Supporting First Responders

House Representative and current Cottage Grove Police Officer Dan Schoen,has introduced a bill that would expand the list of occupational diseases to include PTSD. Representative Schoen wants legislation to reflect that the condition should be recognized as one experienced by first responders as a presumptive injury caused by traumatic events that public safety officials experience in the course of their work. “In my career I have met too many public safety officials who have had to hide their need for help because they fear the inability to feed their families if they can’t work,” Schoen said. They are expected to deal with some of the worst situations in our communities every day, and this takes its toll. Far too often, administrators have treated them as problem employees rather than taking the time to find out what was wrong. We now know better. Some of the occupations listed in the bill include firefighters, paramedics, EMT’s , members of law enforcement, correctional officers and others. A current environment filled with roadblocks and redtape prevent these responders from receiving proper care after a PTSD diagnosis. Schoen did praise the efforts of several organizations such as Blue Watch, a group formed by Minnesota Police officers and their families to support those in their ranks suffering with the effects of trauma related to their work. The bill, submitted with bipartisan co-authorship, was referred to the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee where it awaits a hearing. It has a companion bill in the Senate, sponsored by Red Wing Senator Matt Schmit.