Looking at the statistics of fire ground injuries and deaths, I realized that I could be the most dangerous thing on the fire ground. 60% of fatalities are over the age of 40 (that’s me), 30% are over the age of 50 (that’s me, soon). The number of deaths by heart attack is 44%. That doesn’t have to be me.
Many younger firefighters look critically at the older firefighters, questioning their physical condition. Many have even said, “We should have higher fitness standards”. Well, watch out! Most of us older firefighters never planned to be a little over weight, inflexible, and short-winded when we matured. In fact, we were just like you. We enjoyed the strength, wind, flexibility, and the “invincibility” of youth; we probably even judged others on their fitness. Health and fitness issues do not affect younger fire professionals as frequently; however, the habits we develop in youth will affect our health and fitness as we age.
It is well known that heart disease is reversible and therefore preventable within your genetic limits. Diet and moderate exercise are all most need to improve our own health. Everybody should already know a very lean (low fat) diet rich in nutrients and fiber is healthy. Eating well is a subject all of us could benefit from. There is more information available on this subject than ever before. Remember, heart disease is clogged arteries and is reversible; heart muscle damage after a heart attack is permanent.
Even moderate exercise has dramatic effects on health, often greater than some medications. Cardiac events, hypertension, arthritis, dementia, hip fractures, anxiety, and depression problems are reduced 30-40% by walking 30 minutes daily. This is a small time commitment for a great benefit.
It is easier to develop good diet and exercise habits early in life. Poor diet and exercise habits are developed quickly and require more effort to correct than to maintain.
With exercise, we become more efficient, performing more work with less effort, and less risk of injury. Exercise is a positive factor in how we deal with stress. Stress today is looked at as a leading factor in heart disease; much like smoking. Stress, physical or emotional, causes an adrenaline response, leading to a rapid heart rate and hypertension with coronary vassal constriction all factors contributing to coronary events. Adrenaline is metabolized as plaque, a component of heart disease.
I recently spoke with a nurse at a cardiology center. I asked her what motivates people to change their lifestyle. She stated it is very difficult to motivate people for personal change. Most often in her line of work people change their health lifestyles after a personal tragedy, like a heart attack or they know someone going through a tragedy.
In 2011, 48 firefighter deaths out of 83 were due to heart attacks. Is this not tragedy enough to make us commit to change?
We as Fire Service Officers, Educators, and Safety Officers can and should commit to and communicate the need for change. Improving ourselves as examples to others; leading a change in attitudes toward health and fitness for a life time of benefits. Let’s prevent people from being the most dangerous thing on the emergency scene. Real change, always begins with Me. What about you?
By: Ted Vander Houwen, WSFTSO Board Member