bankruptcy filings rose steadily across the country, evidencing the struggle many Americans were facing as a result of the economic downturn. As the effects of the recession have waned, there has been a corresponding drop in the number of bankruptcy filings nationwide.
The drop was most noticeable during the first quarter of 2012, when bankruptcy filings fell between 8 and 10 percent from the year prior. As the American Bankruptcy Institute reported to The Honolulu Star, one of the reasons for the decline is the low interest rates across ...
Emergency Department Overcrowding Harms Patients
2012-08-17
Oregon residents visiting emergency departments may notice that they are busier than they have been in the past. That is because every year more patients are going to emergency rooms. The medical problems the patients are bringing in are also more severe, sometimes caused by a lack of health insurance; some patients will wait until they absolutely must be seen by a physician, allowing their illness to worsen in the meantime. This means diagnosis and treatment take longer.
The result is overcrowding in many emergency departments, harming patients who must wait too long ...
Dividing Debts in Divorce
2012-08-17
Divorcing parties may want to get out of a marriage with the property they feel they deserve, but they really want to avoid being stuck with their ex's debt. Stories abound about feuding spouses taking a "scorched earth" approach to failing marriages and running up credit card debt to punish the financially vulnerable spouse. In other situations, the split is amicable and the parties simply agree to divide the entire debt in half and pay their respective share.
Regardless of the situation, there is a common misperception that agreements included in a court ...
Minnesota DWI and Vehicle Forfeiture
2012-08-17
One of the "collateral consequences" or extra-judicial results of a DWI charge is vehicle forfeiture. Specifically, when an Minnesota driver is charged with a 2nd Degree DWI or 1st Degree DWI, the vehicle used by the offender in the offense (i.e., the car, boat, snowmobile, or ATV being used while supposedly driving drunk or over .08) is subject to forfeiture. Forfeiture means the government seizes the vehicle. Permanently.
Fortunately, a Minnesota DWI Vehicle Forfeiture can be challenged. An offender has 30 days to challenge the forfeiture. For an offender ...
Latest Developments in "Melanie's Law"
2012-08-17
Significant changes were made to "Melanie's Law" during this past legislative session in Massachusetts. "Melanie's Law" is, of course, the law prohibiting operating under the influence of liquor (OUI/DUI/"drunk driving"). General Laws Chapter 90, section 24 (together with its related subsections) spells out the details. Melanie's Law, which originally passed in October, 2005, was named for a 13-year-old Marshfield girl who was struck and killed by a car driven by a repeat OUI offender.
The law allows prior convictions to be introduced in ...
Aer Lingus Welcomes Team Ireland Home
2012-08-17
Aer Lingus, proud sponsors of Ireland's Olympic Team, has welcomed Team Ireland on board its special homecoming flight.
Flight number EI 159, an airbus A321, carrying 200 passengers, including Team Ireland, departed London Heathrow at 12.05 and arrived in Dublin at 1.25pm. As a memento of the official homecoming flight, each passenger received a gift of a retro sports bag, designed in the vintage Aer Lingus 'Irish Airlines' colours.
The aircraft was met by Dublin Airport fire service and escorted to its parking stand at T2. The Athletes including medal winners Katie ...
Etihad Airways Extends Melbourne Etihad Stadium Deal to 2019
2012-08-17
Etihad Airways has signed a new multi-million dollar agreement to extend to 2019 its naming and marketing rights for Melbourne's Etihad Stadium, the city's premier sports and entertainment venue.
The five-year extension was announced in Melbourne by James Hogan, President and Chief Executive of Etihad Airways, and Ian Collins AM, Chief Executive of the Melbourne Stadiums Limited, the company that operates Etihad Stadium.
Mr Hogan said: "Placing the Etihad name on this world class sports and entertainment stadium, as well as activating our marketing and hospitality ...
Latham Thomas Maternity Lifestyle Maven is Excited to be Hosting This Year's Belli Skincare Birthday Bash Celebration
2012-08-17
The much anticipated annual online Belli Birthday Bash is bigger than ever with a star studded line up that is sure to be a show stopper! Beginning August 20th, and running through September 2nd, Belli Skincare, a line of luxurious physician formulated products which consider the specific skin care needs of pregnant women, new moms and babies, will be hosting an online party to celebrate the brand's birthday. To kick-off the party, Belli and its partner sponsors will have a drawing for a prize each day during the two week promotion. Then on September 2nd, one lucky grand ...
New Dry Skin Treatment's Ingredients on FDA's Most Safe List
2012-08-17
SkinMD Natural, a breakthrough dry skin treatment is a new product that binds with the outer layer of the skin to form a protective layer, contains 93% natural ingredients. The other 7% are on the FDA's most safe list.
As consumers become more aware of the dangers of toxic chemicals, dry skin care manufacturers across the nation have jumped on the natural dry skin remedy bandwagon. But many of these products contain so many potentially toxic chemicals, the term "natural" is actually misleading. Recent FDA investigation into this area has shown that SkinMD Natural's ...
The Proper Course of Action to Take After a Small or Large House Fire
2012-08-17
Relief may be your first reaction after a small house fire. The home was saved and no one was hurt. It doesn't take long, however, for other emotions to come into play. Is the structure of the home safe? Can belongings be salvaged from fire damage? Will home insurance cover the expense of repairs? After a fire, it's critical to take proper precautionary steps to ensure your family's safety and to return your life to normalcy as quickly as possible. These six tips can help.
1. Call the Fire Department
Even a small fire in your home or garage can pose hazards after ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Microscopy approach offers new way to study cancer therapeutics at single-cell level
How flooding soybeans in early reproductive stages impacts yield, seed composition
Gene therapy may be “one shot stop” for rare bone disease
Protection for small-scale producers and the environment?
Researchers solve a fluid mechanics mystery
New grant funds first-of-its-kind gene therapy to treat aggressive brain cancer
HHS external communications pause prevents critical updates on current public health threats
New ACP guideline on migraine prevention shows no clinically important advantages for newer, expensive medications
Revolutionary lubricant prevents friction at high temperatures
Do women talk more than men? It might depend on their age
The right kind of fusion neutrons
The cost of preventing extinction of Australia’s priority species
JMIR Publications announces new CEO
NCSA awards 17 students Fiddler Innovation Fellowships
How prenatal alcohol exposure affects behavior into adulthood
Does the neuron know the electrode is there?
Vilcek Foundation celebrates immigrant scientists with $250,000 in prizes
Age and sex differences in efficacy of treatments for type 2 diabetes
Octopuses have some of the oldest known sex chromosomes
High-yield rice breed emits up to 70% less methane
Long COVID prevalence and associated activity limitation in US children
Intersection of race and rurality with health care–associated infections and subsequent outcomes
Risk of attempted and completed suicide in persons diagnosed with headache
Adolescent smartphone use during school hours
Alarming rise in rates of advanced prostate cancer in California
Nearly half of adults mistakenly think benefits of daily aspirin outweigh risks
Cardiovascular disease medications underused globally
Amazon Pharmacy's RxPass program improves medication adherence, helps prime members save money, study finds
Tufts University School of Medicine, ATI Physical Therapy launch first-of-its-kind collaboration to make physical therapy education and career advancement more accessible and affordable
Could lycopene—a plant extract—be an effective antidepressant?
[Press-News.org] Connecticut to Allow Firefighters Workers' Comp for Mental IllnessA new Connecticut law allows firefighters to collect workers' compensation for treatment of PTSD caused by witnessing the tragic death of a coworker.