Kevin Ferrara, AFSO21
Firefighting is an inherently hazardous profession no matter if the individual is paid or a volunteer. Line of Duty Deaths (LODDs) occur every year, such as being buried under rubble after a building collapse or a firefighter suffering a heart attack while sitting in their recliner hours after returning from an emergency.
Firefighters may not be able to control the risk of a building collapse, however, they can control the risk of suffering a cardiac emergency.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) just released a report on a 40-year old Michigan volunteer firefighter who, in 2020, collapsed while driving a fire apparatus to a reported camper on fire. Just prior to slumping behind the wheel, the driver stated he needed to pull over because he was not feeling well. His passenger, a firefighter candidate, managed to stop the vehicle, radio for assistance, then remove and initiate CPR on the unconscious driver. Unfortunately, efforts to revive the driver were unsuccessful.
The cause of death was listed as atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, in other words, this young firefighter had plaque buildup in his arteries that restricted or blocked the flow of blood to and from his heart which led to a cardiac event. It is estimated that 300,000 to 400,000 sudden cardiac deaths occur in the United States annually. The stress firefighters endure while engaged in firefighting activities increases the risk of suffering a cardiac related event. Statistics show, approximately 45 percent of firefighter deaths are cardiac related.
After conducting a lengthy probe into the incident, NIOSH determined the fire department involved did not have a wellness/fitness program in place. In addition, NIOSH provided several key recommendations which all firefighters and municipalities establishing agreements or contracts with fire service organizations, especially volunteer organizations should adopt:
First, “Implement comprehensive pre-placement and annual medical evaluations consistent with National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 1582 Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments, which should include a baseline electrocardiogram (EKG) in all individuals prior to engagement in any strenuous physical activity to rule out any underlying cardiac abnormalities.”Next, “Consider a pre-placement cardiac exercise stress test to determine the capacity for physical exertion and decrease the risk for sudden cardiac death.”
Lastly, “Implement an annual fitness evaluation consistent with NFPA 1582 Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments to ensure personnel are physically fit to perform job expectations at emergencies.”
Most fire apparatus are mechanically equipped like commercial vehicles, however, firefighters in Pennsylvania are not required to obtain a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) to operate them and therefore there is no physical fitness requirement that must be met before a firefighter can sit behind the wheel.
NIOSH, NFPA, and many other organizations agree, implementing a wellness/fitness program in a fire department comes with challenges. Paid departments typically have some type of fitness program, however, most volunteer fire departments do not.
Firefighting is a stressful profession and being physically fit is a must, especially when the job of being a firefighter involves the possibility of rescuing someone to include other firefighters or themselves.
To reduce the risk of cardiac related emergencies, more and more municipalities across the country are requiring their firefighters to be physically fit for duty. Simply put, being an out of shape firefighter is a liability to the firefighter, their department, any victim they are attempting to rescue and the municipality they serve who will likely pay a worker’s compensation claim when the firefighter is injured.
Don’t be afraid to ask, does your local municipality or fire department, paid or volunteer, have a fire service wellness/fitness program in place? If not, then ask why not?
There is no excuse when it comes to being physically prepared to perform a job that involves risking one’s life to save another, even for a fire chief who doesn’t think they will need to rescue one of their own. If one desires to be a firefighter, then they must be well prepared, even if that means actively participating in a wellness/fitness program that may just save their life.
