Emergency Duties and Deaths from Heart Disease among Firefighters in the United States

National data on deaths among on-duty firefighters between 1994 and 2004 were assessed in relation to estimates of the proportions of time spent by firefighters in various duties. The rate of death from coronary heart disease during active fire suppression was approximately 10 to 100 times as high as the expected rate. This study suggests that firefighting is associated with an unusually high risk of death from cardiac causes. Deaths among on-duty firefighters between 1994 and 2004 were assessed in relation to various duties. The rate of death from coronary heart disease during active fire suppression was approximately 10 to 100 times as high as the expected rate. Firefighting is known to be a dangerous occupation. What is less appreciated is that the most frequent cause of death among firefighters is heart disease rather than burns or smoke inhalation. Cardiovascular events, largely due to coronary heart disease, account for 45% of deaths among firefighters on duty. 1 , 2 In contrast, such events account for 22% of deaths among police officers on duty, 11% of deaths among on-duty emergency medical services workers, and 15% of all deaths that occur on the job. 2 , 3 The high rate of death from cardiovascular causes among firefighters raises questions about contributing factors. Possible factors, . . .