Firefighter Fatalities - Leading Causes of Firefighter Deaths
Recently several high-profile incidents involving firefighter fatalities have brought world attention to the increasing incidents of firefighter mortality.
On 9/11 Number of firefighters and paramedics killed were 343.
Due to global warming and climate changes more bush fires are reported than ever before.
This has resulted in direct increase in firefighter fatalities.
Firefighting is very high risk career and is one of the top five dangerous jobs in the world.
The leading nature of fatal injuries of firefighters is heart attack (44 percent);They have to carry heavy equipments along with their heavy duty fire proof clothing to remote or sometimes highest point of building without lifts.
During extremely physically demanding activities, a firefighter could deplete an SCBA (Self-contained breathing apparatus) in as little as 10 or 15 minutes (when using a 30-minute air cylinder).
Risk of heart attack increase as their profession brings them in to direct contact with poisonous gases like hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide.
The second most leading firefighter fatality at 27 percent are head and internal injury including trauma.
Most of the fire causes structural collapse; Firefighters are risking their lives to save people who are trapped inside.
They are in constant danger from debris falling on them from a collapsing building.
Sometimes they have to work under already collapsed building and rushing in to unknown territory, working in smoked filled rooms increases their chances of physical injury.
Other 20 percent of firefighter fatalities come from burns and asphyxia.
The uncertain nature of wild fire sometimes traps firefighter increasing their fatalities.
Certain fires due to involvement of hazardous chemical are explosive in nature.
Such explosive fires take firefighter by surprise and give them little chance to escape.
Firefighters have to handle many other types of emergency situation apart from fire.
They also put themselves at high risk while rescuing people from dangerous situation.
No doubt firefighters have high rate of fatalities compared to many other risky jobs.
On 9/11 Number of firefighters and paramedics killed were 343.
Due to global warming and climate changes more bush fires are reported than ever before.
This has resulted in direct increase in firefighter fatalities.
Firefighting is very high risk career and is one of the top five dangerous jobs in the world.
The leading nature of fatal injuries of firefighters is heart attack (44 percent);They have to carry heavy equipments along with their heavy duty fire proof clothing to remote or sometimes highest point of building without lifts.
During extremely physically demanding activities, a firefighter could deplete an SCBA (Self-contained breathing apparatus) in as little as 10 or 15 minutes (when using a 30-minute air cylinder).
Risk of heart attack increase as their profession brings them in to direct contact with poisonous gases like hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide.
The second most leading firefighter fatality at 27 percent are head and internal injury including trauma.
Most of the fire causes structural collapse; Firefighters are risking their lives to save people who are trapped inside.
They are in constant danger from debris falling on them from a collapsing building.
Sometimes they have to work under already collapsed building and rushing in to unknown territory, working in smoked filled rooms increases their chances of physical injury.
Other 20 percent of firefighter fatalities come from burns and asphyxia.
The uncertain nature of wild fire sometimes traps firefighter increasing their fatalities.
Certain fires due to involvement of hazardous chemical are explosive in nature.
Such explosive fires take firefighter by surprise and give them little chance to escape.
Firefighters have to handle many other types of emergency situation apart from fire.
They also put themselves at high risk while rescuing people from dangerous situation.
No doubt firefighters have high rate of fatalities compared to many other risky jobs.