Presents Health and Wellness Awareness for Firefighters

1. Presents Health and WellnessAwarenessforFirefighters

2. Leading Causes of Fire Fighter Fatalities • Heart Attacks 2. Strokes Health Related 3. Trauma 4.Vehicle Accidents

3. Our Goal Our goal and the goal of every firefighter should be to reduce the number of firefighter deaths from heart attack, stroke and trauma.

4. The Number one killer of firefighters is Heart Attacks. Roughly 50 percent of all firefighter deaths are cause by a Cardiac Event. It is important to keep your heart in good condition by exercising, and eating right.

5. In order to reach this Goal, we need your help.

6. Firefighters answer the call every day Wearing heavy gear, carrying equipment, climbing... all very strenuous activities. Can your heart take the stress? And just how physically fit are you?

7. It is all about being Healthy • A few extra pounds makes the heart work harder • Being a Firefighter places the heart under increased stress • Stress increases Blood Pressure Leading to stroke.

8. Firefighting is the one of the most physical demanding professions (8min.=8hrs.) • It requires high levels of cardio- respiratory endurance, muscular strength and muscular endurance.

9. Everyone Goes Home!

10. Fire Lieutenant 52 years old, suffers Sudden Cardiac Death After Responding to a Motor Lumberyard Fire– Owego,NY Firefighter First Grade 41 years old, suffers Sudden Cardiac Death at the Scene of a Structure Fire – Brooklyn, NY Fire Chief 56 years old, suffers Sudden Cardiac Death at Home after attempting to respond to an emergency call– Painted Post, NY New York FireFighter Deaths2003

11. New York FireFighter Deaths2004 • Fire Police Captain 45 years old, suffers Sudden Cardiac Death After Responding to a Mutual Aid chimney fire – Brisben, NY • Firefighter 42 years old, suffers Sudden Cardiac Death at the Scene of a Structure Fire – Sharon Springs, NY • Fire Chief 54 years old, suffers Sudden Cardiac Death at Home after attempting to respond to a local fire at Nursing Home – Elsmere, NY In the year 2004, there were only 4 deaths and 3 were from heart attacks

12. New York FireFighter Deaths2005 • Fire Police Lieutenant 62 years old, suffers Sudden Cardiac Death after responding to 4 emergency calls – Webster, NY • Firefighter Trainee 42 years old, suffers Sudden Cardiac Death while engaged in training – Montgomery, NY • Assistant Fire Chief 59 years old, suffers Sudden Cardiac Death after exiting his vehicle in response to Residential fire– Rensselaer, NY

13. New York FireFighter Deaths2005 (Continued) • Firefighter 55 years old, suffers Sudden Cardiac Death after responding to 3 emergency calls – Rockville Center, NY • Lieutenant 48 years old, suffers Sudden Cardiac Death at his workplace after responding to several emergency calls – Wales Center, NY • Lieutenant 54 years old, suffers Sudden Cardiac Death after exiting his vehicle in response to Residential fire– Woodmere, NY In 2005, a total of 14 New York firefighters died; 10 were from cardiac related events.

14. New York FireFighter Deaths2006 • Firefighter 62 years old, suffers Sudden Cardiac Death after responding to a multi vehicle accident – Lockport, NY • Fire Police Captain 73 years old, suffers Sudden Cardiac Death in response to Hazardous Materials incident – Howells, NY • Fire Chief 57 years old, suffers Sudden Cardiac Death at Home after participating in live smoke drills to respond to an emergency call– Horseheads, NY As of August 2006, 4 out of 7 firefighter deaths in 2006 were due to cardiac events.

15. Deaths • Volunteer Fire Fighter Suffers Cardiac Death the Morning After Emergency Medical Technician Training -North CarolinaAirport Fire Fighter Suffers Sudden Cardiac Death While On Duty -South CarolinaVolunteer Fire Fighter Suffers Cardiac Arrest While Battling a Structure Fire -New York

16. Be Physically Fit and Exercise your Heart.

17. Maintain a normal Body Weight. Eat Sensibly. Exercise.

18. LODD Statistics 2004

19. LODD Statistics 2004

20. We all know that in order to keep our cars in good running order and to avoid costly repairs; we must perform routine maintenance.

21. The same holds true for our Hearts

22. The Heart must be in good physical condition

23. This places a tremendous strain on your Heart. It is like trying to drive your car at 60 mph after sub zero temperatures

24. Like a car; you must give time for your Heart to wake up. And like a car; the older you are – the more time it takes.

25. The Facts • OVER 50% OF THE FATALITIES RECORDED ANNUALLY ARE ATTRIBUTED TO MEDICAL EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH HEART ATTACKS, STROKES OR OTHER SERIOUS ILLNESSES

26. More Facts • Of these deaths heart attacks were attributed to 61. • The average age was 47 years. • Most were known to have high-risk factors.

27. Whatare the High Risk Factors? • Smoking • Overweight • Lack of Exercise • High Blood Pressure • High Cholesterol • Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)

28. What Do These Professions Have in Common? • Bakers • Athletes • Firefighters

29. The Potential for... HEAT STRESS

30. The Importance of the Rehabilitation Unit in Saving Lives

31. Firefighting is Hot, Strenuous Work

32. Firefighting is Hot, Strenuous Work • Extremely high temperatures • Little opportunity to cool our bodies through normal sweating • Moderate to heavy work generates metabolic heat • Bunker gear makes it difficult to dissipate this heat build-up - can result in heat stress

33. Heat Stress Factors • Air temperature • Humidity • Radiant heat • Air movement • Physical demands of work • Clothing, material, construction and use • Physical fitness and body composition • Psychological/Perception

34. Benefits of Providing Rehabilitation • Will protect firefighters’ health and safety • Can maximize cumulative work times • Provide better customer service • Is the right thing to do • Will protect department against potential liability

35. Defining “REHAB” Rehab Is: • An attempt to restore (a person) to normal physical functioning • Efforts used to: • Ensure adequate hydration • Limit core temperature heating with “active cooling” • Provide rest • Sustain a Firefighter’s energy

36. Maryland Parents Sue County Over Son’s Death During Firefighter Training • Waybright’s parents suing for $1 million • Training Officer alleged to be “an untrained leader, for failing to provide hydration, failure to carry basic first aid, and failure to inform recruits of the exercise session”. • Failed to meet duty “to provide training exercises in a reasonable and safe manner such that they did not endanger the health of the recruits”.

37. Firefighter Dies in Training • Recruit firefighter Andrew Waybright collapsed during a training exercise in extreme heat • Civilians stopped to help – offered to call 911 • Were “shooed” away by Academy personnel and told recruit was “played out” • Pronounced dead at hospital - temperature was 107.4°F

38. Benefits of Providing Rehabilitation • Will protect firefighters’ health and safety • Can maximize cumulative work times • Provide better customer service • Is the right thing to do • Will protect department against potential liability

39. Controls to Minimize Heat Stress • Fluid intake (hydration) • Active cooling • Rest/Work rotation Rehab

40. Pour Water on Neck What We Do Now Use Wet Towels Ice Packs Misting Fans

41. The 6 R’s of Comprehensive Rehabilitation • Rest • Re-hydration • Restoration/Active Cooling • Rx/Medical Monitoring • Refueling • Relief

42. Firefighting is Hot, Strenuous Work • Extremely high temperatures • Little opportunity to cool our bodies through normal sweating • Moderate to heavy work generates metabolic heat • Bunker gear makes it difficult to dissipate this heat build-up - can result in heat stress

43. Heat Stress Factors • Air temperature • Humidity • Radiant heat • Air movement • Physical demands of work • Clothing, material, construction and use • Physical fitness and body composition • Psychological/Perception

44. Hydration • Need to replace Water • Sports drinks may be used when working for an hour or more • electrolytes • carbohydrates • Helps maximize water and calorie absorption

45. RX: Medical Monitoring • Core Temperature • Heart Rate • Blood Pressure • Pupils • Conscious/alertness

46. Passive Cooling • Will not alleviate heat stress • Core temperatures continue to rise following moderate or heavy work during a 30 minute rest even though heart rates continued to decrease • Heart rate recovery and subjective feelings of comfort cannot be used to determine when it is safe to return to work

47. The 6 R’s of Comprehensive Rehabilitation • Rest • Re-hydration • Restoration/Active Cooling • Rx/Medical Monitoring • Refueling • Relief

48. Refuelling • People need to eat • Rehab should include food for refueling when required • Avoid simple sugars • Avoid complex carbohydrates • Aim for balanced snack (power bars)

49. Relieffrom Extreme Climatic Conditions • Heat • Sunlight • Humidity • Rain/Snow • Wind • Cold

50. Sergeant Suffers Sudden Cardiac Death During Training - Kentucky Fire Chief Suffers Sudden Cardiac Death While Returning to the Fire Station After a Structure Fire – Georgia Deaths Continued