Forum Discussion
First responder plan
I am a member of the Big Island Medical Reserve Corp, but am unable to enter this organization in the First Responder verification system. According to the rep I spoke with on the phone, I am eligibl...
It's not right and quite worrying that we don't see Emergency Room Social Workers as first responders. My wife has a master's degree in social work. She works at the Baycare Hospital Morton Plant North Bay in New Port Richey. She helps patients and their families during some of the hardest moments of their lives.
Think about what she does. She quickly understands what's going on with a patient. This includes not only their health but also their feelings and their home situation. She speaks up for the patient's needs. She also provides important help and comfort to the patient and their family. And all this happens in a stressful place where time is very important.
To me, these are the things that make a first responder. But, we usually only call people like police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical workers first responders. We need to rethink this.
If we call Emergency Room Social Workers first responders, it shows we see how important their work is. It also means they get the same help and protection as other first responders. This includes things like vaccines, mental health help, and safety equipment. They need these things to do their jobs well and stay safe.
