NEAFC 32nd Annual Conference.pdf - New England Association of ...

NEw ENGLAlqD ~SSOCIATIOIq OF FIRE CI-IIEFS
with that idea in mind, you are getting away from the sneak-smoke, which
has caused much trouble over the years.
Then, there is the spontaneous ignition, which shouki not be forgotten.
There is also the matter o~ static, and the proper ventilation, and that
sort o~ thing, which has been pretty well taken care o£ over the years.
The industrial hazards fire becoming ~ewer and fewer, as better equipment,
better fire fighting and prevention go hand-in-hand, to make American
industry sa~er, from the standpoint of fires and explosions.
In closing, I know that you men, in your communities, have always had
pretty much the same story as we have have had. When we go to inspect
an area in some o~ the larger cities, we hear
"Oh, my gracious, but we’re inspected to death."
And when you fellows go around to inspect, you pick up the same thing.
You are always the last to get the newer fire kits, and a raise. And, many o£
us have the same complaint. Why we stay at it, I don’t know.
Back in 1936, a friend of mine went on a visit, and sent me a card which
seems to me to typify our whole attitude, those o£ us in the fire prevention and
fire protection business; here it is.
"Notice: We have been in business since 1900, and we have been pleasing
and displeasing the public ever since. We have been cussed and discussed, boycotted,
lied about, talked about, hung up, held up, and the only reason we are
staying in business is to see what the hell is going to happen next!"
(Applause.)
PRESlD~I~T Fo~TIEI~: Thank you very much, Mr. Drake.
Our next speaker is~ Dr. Carl W. Irwin of Bangor, Maine, who is going
to take as his subject this. morning, "Occupational Disability."
Dr. Irwin! (Applause.)
DR. CARI~ W. I~wI~¢: Mr. President, and Ladies and Gentlemen o£ the
Association. On a hot day like this, there are only three .things that I can
talk about that would be of interest to you, and the first o~ these is Health.
So that, Ladies and Gentlemen, this talk will include some information
about health.
Secondly, it will include something about Money; we never have enough
of it.
And third, we can talk about Sex.
Now, I have struggled with this thing for weeks, and I still can’t think
o£ anything to say about Sex which applies to occupational disease!
Now, as always., in discussing occupational disease with fire fighters, we
have a great deal of information that must be obtained, in order to decide
what we are talking about. ’
First o£ all, we have the question as to whether this is a primary or a
secondary disease. In other words, i~ this thing that happened, or would~
this disability have occured, if the individual were not a fire fighter? Is it
something that existed and is only secondarily involved as an occupational
disability, or is it a primary thing .that happe.ns only because of the specific
¯ occupation?
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