Firefighters' Greatest Danger May Not Be Fires

May 7, 2001
A study from Texas A&M University revealed that firemen are often at high risk for\r\nheart attacks primarily because they get little or no exercise while\r\non duty.

'

Fighting fires is difficult, dangerous work, but all of those sedentary hours spent in the firehouse might be just as dangerous as a 3-alarm blaze.

A study by the Applied Exercise Science Laboratory at Texas A&M University revealed that firemen are often at high risk for heart attacks primarily because they get little or no exercise while on duty.

Wade Womack, a faculty member in the laboratory at Texas A&M, charted 74 firefighters over a six-year period.

The study, "Cardiovascular Risk Markers in Firefighters: A Longitudinal Study," published in Cardiovascular Reviews and Reports, shows that often firemen are overweight and have less-than-ideal cholesterol levels, both of which could pose serious health problems.

"It all comes down to one main point: firemen need to exercise more," said Womack. "When firemen do fight fires, it is work that is both very strenuous and stressful, and very physically exerting. Put it all together and the chances of a heart attack are high."

Womack''s results are similar with data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), one of the country''s largest group of firemen.

In a study conducted by NFPA from 1977-95, about one-half of all line-of-duty deaths by firemen were not the result of fires, but heart attacks.

"In almost all of the cases, the heart attacks suffered by firemen are directly linked to exertional demands of the firefighters'' job," said Womack.

Nationally, figures show three-fourths of firefighters over the age of 45 who die in the line-of-duty, die from a heart attack.

And of the firefighters who have died from a heart attack while in the line-of-duty, two out of every five have documented heart conditions, Womack said.

Participants in Womack''s study ranged in age from early 20s to mid 60s, with the average age being 35.8 year old. They had above average body fat composition and slightly higher cholesterol readings based on optimum levels.

Especially disturbing, Womack noted, was that VO2 max, a measure of aerobic fitness, deteriorated significantly during the course of the study, from 41.8 to 35.6, suggesting a negative trend in the firemen''s overall physical condition.

The message is clear, Womack said: firemen need to work out more.

"For their own welfare, firemen need more exercise, but it could also come down to a matter of public safety," said Womack. "If a fireman is out of shape and is responding to a fire, could he not perform his job or put others at risk because of his fitness condition? It''s very possible."

According to Womack, many fire departments have fitness equipment and exercise rooms available to firemen. However, many fire departments do not require any physical activity and do not have fitness requirements that firefighters must maintain.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

Sponsored Recommendations

Committing to Safety: Why Leadership’s Role in Safety Excellence is Key

Jan. 13, 2025
Leadership has the power to transform an organization through their behavior and vision, which can result in the creation of an organizational culturethat supports safety excellence...

Speak Up! Cementing "See Something, Say Something" to Drive Safety

Jan. 13, 2025
Many organizations promote "see something, say something" to encourage their people to intervene and make work safe. But most don't go far enough to equip teams with the skills...

The Truth and Challenges of Cultivating Chronic Unease

Jan. 13, 2025
DEKRA announces its latest white paper, “The Truth and Challenges of Cultivating Chronic Unease,” as a definitive look into why being vulnerable to incidents strengthens our commitment...

Mitigating Risks: Strategies for Safeguarding Workers in Hazardous Workplaces

Jan. 13, 2025
Join our expert team in taking on the challenge to make safety part of your organization’s DNA as work, the workforce, and workplaces evolve.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!