Background

Every year for the past two decades, over 40% of line of duty deaths for both career and volunteer firefighters have been due to heart attacks. According to the most recent study by the National Volunteer Fire Council and the United States Fire Administration this problem persists for several fundamental reasons:

• The lack of effective education for firefighters regarding the health risks they are likely to face which can lead to a heart attack
• Insufficient funding for fire companies to implement clinically and statistically proven health and fitness programs for their members
• The lack of medical evaluations for firefighters regarding key health indicators both upon entering the service and on a periodic basis

The most formidable enemy facing today's firefighter is inadequate physical preparedness for the arduous requirements of the job. With the leading professional associations of firefighters now coming to grips with the specific health and fitness needs of the population they serve, they have committed to reversing this troublesome trend. Clearly they recognize that too many of our brothers and sisters have needlessly passed.

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