NEW YORK — A large number of rookie firefighters have been injured during training this year after the department dropped some of its rigorous standards.
New York Post reported at least a dozen recruits out of a class of 300 have had to go on paid medical leave.
“Kids are showing up that don’t belong there,” a high-ranking source said. “They are getting these soft-tissue injuries and being put on light duty.”
Usually, no more than one or two rookies per year are hurt.
Veterans of the department say the rookies are being allowed on light duty after suffering lesser injuries like a sprained ankle, according to the report.
“When I was in the fire academy, if you strained a muscle, you dealt with it at home,” a 16-year FDNY member source said. “You nursed it on your off-time and got right back to training the next day.”
In July, a physically unfit FDNY probie, Choeurlyne Doirin, 39, was allowed to remain on light duty even though she couldn’t graduate with her classmates.
Another recruit, Wendy Tapia, was allowed to graduate from the academy despite failing a running test five times, according to the report.