It’s time to face the unpleasant. This is a very dangerous job and you never know if the next radio run will end up with you being seriously hurt or worse.

When we first come on the job, we think we’re invincible. With our shiny new shield and brand new gun we carry ourselves like we’re made of concrete wrapped in Kevlar. But it doesn’t take long to learn we’re just human beings risking life and limb to keep New York City’s streets safe. That’s why it’s the duty of all police officers, regardless of how many years on the job, to take steps to ensure their families’ well-being and clearly indicate their own health care-wishes in the form of a “living will.”

We’re all familiar with the tragic Terri Schiavo case, in which litigation and politicization influenced the treatment and ultimate fate of a profoundly brain-damaged woman. Had Ms. Schiavo executed a living will or granted health-care proxy to someone she trusted, she and her family would not have been subjected to the conflict for control over her life and death.

The case demonstrated how important it is for all of us to decide for ourselves what sort of care and treatment we want in case of serious illness or injury. Given the dangers of the job, these issues are perhaps even more important for police officers.

And the problem is not very hard to take care of now that the PBA has made it easier than ever for you to make your wishes known in a simple will or a living will or through a health-care proxy or durable power-of-attorney.

Last year, the PBA general counsel’s office assumed responsibility for preparing these critical legal documents for New York City police officers — greatly enhancing the benefit provided to our members while being more cost-efficient than outsourcing the service. The year-old in-house program has already prepared hundreds of critical legal documents for police officers from all over the city.

Through the general counsel’s office, any police officer may execute important legal documents with a minimum of hassle. Doing so allows you to express your wishes regarding medical care or to designate someone to make medical decisions if you can’t. A simple will provides for the distribution of your assets the way you see fit.

The process is easy. Just visit the general counsel’s page of the PBA, fill out the appropriate forms and send them to: The PBA General Counsel’s Office, 40 Fulton Street, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10038, attention: David Nicholson. The legal staff will prepare the appropriate documents and return them to you. Once you have confirmed the accuracy of the paper work, just contact the general counsel’s office at 212-298-9144 and make an appointment to execute the documents.

It’s easy to do so there is no excuse not to. You owe it to yourself and your family.