Firefighters are once again in the news. There was the excellent series on NIOSH reports and PASS alarms. Somewhat lost is the coverage was that the reporter; Bill Degnan did a nice series of articles in the Boston Globe two years ago about the failure of communities to adequately staff fire departments.

A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine focused on the increased of heart attack during firefighting. While we have always known firefighting to be dangerous this study quantifies the increased risk of heart attack while performing firefighting activities. It also details some of the inherent risk factors; strenuous work wearing heavy equipment during thermal extremes with no warm-up. In other words; the same things done by professional athletes without a warm-up! (Without the pay-scale)

This is a valuable study in that it shows the increased risk of cardiac events. The fire service seems to concentrate on the death rate by heart attack. Lost somehow are the many heart attacks that are recognized and treated early because of early ALS intervention on many fire-grounds today.

The important piece in this article is once again we are reminded that firefighting is inherently stressful. During emergency incidents we are operating at the level of or above professional athletes. We need to take care of ourselves and maintain a high level of fitness. Fire departments need to take steps to ensure that firefighters are fit and receive early recognition and treatment for the risk factors of cardiac disease and heart attacks. And even though it is controversial to say this; it is time that we all recognize this is a job for the young. As hard as it is, we have to be able to let it go someday. It is also time for fire departments to encourage retirement or a withdrawal from firefighting and emergency operations while members are still active and healthy.

It may also be time to take a further look at the effects of cyanide as a trigger for cardiac events. We know cyanide is present at fires and it will likely be shown to a major contributing factor. Chief Curt Varone from the Providence Fire Department is doing a lot of research on this issue. Hopefully his hard work will make a difference.

Once again, we are hearing about crashes and fatalities involving fire apparatus. Some have even lead to criminal charges and convictions of apparatus drivers. It seems two common factors are present; speed and seat-belts. I think enough has been said already about the need to slow down, heed stop signs and stop lights and to wear your seat belts. One thought I do want to add on the seat belts is holding apparatus manufacturers responsible for building reliable and usable seat belts in fire trucks. I think we all are constantly frustrated with the seat belts with retractors that fail to operate and seat belts that are impossible or difficult to attach or detach in a hurry while wearing full protective clothing. Even if we are wearing our seat belts; how safe are they if they are frayed and torn from continually being jammed in the doors of the rig?

For the firefighters, we need another reminder to watch our speed and obey the stop signs and lights and use our seat belts. For the manufacturers, please work on the seat belt problems. It is the simplest tool available to save lives. It needs to work simply and reliably.

With the arrival of spring it is a reminder that the trade show and training conference circle will soon be here. Get yourself out to see what is new, what is saving and what is killing us. Get out and see that your problems are your neighbor's problems and vice-versa!