Firefighters Kept Fit to Fight San Diego Firestorm by 5,500 Chiropractic Adjustments (photos available)
After the first full day of the San Diego Fires (October 27, 2003), there were three chiropractors looking to volunteer their expertise and time to help the firefighters. By Thursday, October 30th, approximately 40 more chiropractors and 25 massage therapists had joined the first three. By Thursday, it is estimated that 5,500 chiropractic adjustments were given to firefighters who went through the Gillespie Field base camp for the firestorm, amounting to approximately $225,000 in volunteer chiropractic services.
(PRWEB) November 27, 2003
San Diego, CA—After the first full day of the San Diego Fires (October 27, 2003), there were three chiropractors looking to volunteer their expertise and time to help the firefighters. By Thursday, October 30th, approximately 40 more chiropractors and 25 massage therapists had joined the first three. By Thursday, it is estimated that 5,500 chiropractic adjustments were given to firefighters who went through the Gillespie Field base camp for the firestorm, amounting to approximately $225,000 in volunteer chiropractic services.
Acting on their own and out of compassion, Doctors Steve Ronco (Del Mar), Matt Hubbard (Clairemont), and Sandra Castro (Carlsbad), first went to the Pine Valley Fire Station where the fires were intense on both sides of the road, and where Poway had already been knocked out. They provided spinal adjustments to the approximately 30 firefighters, who were there, but the fire was moving quickly, and they were directed to Gillespie Field where the base camp was being set up. “When we first arrived, there was no organization in place yet, so we set up our tables on the dirt and began helping who we could,” said Ronco. “On Monday night, we went back to Gillespie Field and provided adjustments and massage to a long line of firefighters,” continued Ronco. “At one point that first night, I had counted 25 trucks. Many firefighters would come back to us periodically for repeat adjustments during the night, and within two more days, the number of trucks had grown ten fold. Many of the firefighters commented that they had never seen or felt as much support as this anywhere in the country ever before.”
Through the week, Ronco, a doctor of chiropractic with Del Mar Chiropractic Centre, continued to mobilize and lead incoming chiropractors and other volunteer healthcare professionals. “It just seemed that everyone kept turning to us for direction, so we gave it,” said Ronco. “There were so many people by Wednesday, that to help us be recognizable to the firefighters, I called my buddy, Grant Freeman of Electronic Printing Solutions, who graciously and very quickly printed up T-shirts for our chiropractic team.”
According to Ronco, 75% of the firefighters they treated had never had a chiropractic adjustment before. “At first, some were apprehensive, but once they saw their colleagues benefit and felt their bodies let go of the tension, many of them would return again and again in between their shifts,” said Ronco. “We adjusted a team of Chula Vista firefighters multiple times, and they were among the core group that was able to hold back the fire from getting Julian. That makes us feel pretty good!…..knowing that the more we helped them, the more effective they would be…and the safer they would be fighting the fire,” continued Ronco.
Chiropractic is a health care system that directly concerns itself with the nervous system and its relation to the function of the human body. This system is designed to keep your body working at the highest level possible, by removing interference (vertebral subluxations) that may inhibit or reduce the function of your nervous system, thus freeing up the body to increase its own level of health.
For more information about chiropractic services, contact Dr. Steve Ronco at Del Mar Chiropractic Centre, 858-481-1422.
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Contact: Karen Winston
858.481.3526
Kewinston@pacbell. net
