BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — The Bloomington Fire Department is changing the way it schedules its shifts, giving the hard-working firefighters more time to rest and recover.
“We’re investing in them and their physical and mental well-being so that they have a long and prosperous career with us and that they are less likely to have those adverse health effects that are associated with this profession,” said Cory Matheny, chief of the Bloomington Fire Department
For over a century, the department has been scheduling shifts on a 24-hour on, 48-hour off basis, meaning staff work for one day and then have two days to rest and recover. This is a common schedule for most fire departments.
“This new schedule we’re going to go to is a 24-hour on, 72-hour off schedule. That should help our firefighters have more time for rest and recovery and make sure that they’re able to have a better work-life balance,” Matheny said.
“We have noticed that with expanded research on the effects of shift work, especially on firefighters’ health and wellness, it does have an impact on all of those things. We see an increase in cardiovascular disease, sleep disruption, and work-related illnesses that are associated with shift work.”
It is important to note that firefighters do not always work for 24 hours straight with no sleep; they sleep at the station in case of an emergency while on shift. With each fighter responding to fewer calls during the week, their health could improve.
“We’re reducing the number of incidents that they’re exposed to physical and mental stress so that we would see fewer incidents of work-related injuries, repetitive stress injuries, and just the whole better option for them to have work-life balance and improved mental outcome,” he said.
This change will go into effect on the first of next year.
WMBD TV can be reached at News@WJBC.com.
