This is an excellent article! The latest studies show:
Firefighters are 12 to 136 times more likely to die of heart disease when putting out a fire.
Firefighters are 3 to 14 times more likely to die of heart disease while responding to an alarm.
Firefighters are 2 to 10.5 times more likely to die of heart disease while returning from an alarm.
Firefighters are 3 to 7 times more likely to die of heart disease during physical training.
Recommendations include:
-require firefighters to undergo prehire and annual medical examinations
-implement wellness and fitness programs to reduce heart disease risk factors
-require annual physical performance tests for all firefighters
-Firefighters tend to be far fitter and healthier than civilians -- especially if they work -full time at the job. But 70% of firefighters are volunteers.
"The fitness requirements at entry and continuing through working life are much higher on the career side than on the voluntary side," Rosenstock says. "Very few paid firefighters continue after age 50. But the volunteer work force is older -- and with age comes added risk."
