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Health Priorities for Firefighters
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Health Priorities for Firefighters

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Occupational Safety and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 5037

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Sara Jahnke

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research, NDRI-USA, Inc., Leawood, KS 66224, USA
Interests: firefighter health; mental health; women’s health; cancer; cardiovascular disease; reproductive health; DEI; disaster response

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Firefighters are a key safety net for their communities and are called on to respond not only to fires but also an increasingly complex array of hazards including natural disasters, terrorist attacks, hazardous materials events, and medical emergencies. Over the course of their careers, firefighters are exposed to physical risks including exposure to known and expected carcinogens and extreme physical demands. The work is also mentally demanding as firefighters are regularly exposed to traumatic and life-threatening experiences and see their communities at their worst and most vulnerable. Consequently, firefighters are at high risk for a number of negative mental and physical health outcomes. With an increased focus and understanding of these risks, fire services and scientists worldwide have been working to develop and deploy programs, policies, and mitigation approaches that focus on optimizing firefighter health and wellness. This Special Issue is designed to highlight current empirical evidence on the health priorities of firefighters and emerging risks that deserve future research.

Dr. Sara Jahnke
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • firefighter
  • exposure
  • shift work
  • cancer
  • behavioral health
  • first responder
  • injury
  • cardiovascular disease
  • reproductive health
  • women firefighters
  • resilience

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 1081 KiB  
Article
The Relative Burden of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses in Firefighters: An Analysis of Washington Workers’ Compensation Claims, 2006–2020
by Naomi Anderson, Jennifer Marcum, David Bonauto, Miriam Siegel and Claire LaSee
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(22), 7077; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20227077 - 17 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1606
Abstract
Firefighters face many hazards on the job and have a high rate of work-related injuries and illnesses (WRII). We analyzed Washington workers’ compensation claims from 2006–2020 to characterize WRII in firefighters compared to law enforcement officers and “all other” workers. There were 9187 [...] Read more.
Firefighters face many hazards on the job and have a high rate of work-related injuries and illnesses (WRII). We analyzed Washington workers’ compensation claims from 2006–2020 to characterize WRII in firefighters compared to law enforcement officers and “all other” workers. There were 9187 compensable claims for firefighters, 7801 for law enforcement officers, and 586,939 for “all other” workers. Nearly 40% of claims for firefighters were work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). The claim rate per 10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) firefighters was 716.4, which is significantly higher than that of law enforcement officers (510.0) and “all other” workers (163.2). The rate per 10,000 FTE of WMSD claims was also higher in firefighters (277.0) than in law enforcement officers (76.2) and “all other” workers (57.6). Additional WRII among firefighters commonly included being struck or caught in objects, slipping or tripping, and exposure to caustic or noxious substances; and amongst law enforcement, transportation accidents and violence. Medical costs and time-loss days per claim were lower for firefighters and law enforcement than for “all other” workers. Common tasks associated with WMSDs in firefighters included lifting and transporting patients, using specific tools and equipment, and physical training. WMSDs stand out as an area for prevention and intervention activities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Priorities for Firefighters)
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17 pages, 2937 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Implementation of the NFFF Stress First Aid Intervention in Career Fire Departments: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
by Sara A. Jahnke, Patricia Watson, Frank Leto, Nattinee Jitnarin, Christopher M. Kaipust, Brittany S. Hollerbach, Christopher K. Haddock, W. S. Carlos Poston and Richard Gist
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(22), 7067; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20227067 - 16 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1468
Abstract
Firefighting is inherently dangerous, though recently concerns have shifted from traditional fireground injuries (burns and asphyxiation) to a focus on mental and behavioral health. Although firefighters are remarkably resilient, research suggests many suffer negative psychological consequences from repeated exposures to trauma. While the [...] Read more.
Firefighting is inherently dangerous, though recently concerns have shifted from traditional fireground injuries (burns and asphyxiation) to a focus on mental and behavioral health. Although firefighters are remarkably resilient, research suggests many suffer negative psychological consequences from repeated exposures to trauma. While the Stress First Aid (SFA) model has gained increased attention and adoption among fire departments as a model for behavioral health training, it has not been formally evaluated. This cluster randomized controlled trial used a crossover design comparing the immediate SFA group to delayed SFA control to test the impact of the SFA on firefighters’ mental and behavioral health changes after 10–12 months (n = 400; Mage = 37.6, 4.8% women). A convenience sample of 79 firefighters (Mage = 41.4; 8.7% women) provided evaluations on one or more of the training modules. Participants reported satisfaction with all training components (Peer team training 97.6%, Online SFA 94.9%, Curbside Manner 88.4%, After Action Review 89.4%) and reported success in changing personnel’s perception of their department’s ability to respond to behavioral health issues (SFA M = 3.93, Control 3.50; t = 2.52, p = 0.042). Future work should focus on additional resources and training to augment existing efforts to help departments continue their efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Priorities for Firefighters)
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12 pages, 631 KiB  
Article
The Urgent Need for Cardiopulmonary Fitness Evaluation among Wildland Firefighters in Thailand
by Jinjuta Panumasvivat, Wachiranun Sirikul, Vithawat Surawattanasakul, Kampanat Wangsan and Pheerasak Assavanopakun
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3527; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043527 - 16 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1342
Abstract
Wildland firefighting is a high-risk occupation. The level of cardiopulmonary fitness can indicate whether wildland firefighters are ready to perform their job duties. This study’s objective was to determine wildland firefighters’ cardiopulmonary fitness using practical methods. This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to enroll [...] Read more.
Wildland firefighting is a high-risk occupation. The level of cardiopulmonary fitness can indicate whether wildland firefighters are ready to perform their job duties. This study’s objective was to determine wildland firefighters’ cardiopulmonary fitness using practical methods. This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to enroll all 610 active wildland firefighters in Chiang Mai. The participants’ cardiopulmonary fitness was assessed using an EKG, a chest X-ray, a spirometry test, a global physical activity questionnaire, and the Thai score-based cardiovascular risk assessment. The NFPA 1582 was used to determine “fitness” and “job restriction”. Fisher’s exact and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to compare cardiopulmonary parameters. With a response rate of 10.16%, only eight wildland firefighters met the cardiopulmonary fitness requirements. Eighty-seven percent of participants were in the job-restriction group. An aerobic threshold of eight METs, an abnormal EKG, an intermediate CV risk, and an abnormal CXR were the causes of restriction. The job-restriction group had a higher 10-year CV risk and higher systolic blood pressure, although these differences were not statistically significant. The wildland firefighters were unfit for their task requirements and were more at risk of cardiovascular health compared to the estimated risk of the general Thai population. To improve the health and safety of wildland firefighters, pre-placement exams and health surveillance are urgently needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Priorities for Firefighters)
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