On the Job Risk Factors
Day in and day out firefighters and emergency responders risk their lives saving people and property in their communities. The value of the work these men and women do has become increasingly apparent in the months and years following September 11, 2001. But what many Americans - and often firefighters and EMS personnel themselves - don't realize is that these first responders need protecting too. The statistics are clear: firefighters are at an extremely high risk of suffering from heart attacks. The strenuous duties of emergency response places increased demands on firefighters' bodies, which, in many cases, are not physically prepared for the strain.
Did you know that almost half of all firefighter deaths each year are attributed to heart attacks? According to a study by the U.S. Fire Administration, 44% of all firefighter deaths from 1990-2000 were from heart attacks.1 The same study shows that many of these firefighters had pre-existing conditions that contributed to the heart attack. Of these conditions, arteriosclerosis was the most prominent, with previous heart attack and hypertension following closely behind.2 These conditions, if left untreated, may leave individuals at an increased risk for suffering from a heart attack. Couple this with the strenuous task of firefighting and you have a lethal combination.
Another factor that may contribute to such a large number of firefighter heart attacks is that many fire departments do not require firefighters to stay physically active and maintain a healthy physical condition. Firefighters on duty often have large amounts of time in between calls. Additionally, there are nearly 800,000 volunteer firefighters across the country, most of whom have other jobs that are less physically demanding than being a firefighter.
A study done at Texas A&M University points out that the very nature of firefighting as a profession is one of lengthy bouts of sedentary activity separated by intense periods of very strenuous activity. The cardiovascular system of a firefighter is often pushed to the limit when responding to calls and firefighters are less than optimally fit and prepared for the rigors of their occupation.3
Another study conducted by researchers at
Harvard
Medical
School
found that firefighters face a much higher risk of dying from heart problems while responding to an emergency than while performing non-emergency activities. The study sought to determine the duty-specific risk of firefighter deaths from coronary heart disease. Fire suppression was associated with the highest risk, calculated at approximately 10 to 100 times higher than the risk during down time. Other emergency response activities, including responding to an alarm and returning from an alarm, also showed increase risk.5 These findings underscore the need for fire departments to make proper diet and exercise a priority.
As you can see, the health of many firefighters and emergency responders is in serious jeopardy. These men and women serve their country and their communities with distinction everyday. The NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program strives to help these first responders better prepare themselves for their selfless duties. Use this web site, the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Resource Guide, and the Program's other resources and tools to learn how to assess your risk of heart disease, how to reduce that risk, and how to get the help you need on the road to heart-health.
Source: Firefighter Deaths from 1990-20004
1 USFA, Firefighter Fatality Retrospective Study. April, 2002, 23.
2 Ibid, 24.
3 Ibid, 24.
4 Womack, John et al., Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Firefighters: A Longitudinal Study, Pg 3
2 Ibid, 24.
3 Ibid, 24.
4 Womack, John et al., Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Firefighters: A Longitudinal Study, Pg 3
5 Kales, Stefanos et al., Emergency Duties and Deaths from Heart Disease Among Firefighter in the United States. March 2007.