Firefighters and Heart Disease
Heart attacks and strokes remain the biggest killers of firefighters, but numbers showed a slight drop in 2008, according to the USFA.
The USFA's provisional 2008 firefighter fatality statistics said heart attacks and strokes were responsible for the deaths of 50 firefighters, 43.8 percent of the 114-on duty fatalities last year. This represents a decrease from the 54 on-duty deaths in 2007, which accounted for 45.7 percent of the total 118 fatalities.
The new information points to ways to protect firefighters from the biggest threat to their lives. Just as self-contained breathing apparatus and heat-resistant protective clothing have saved firefighters during interior structural fire protection from many effects of fire, health promotion, screening, appropriate job restrictions and subsequent treatment can reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death.
Unfit firefighters may pose a danger to themselves, fellow firefighters and the public if they become incapacitated during emergency response. NFPA has developed standards that, if adopted, could prevent many on-duty deaths. One requires health and fitness programs for firefighters. Another requires firefighters to meet pre-employment health standards and be carefully evaluated annually or sooner if health problems develop.
Saving Firefighters' Lives -- and Your Life
Understanding when firefighters are at greatest risk of heart death is the first step toward saving these lifesavers' lives.
There is a clustering of these events around times of peak physical activity. They work in tough environments, they wear heavy equipment, they are highly stressed, and they are exposed to chemical toxins that may aggravate their cardiac risk. And all of these exposures are occurring during the period when these fatal events occur.
For all these reasons, underlying heart disease adds a huge risk to an already risky job. That's why it is recommended that all fire departments should:
* require firefighters to undergo prehire and annual medical examinations
* implement wellness and fitness programs to reduce heart disease risk factors
* require annual physical performance tests for all firefighters
The warning signs of a heart attack are:
* Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
* Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
* Shortness of breath. May occur with or without chest discomfort
* Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
If you are possibly having a heart attack, the first thing to do is call 9-11.
Risk factors - Learn how to keep a healthy heart:
Some risk factors for coronary disease - race, age, sex and genetics - are not things that can be modified. But other risk factors can be reduced, such as:
* Smoking. Smokers have two to four times greater risk of developing heart disease than non-smokers.
* Cholesterol. Studies have confirmed the connection between high blood cholesterol and increased risk of heart disease. This risk is compounded if a person has high blood pressure, diabetes or smokes.
* High blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure increases the workload of the heart, causing the heart muscle to thicken and become stiff.
* Diabetes. Even if blood sugar levels are under control, diabetics have five times the risk of heart attack and stroke than nondiabetics.
* Obesity. Excess body weight places a significant stress on the heart, both directly through increased work load and indirectly through elevated blood pressure.
* Physical inactivity. Studies show that people who undergo even mild amounts of physical activity have a much lower rate of death and heart disease. Keeping the blood flowing at a higher rate for a minimum of 10 minutes can help reduce fatty deposits that eventually can form plaque on the vessels.
* Stress. Increased pressures at work or home can contribute to heart attack or stroke.
* Alcohol consumption. A daily glass of wine or an ounce of alcohol can raise the level of good cholesterol in the blood, but excess alcohol intake can raise blood pressure, increase triglyceride levels and contribute to liver and heart disease.
* Aspirin. Taking a baby aspirin each day reduces the risk of heart attack or stroke by discouraging platelets from sticking together.
Making the decision to start making changes can improve your lifestyle and save your life. Be proactive.
Resources: OSHA,NFPA, FireRescue News, IAFC, EMS
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