Injury Correlates Among a National Sample of Women in the US Fire Service

Abstract

Objective: To examine occupational injuries among career women firefighters (FFs). Methods: A national cross-sectional survey assessed injury prevalence, types, frequencies, and predictors. Results: A total of 3012 women career FFs were enrolled in the study. Almost a third (31.7%) reported at least one occupational injury in the past 12 months. The most common injuries were dislocations, sprains, or strains (59.3%). Racial minority status, self-rated health, body composition, exercise habits, substance use, mental health, and job dissatisfaction were all significant injury correlates. Nearly 43% of injuries resulted in missed workdays. Additionally, 25% reported incurring chronic injuries. Conclusions: Women FFs reported a high prevalence of occupational injury and a significant percentage reported chronic injuries. These data can inform initiatives to curtail injuries in the fire service and better protect women FFs.

Female Firefighter Work-Related Injuries in the United States and Canada: An Overview of Survey Responses

“…Strains/sprains/muscle pain were the most common injuries identified, followed by dislocations/fractures, and wounds/cuts/bleeds/bruises. This is similar to another sample of female firefighters from the US, who reported predominantly dislocations/strains/sprains, followed by superficial injuries/open wounds ( 13 ). Other injuries, including eye injuries or smoke/gas inhalation, occurred in lower proportions, potentially because protective equipment reduced the risk for these injuries.…”

“…Other studies have identified that firefighters with a higher-than-normal BMI were three times more likely to file an injury-related compensation claim compared with those of normal BMI ( 20 ). Higher overall good self-rated health, fitness, and exercise have all related to a lower likelihood of sustaining an injury ( 13 ). Low fitness levels among firefighters can increase injury risk ( 20 ), and compromise occupational readiness.…”

“…Previous research found that 16.5% of female firefighters who consume alcohol were problem drinkers, and that problem drinkers were 40% more likely to report work-related injuries compared with the general female firefighter population ( 24 ). Female firefighters with a history of tobacco use have also been found to have higher odds of injury ( 13 ).…”

“…Similarly, studies have found that career firefighters in the US were injured on the job more than volunteers, although these samples were predominantly males ( 3 , 4 ). In the US and Canada, injuries occurred most often on the fire ground, adding to the conflicting literature describing firefighter injuries, some of which report training as the most common activity at the time of injury ( 11 , 13 , 18 ), and some of which report firefighting, fire ground duties, or fire station duties as the most common activities at the time of injury ( 4 , 18 , 25 ). In this study, training was the second most commonly reported event at the time of injury, supporting the evidence that the fire ground and training both present a high risk of injury for female firefighters; safety improvement efforts should be focused there.…”

“…However, this study focused on health and wellbeing in general, and did not provide details regarding injury events. Of 3,012 female firefighters surveyed in the US, 31.7% reported at least one work-related injury within the past year, 43% of which resulted in work loss and 25% of which became chronic injuries, like back pain ( 13 ).…”