As Women’s History Month winds down, South King Fire & Rescue has delivered a policy to address pregnant firefighters.
While other area departments have policies, it didn’t, according to FOX 13.
“We all of a sudden realized we need to establish a policy that is going to help take care of them and their expecting children,” Capt. Brad Chaney told reporters.
The new policy is similar to one that Renton Fire Department follows, but Chaney said it was tweaked a bit.
Lt. Ann Hoag is one of the first to continue her work on the lines while she was pregnant.
“The policy is great,” Lt. Hoag said. “It’s short, it leaves flexibility for what each woman decides and what her doctor or provider thinks is best for that person.”
The policy says any pregnant woman can choose when they want to switch to light-duty service.
Heretofore, if a firefighter had a baby on a day they were working, the got the rest of the shift as well as the following one off.
Hoag said it wouldn’t work for a mom recovering from giving birth.
She is happy that the department created the policy.
“… They won’t have to question if they have a job…”
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