Resources Related to Firefighter Health and Safety
Updated Health and Wellness Guide for the Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services February 2009 update, USFA and NVFC. Includes: state of Health and Wellness (cardiovascular, stress, weight, wellness initiatives); importance of Health and Wellness; sample existing programs; developing a program (components, administration of program); implementing a program (including evaluation). Appendices for resources and cardiovascular risk/physical fitness.Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program:
Fatality Investigation Reports
NIOSH: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 378 reports posted as of 10/9/08, beginning in 1984. Reports are available in PDF and html. To see a full list of reports, choose All in the State box, choose All in the Incident Year box, and do not choose a Medical or Trauma category in either of the medical or trauma drop down boxes. Emerging Health and Safety Issues in the Volunteer Fire Service 2008, from the U.S. Fire Administration and the National Volunteer Fire Council
from the press release: "There are an estimated 823,950 volunteer firefighters in the United States, according to the National Fire Protection Association report "U.S. Fire Department Profile through 2006". Over 70 percent of the fire departments in the U.S. are all-volunteer and 17 percent are mostly volunteer or combination departments. With the vast majority of fire departments and their communities dependent on volunteer firefighters, there is a critical need for effective health and safety programs to protect these volunteers from preventable injury, illness, and death." ResponderSafety.com Link to ResponderSafety.com page with training materials for traffic management safety, vests, etc. Emergency Responder Safety Institute (Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association) with funding via US Fire Administration, etc. 6 Minutes for Safety (National Interagency Fire Center and Federal Fire and Afiation Safety Team : FFAST) Inclues many discussion topics (i.e. short tip sheets) for topics relevant to overall fire service such as Roadside Incident Response, Driving Safety as well as wildland tips. Click on Safety Discussion of the Day or Select Discussion by Category on the right side of page to get to the tip sheets. Everyone Goes Home Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives, a program by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to prevent LODD and injuries. Also check out their Research Database by scrolling down on page. Categories with clickable links. HeartHealthy Firefighter National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). National program to promote heart health, fitness, and nutrition for firefighters and EMS personnel. National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System Voluntary, confidential reporting system with the goal of improving fire fighter safety. Reports posted for learning with identifying details removed. FireFighter Close Calls, home of The Secret List IAFC Safety Health and Surivial Section. International Association of Fire Chiefs. Guide to Implementing the Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness/Fitness Initiative (specifically for small and medium fire departments) PDF document. Short guide on how to use the material (you must obtain the material from the IAFC or IAFF or library). From twincites.com 3/23/07: "Firefighters face a far greater risk of dying of heart problems while battling a blaze than was thought, suggests a large U.S. study that offers more evidence of their need to stay in shape. The risk of heart-related death while putting out a fire was up to 100 times higher than the risk during down time, Harvard researchers found, even though fighting fires accounts for only a small percentage of these workers' time. About 100 firefighters die in the line of duty each year and previous research has shown that nearly half of the deaths are due to heart disease. The vast majority - about 70 percent - of the nation's 1 million firefighers are volunteers. The study, published in today's New England Journal of Medicine, doesn't address whether firefighters have an overall higher risk of dying from heart disease than the general population." American Journal of Industrial Medicine v. 51, pp. 329-335 (2008). Cancer Incidence Among Male Massachusetts Firefighters, 1987-2003. Kang, D., Davis, L.K., Hunt, P., and Kriebel, D. A report with data that firefighters are at increased risk for a number of types of cancer. Watching your sodium, trans fats, portion sizes? You might want to visit this link to Men's Health Blog: List of The Best and Worst Restaurants [nutritionally] in America. Click on the restaurant chain for a report card.
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