There are many national efforts whose attention is given towards keeping you and your coworkers alive. While many of them address your fireground operations the simple fact is that the majority of firefighters die due to underlying health conditions. When asked about what I thought the fire service should focus on in 2011 I replied:
“Every publisher, expo group out there should give one full day of their expo schedule to providing free health and fitness screening to all attendees. You guys subscribe to the magazines, pay to go to the shows, buy from their advertisers – it’s the least they could do if they are serious about your health and reducing LODDs.”
While the number of line of duty deaths declined in 2010, 60% were due to heart attacks and strokes, up from 58% in 2009. Already this year (as of 16 January 2011) there have been three official line of duty deaths linked to a medical cause or nature.
The 2011 LODD Challenge page will share updates in useful health information from our national organizations. It will also have stories from departments who have not whined and cried about the costs of trying to keep its members healthy and have actually put their money towards combating the primary causes of death in our country’s firefighters.
Resources:
IAFC Safety, Health and Survival Section
NVFC Heart Healthy Firefighter
Firefighter Cancer Support Network
News: Updated 15 June 2011
Program confronts real danger to firefighters, Journal Star.com 13 June 2011
Creve Coeur fire captain shapes up for cherished cause, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 7 April 2011
Firefighters get cheeky with their health, Simcoe.com, 30 March 2011
Cleveland firefighter has heart attack while putting out fire, WEWS, 29 March 2011
Narragansett’s Firefighters Need Your Help Shaping Up, Narragansett Patch, 20 March 2011
Federal grant helps firefighters stay healthy, Observer and Eccentric, 17 March 2011
Meals and exercise fit for a firefighter, Chicago Tribune, 16 March 2011
Silver Spring Community to Help Volunteer Firefighters Get in Shape, Silver Spring Patch, 5 March 2011
Fire chief: Get in shape or ‘we’ll help them find them something else’, WRDW TV, 15 February 2011
Firefighters fitness test reconsidered for Jeffersonville firefighters, News and Tribune.com, 7 February 2011
New Fitness Requirements for Sioux Falls Firefighters, Keloland.com, 6 February 2011
Behavioral health study recognizes Washington department’s fitness program, Woodinville Weekly, 31 January 2011
“Cooking class teaches Ithaca firefighters healthy, time-saving tips” New York, 18 January 2011
“Phoenix Fire Department ramps up efforts to fight heart disease” Arizona, 21 January 2011
Phoenix Fire Department has continued to ramp up wellness efforts to protect the first-responders.
“Maryland Firefighters Alter Diet, Lose Weight One Week Into Diet Challenge” Maryland, 17 January 2011
“Asheville, WNC Are Lightening up” North Carolina, 15 January 2011
Four-man firefighter team takes first place in weight loss challenge.
“Firefighters United Against Cancer” Illinois, 8 January 2011
Video: Death of firefighter causes department to take up cancer challenge.
“Vandergrift Firefighters Respond To Health Threats” Pennsylvania, 3 January 2011
Grant helps 37 members of the company will receive a fitness evaluation related to the job each does as a firefighter, a package of nine immunizations and a physical at a cost of $750 each.
2010 Trade Shows Offerings:
Note: Listing only shows those subjects which specifically address health.
Firehouse Expo (4)
FDNY: Changing the Safety Culture
“Two safety programs implemented in the FDNY include an Injury Reduction Program which focuses on personal health and wellness – ”
Fitness for Your Crew
Medical Screening for the EMS Provider, Why Not Some Straight Talk
Top 10 Exercises for Firefighters
Firehouse World (2)
The Functional Movement Screen – A Proven Approach of Identifying and Reducing Injuries
“Every Breath” Fireground Operations Department-Wide Development and Deployment
FDIC (1)
Moving Forward with Incumbent Work Performance Evaluations
FireRescue International (10)
Health and Wellness Pavilion
Firefighter Health and Wellness: The Role of the Company Officer
Station Environments: Creating and Maintaining a Healthy Living Environment
NFPA 1584: Incident Rehab
Three Web Sites, One Goal: Firefighter Safety, Health and Survival
Prehab vs. Rehab: The Role of Injury Prevention and Early Detection Combined with a Comprehensive Firefighter Training Program
Firefighter Heart Disease Epidemic: FEMA Firefighter Heart Disease Prevention Study
Effects of On-Scene Rehabilitation on Physiological Recovery from Firefighting Activities
The IAFF/IAFC Fire Service Joint Labor-Management Wellness-Fitness Initiative (WFI)
The Culture of Health and Wellness in the Fire Service: A Formative Research Study
Photograph courtesy Mark Brady, PGFEMS PIO.
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