- Author
- Illinois University
- Title
- Firefighter Fatalities and Injuries: The Role of Heat Stress and PPE.
- Coporate
- Illinois Univ., Champaign, IL
- Sponsor
- Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington, DC
- Keywords
- fire fighters | fire fatalities | fire departments | injuries | fire statistics | heat stress | protective equipment | cardiac effects | health hazards | fire tests | physical fitness | hydration | risks | medical services | methodology | burns (injuries) | temperature | fire fighting | physiological effects | blood | psychological effects
- Identifiers
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); understanding fatalities and injuries in the fire service; cardiovascular and biomechanical responses to fire fighting and PPE; cardiac-related events in the fire service; slips, trips and falls in the fire service; central role of heat stress; Illinois fire service institute live fire test period; cardiovascular and exercise research laboratory testing; physiological and perceputal results; biomechanical results
- Abstract
- Firefighting is a potentially dangerous occupation. In a typical year more than 100 firefighters die in the line of duty, while tens of thousands are injured. By far, the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths is sudden cardiac events. While injuries result from a myriad of factors, slips, trips and falls consistently account for a large portion of fireground injuries. More firefighters die in the line of duty from heart attacks than from any other cause. And slips, trips and falls cause a large number of firefighter injuries. While the origins of heart attack and slip, trip and fall may appear unrelated, previous research suggests that heat stress may be a common causal factor in both heart attacks and slips, trips and falls. Research further suggests that one common, critical factor can potentially mitigate both of these injuries and fatalities: modified personal protective equipment (PPE). This report of the "Cardiovascular and Biomechanical Responses to Fire Fighting and PPE" research project provides a review of the known research and new and important findings concerning the interrelationship of cardiovascular function, biomechanics and the design of personal protective equipment. This research will only be of value to the fire service if it is read and the science it documents is translated into department and firefighter action. Part 1 of this report is divided into three primary sections, addressing cardiovascular disease in the fire service, gait and balance issues as they relate to slips, trips and falls, and finally, how heat stress may be related to both cardiac events and slips, trips and falls. Part 2 describes an integrated research study designed to investigate the effects of firefighting on cardiovascular parameters and biomechanical variables. Part 3 of this document provides recommendations to the fire service based specifically on the theoretical foundations from Part 1 and the results of the research project detailed in Part 2. Where appropriate, we have provided recommendations to national organizations, fire departments and individual firefighters. It is our earnest hope that this document and the recommendations contained herein stimulate additional conversations in the fire service and help to improve health and safety for this nation's firefighters.