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Assessing Firefighter Fatalities: Trends, Causes, and Solutions

This analysis explores firefighter fatalities over time, with a focus on trends since 1977, revealing key insights into the decline of fatalities linked to enhanced vehicles, protective equipment, and training. Despite progress, persistent issues, such as heart attacks and vehicle-related deaths, remain significant concerns. The paper examines the impact of engineered solutions and the critical need for behavioral change in firefighting practices. Recommendations for improved accountability, training, and adherence to NFPA standards are presented to mitigate risks and enhance safety in fire operations.

judah-mclaughlin
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Assessing Firefighter Fatalities: Trends, Causes, and Solutions

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  1. Risk Management Class #3 • Forward page xi • NFPA stats/study on f/f fatalities since 1977 • Through 2000 2800 fatalities • Over time fatalities have declined in number with credit given to • Vehicles, PPE, training, equipment, and ICS

  2. Engineered vs. Attitude Solutions • Most credit give to engineered solutions • We continue to see high death rates in areas in which change in Behavior is required • ATTITUDE

  3. Significant Improvements • Wide use of SCBA • 12 deaths in 1977 no SCBA • Today not a consideration • Apparatus improvements • Falls from apparatus not a consideration • Seat belts, better brakes, more lights, etc

  4. Fatalities Have Decreased • 151 in late 70s • 127 in the 80s • 97 in 1990 • Just over 100 in most recent years

  5. Persistent Problems • Heart Attacks • More that two fifths each year • Two thirds are over 40yo • 80% had existing problems • Motor vehicle related • One fifth of deaths past 20 yrs

  6. Persistent Problem Not Recognized? • Structure fire fatalities • Dropped by about one half since 1977 • During the same time fires have dropped about one half • What's going on? • Are structure fire fatalities in reality on the decline? Fig 1-1 1-2 1-3, 1-4,1-5 pg 4,5&6

  7. Persistent Problem Not Recognized • Structure fire fatalities at the same rate as 20 years ago, WHY? • Over reliance on modern PPE and equipment • Less experience • Not following proper command procedures

  8. Persistent Problem Not Recognized • Training not improving enough • Not consistent with modern PPE in relation to its capability and proper use • Not consistent enough with modern construction • Not consistent with changing fire loads and their fire spread and heat characteristics

  9. Why Structure Fire Fatalities Happen • Traumatic injuries and fatalities happen when • F/Fs become lost inside a structure • F/Fs are overtaken by fires that rapidly spread, flash over or backdraft • NIOSH is one of the best sources of complete fatality analysis and recommendation for prevention

  10. Why Structure Fire Fatalities Happen • 87 F/Fs killed since 1990 by smoke in structure fires • 29 lost and ran out of air • 23 caught by heavy fire • 18 in structural collapse • 10 of the above in floor collapses • What's more dangerous fire above or fire below? • 69 of the above 70 wearing SCBA

  11. Why Structure Fire Fatalities Happen • 31 F/Fs killed by burns since 1990 • 12 killed in structural collapse • 14 caught in or trapped by • Rapid fire spread • Flash over • backdraft

  12. Why Structure Fire Fatalities Happen • Statistics like these raise Questions • Are F/Fs taking more risk? • Lack of understanding of PPE and equipment capabilities or ignoring their limitations? • Construction changes have what effect? • Burning characteristics have what effect? • These questions need answers

  13. What Can Be Done NOW • Good accountability that is practical • Partner up no free-lancing • Good RIT and procedures, on deck crews • Everyone has a radio • Good ICS • Good Situational awareness by everyone • Recognition of danger and quick action

  14. What Can Be Done NOW • Comply with NFPA standards • Improve training • Building construction • Fire behavior • Coordinated tactics (working as a team) • Find ways of closing the experience gap • Statement about NFPA standards pg 8

  15. Deaths by Type of Duty • Large proportion of fatalities happen on the fireground • In 2001 38% on fireground • Most in residential • However fires in non residential structure pose a greater hazard when looking at deaths per 100K fires fig 1-8 pg. 9

  16. Cause of Death • Heart attacks a major cause • 40 fatalities in 2001 via Heart Attacks • 10 already had heart problems • 11 had heard disease • 3 were diabetic • No medical documentation on the other 16

  17. Cause of Death • NFPA finding over 25 years • About 50% of heart attack victims had previous MIs or by-pass surgery • About 30% had severe arteriosclerosis disease • About 12% had high BP or diabetes • Older F/Fs at greater risk for MI • Review NFPA 1582

  18. Cause of Death • Vehicle related • Too fast • No seatbelts • POVs • Training • Standards for drivers

  19. Conclusion of Chapter One • See statement on pg. 15 and fig 1-13 • Case studies • Read incident • Think of suggested prevention actions • Describe to class

  20. Chapter 2 Firefighter Injuries • Firefighter injuries have decreased • 130K in 1991 to 84K in 2000 • See fig. 2-2 pg 22 for type of duty • In 2000 NFPA estimated that • Over 11K exposures to Infectious diseases • Or 0.9 exposures per 1K EMS runs

  21. Firefighter Injuries • Four major types of injuries • Strains and sprains • Wounds • Burns • Smoke or gas inhalation • Cause of firefighter injury • Overexertion, strain, falls, slips, and jumps

  22. Firefighter Injuries • About 1% or 15K per year are vehicle related • In 2000 there were over 20.5 mil incidents responded to and collision represent only one tenth of 1% • Review • Tbl. 2-1 pg. 22 • Tbl. 2-2 pg. 23 • Fig. 2-3 pg. 24 • Tbl. 2-3 pg. 25

  23. Firefighter Injuries • Are injuries really down? • Are we seeing the same problem persistent problem described in chapter one • Injuries per 1K fires are virtually at the same rate over the past 25years

  24. Firefighter Injuries • Injuries by population and region • we are in the North Central region • The Northeast has more injuries, Why? • Population relates to number of fire and fires relate to number of injuries • Review • Tbls 2-4, 2-5 and 2-6 pg. 267 to 28

  25. Improving Safety • Can all injuries be eliminated • Good risk management can greatly reduce injury which relates to various costs. • Case studies • Read incident • Think of suggested prevention actions

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