He was a member of the Atascocita Volunteer Fire Department.
During a smoke diver class designed to train firefighters advanced survival skills in full gear, Captain Neal Smith passed out from a heat-related illness. His body temperature was more than 106 degrees F.
He was transported to a hospital during which CPR was administered. Captain Smith remained in critical condition until Monday, September 17, when he succumbed to his injuries at approximately 6:30 p.m.
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| Saint Florian, Patron Saint of Firefighters, pray for Neal and for his children who have lost their father. |
Another volunteer firefighter also collapsed and passed out during this training exercise, but later recovered.
Neal is survived by many loving friends and relatives, including his wife and two young children.
Often we post the deaths of soldiers and police and firefighters (including volunteer firefighters) who are middle aged (over 40 years old) and who undergo "training exercises" in plus 80 degree temperatures and high humidity or 103 degrees temperatures. And then they die.
Why is this? It is time that the agencies conducting these evaluations and training sessions re-visit the issue of tests in these temperatures.
It is one thing to attend a fire in this type of weather, which can kill you, because it is an emergency
It is entirely another thing to take a physical test under these temperatures, which can also kill you, but for no real reason. A test is not an emergency.
Pray for all who die in the line of duty.
Let us pray that Neal Smith is in heaven. Let us pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen.
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