The local news reported that a study was released that looked at firefighter deaths. The purpose of the study was to find out what caused those deaths in order to see what can be done in order to protect firefighters. The news then added an angle to the story, talking about how our local firefighters are getting equipment to clean themselves off after calls in order to prevent cancer. However, the two stories are unrelated, even if they should be connected.
The study that was done (I assume the NFPA one) only documented deaths while on duty, and the scope of the study (right or wrong) did not account for cancer or other problems resulting from years of service. The study found that about half of the deaths occurred as a result of cardiac arrest. Other causes included being on the scene of non-fire emergencies, during training, and traveling to or from alarms. The study also found that the median age of firefighter deaths was over 50 years old. Also, only 1/3 of the deaths were career firefighters.
Conversely, the problems with cancer-causing chemicals is probably more of an issue for career firefighters. And the NFPA IS studying this problem, too, but it's a completely different study, and one with a different purpose.
The problem is that the local news channel didn't have a stock story about heart attacks or the dangers of firefighter training, so we ended up with a story that was linked because it also has to do with dangers related to firefighting. Probably nothing wrong with the technique if framed properly, but the news channel implied that the cleaning off after a call was related specifically to the study's findings.
Sure, this is a small complaint about local news, but let's look at the same kind of connected reporting when it comes to crime. Every time a shooting occurs, the local news channel likes to say how close the shooting was to a school. If the shooting was not at the school or during school hours, then it's a shooting in a neighborhood. So what's the purpose of adding a school into the reporting? I assume the idea is that the audience is supposed to make a connection that the school itself is in danger or is dangerous. Or that kids and parents should be scared. I don't know for sure, but if the school was not the target or otherwise part of the shooting, then it's irrelevant. I've also noticed that victims are no longer men or women if they have kids--they are mothers or fathers. Not inaccurate reporting, but certainly done for effect.
Satisfamily - Articles about being happy as a family
Passive Ninja - Web Design in Jacksonville
McNewsy - Creative Writing
Educabana - Educational Resources
Brave New Church - Church Website Design
Voucher School - Pros and Cons of School Vouchers
Luthernet - Web Design for Lutheran Churches
Sitcom Life Lessons - What we've learned from sitcoms
Mancrush Fanclub - Why not?
Epic Folktale - Stories of the unknown
Wild West Allis - Every story ever told about one place
Educabana on Teachers Pay Teachers (mostly ELA lessons)
Real Wisconsin News - Satire from Wisconsin
Zoo Interchange Milwaukee - Community website
Chromebook Covers - Reviews and opinions
Brian Jaeger - Resume (I'm always interested)
Contact Me
Great Mind For Hire
Pennies From Heaven AKA Welfare for Writers
The reason why we have ads on this site is because that's one way writers make money online. Your presence on this site right now might make a penny for our family. Clicking on an ad might get us closer to $.50. Buying something online as a result of clicking on a link can make us a few dollars. We will not get rich from this money, but every penny helps out. Every like or share or re-post or follow. Please, make a donation to our family by clicking.

Labels
Jacksonville
jax
money
Florida
crime
housing
activities
vehicles
school
economic development
home
news
police
transportation
planning
Duval
website design
kids
politics
traffic
research
TV
neighbor
reviews
sports
taxes
parks
statistics
East Arlington
writing
environment
history
travel
St. Johns
roads
water
previous owner
rankings
fun
men
Arlington
employment
weather
women
beach
church
pollution
jaguars
library
tourism
dating
fashion
fatalities
guns
health care
hurricane
business
football
race
JEA
Mayport
baseball
music
summer
zoning
animals
games
restaurant
unf
flooding
military
pets
spanish
AC
Halloween
Lyft
St. Augustine
farms
film
french
noise
ocean
po
radio
armada
cats
christmas
fall
fort caroline
hockey
superhero
VW
boo
grass
indians
timucuan
welcome
