PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia firefighters and paramedics are getting a new perk to help them de-stress: therapy dogs.
The dogs will be made available to them once a week.
Firefighter Cathy Ramer, who has been with the Philadelphia Fire Department for 29 years, said she and other firefighters were talking about the benefits of therapy dogs a couple months ago. That conversation made its way through the chain of command. One thing led to another, and the Tail Wagging Platoon was formed.
“We wanted to see if we could get a therapy dog into the fire department. It would be good … just to destress,” she said.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five firefighters suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder or cumulative stress injuries.
“Everything doesn’t always turn out how you would like it to turn out,” Ramer explained. “When you are running into a burning building, there are people in there. Sometimes you can’t always get them out or they may have already passed before you got there. That is stressful in itself. That can mess with your head.”
Philadelphia firefighters do have other mental health resources available, but Ramer said the Tail Wagging Platoon is an added benefit.
“Just to look at a dog — for some people, it just puts a smile on your face,” she said.
Starting on May 7, members of the Philadelphia Firefighters and Paramedics Union Local 22 can go to the union hall at Fifth and Willow streets and hang out with the dogs between 10 and 11:30 a.m.
The effort is a partnership with the Tail Waggers Academy.
The program will continue every Friday. Signups are underway.