A summit meeting of researchers and fire service leaders was held in the fall of 2010 with the goal to identify policy and protocol implications of the research and determine methods of effectively implementing the lessons learned to provide the highest possible impact on firefighter safety and health.
The meeting, hosted by the Illinois Fire Service Institute, was funded in part by a Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Research and Development (R&D) Grant from the Department of Homeland Security. This was one means of disseminating the results of research performed to benefit the safety and health of firefighters. There were 5 presentations on completed research and two additional presentations outlining concerns and implementations of new findings.
Presentations are available from the Illinois Fire Service Institute website. Links to each presentation are provided below.
Firefighter safety and health related research projects conducted by the Illinois Fire Service Institute can be found at: www.fsi.illinois.edu/content/research/projects.cfm.
Please contact the AFG Program Help Desk with questions or comments by calling 1-866-274- 0960 or email at: [email protected].
Links to Project Presentations
Health and Wellness in The Fire Service
Sara A. Jahnke, Ph.D. – Institute for Biobehavioral Health Research
C. Keith Haddock, Ph.D. – Institute for Biobehavioral Health Research
Walker S.C. Poston, Ph.D., M.P.H. – Institute for Biobehavioral Health Research
“When we hit the fire ground, your risk factors become my risk.” — Firefighter Steve Mast
The Practical Guide to Heat Stress and Emergency Incident Rehab
David Hostler – University of Pittsburgh
(Note: Dr. Hostler has since transferred from the University of Pittsburgh to SUNY the University at Buffalo)
“The notion that firefighter esprits de corps can somehow defeat the principles of physiology is not only wrong but it is dangerously wrong.”
Cardiovascular (and Thermal) Strain of Firefighting
Denise L. Smith, Ph.D. – Illinois Fire Service Institute and Skidmore College
Gavin Horn, Ph.D. – Illinois Fire Service Institute
“Firefighting activity places significant strain on the cardiovascular system, affecting the heart, vessels and blood. Firefighters must be physically fit and medically healthy to undertake such strenuous work.”
Cardiovascular Disease in the US Fire Service: Past, Present and Future
Stefanos Kales, M.D., M.P.H., FACP, FACOEM – Harvard University
“Strenuous duties can precipitate cardiovascular events. Cardiovascular event victims have clinical coronary heart disease, subclinical disease and excess risk factors. Many potential victims could be identified. Risk profiles could be modified before clinical events manifest.”
Training
Steven T. Edwards, Director – Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute
“Post mortem information on 713 deceased firefighter’s medical histories show that 603 (or 84.6 percent) had suffered prior heart attacks, severe arteriosclerotic heart disease, undergone bypass surgery or angioplasty / stent placement, or were diabetic.”
Policy
Craig Haigh, Chief – Hanover Park Fire Department
“Fire Service change needs to be driven by research. Research needs to be driven based on Fire Service concerns. It takes courage to change the status quo and find solutions to difficult problems with limited human and financial resources.”