The Hidden Risks Firefighters Face When Battling A Blaze

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Everyday fire fighters put out large blazes trying to save homes, buildings, and even lives.

However, while they’re busy answering to their call of duty, they’re putting their own selves at risk, and not just by entering inside a burning home, but also health risks.

Heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of death among the first responders.

“Every year we average about 100 firefighters who die,” said Starkville Fire Chief Charles Yarbrough. “This year I think we have 81 so far who’ve died, and 47% of that have been from heart attacks.”

Chief Yarbrough has been battling fires for more than two decades, and said sometimes firefighters may not have or know about any of the symptoms to these hidden risks

“The sad thing about it is you have guys that after they get done with everything, they come home and they never wake up,” Yarbrough expressed. “It’s a sad occasion so we try to do our best to prevent that.”

Being a firefighter can be a stressful job.

Their day can be going smoothly, but then in a matter of seconds, things can quickly escalate.

Their adrenaline gets pumping and a big rush comes through their body.

However, when their bodies start to come down from that stress, that’s when other problems can kick in.

Chief Yarbrough said it’s the adrenaline rush and high stress level from the job that leads to firefighters having these health problems.

“It takes anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour for you to come down off of that adrenaline rush,” the fire chief explained. “Think about 10 calls a day, up-and-down, up-and-down, and eventually it’s just going to wear on your heart.”

“A lot of people don’t realize now that a lot of materials that are used in construction of homes, furniture, bedding, things like that are a lot of synthetics and they’re petrochemicals, said Austin Check, Training Officer with the Oktibbeha County Volunteer Fire Department. “Where as we’re used to the old days with things just being wood and things like that, now there’s a lot of petrochemicals and those chemicals put off gases, and research is starting to show that causes a lot of cancer in the long run.”

In an industry that prides itself on providing service to others,  Yarbrough said it’s important for firefighters and departments to take it upon themselves to make sure they’re doing everything they can to cut down on the alarming number of individuals being impacted by cancer and heart disease.

“As far as heart attacks and preventing those, we do that by working out, that’s why we’re so adamant about cardiovascular exercises,” said Yarbrough. “We’re very adamant about working out because we find out that if you work out then it reduces your chances of having a heart attack.”

“First off we use a lot of respiratory protection and decontamination procedures and so forth like that to get those chemicals off of us that causes those instances,” said Check.  We’ve invested heavily in cleaning machines, washing machines, and dryers, specifically made for the equipment that we carry to remove those cancer-causing chemicals.”

The Starkville Fire Chief said his department has screenings and physicals they go through to make sure everyone is staying healthy and fit to help reduce these health problems.