Firefighters' Greatest Danger May Not Be Fires, But Lack Of Exercise

A study by the Applied Exercise Science Laboratory at Texas A&M University shows that firemen are often at high risk for heart attacks primarily because they get little or no exercise while on duty.

Wade Womack, a faculty member in the Applied Exercise Science Laboratory at Texas A&M, charted 74 firefighters over a six-year period.

His study, titled "Cardiovascular Risk Markers in Firefighters: A Longitudinal Study" published in Cardiovascular Reviews and Reports, shows that often firemen are overweight and have less-than-ideal cholesterol levels, both of which could pose serious health problems.

"It all comes down to one main point: firemen need to exercise more," says Womack.

"When firemen do fight fires, it is work that is both very strenuous and stressful, and very physically exerting. Put it all together and the chances of a heart attack are high."

Womack's results are similar with data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), one of the country's largest group of firemen. In a study conducted by the NFPA 1977-95, about one-half of all line-of-duty deaths by firemen were not the result of fires, but heart attacks.

"In almost all of the cases, the heart attacks suffered by firemen are directly linked to the exertional demands of the firefighter's job," Womack reports.

"They have long periods on duty in which they get little or no exercise. Then when a fire does occur, there is a sudden, intense energy demand required, and if they are not in adequate physical condition, the results can be deadly."

Nationally, figures show three-fourths of firefighters over the age of 45 who die in the line of duty die from a heart attack. And of the firefighters who have died from a heart attack while in the line of duty, 2 of every 5 had documented heart conditions, Womack said.

Participants in Womack's study ranged in age from early 20s to mid 60s, with the average age being 35.8 years old. They had above average body fat composition and slightly higher cholesterol readings based on optimum levels.

Especially disturbing, he said, was that VO2 max, a measure of aerobic fitness, deteriorated significantly during the course of the study, from 41.8 to 35.6, suggesting a negative trend in the firemen's overall physical condition.

The message is clear: firemen need to work out more.

"For their own welfare, firemen need more exercise, but it could also come down to a matter of public safety," Womack believes.

"If a fireman is out of shape and is responding to a fire, could he not perform his job or put others at risk because of his fitness condition? It's very possible.

"Many fire departments have fitness equipment and exercise rooms available to firemen," adds Womack. "But likewise, many fire departments do not require any physical activity and do not have fitness requirements that firefighters must maintain."