Monday, August 17: Know Your Risks
As a firefighter or emergency responder, you face added stress factors on your heart, lungs, body, and mental health as part of the job. Because of this, it is especially important that you know all of your risk factors – professional, lifestyle, and hereditary – so you can take the necessary steps to prevent a serious illness before it happens. Once you know your risks, you can work with your doctor or healthcare provider to develop a wellness plan that is right for you.
Tools to Help Determine Your Risk Factors
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
American Heart Association
Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
American Diabetes Association
American Diabetes Association
Screenings
Regular health screenings are important in determining the status of your health. You many have a risk factor or illness without knowing it, and routine recommended health screenings can provide the early detection that can save your life. You should discuss your health screening schedule with your doctor, but the below resources can help you get the discussion started.
In this five minute podcast, Gail Fast of L&T Health and Fitness discusses the importance of regular health screenings and the types of screenings recommended for different age groups. L&T Health and Fitness provides the health screenings at the NVFC’s Heart-Healthy Firefighter trade show booth.
This resource provides the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and other organizations for selected health screenings. The list was prepared as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Healthier Worksite Initiative.
This is the schedule the American Heart Association recommends for heart-health related screenings.
Additional Risk Factors
As a first responder to all types of emergencies, you face additional risk factors that the general public does not. It is important to be aware of these added risk factors and take steps to counter them, such as proper maintenance and use of breathing apparatus and making sure your body is conditioned for the responsibilities assigned to you.