Preventing Fire Fighter Fatalities Due to Heart Attacks and Other Sudden Cardiovascular Events

The purpose of this Alert is to outline a program to reduce the number of on-duty fire fighter fatalities due to CVD that can be used by all parties interested in or responsible for the health of fire fighters.

Material Under Consideration

NIOSH Alert—Preventing Fire Fighter Fatalities Due to Heart Attacks and Other Sudden Cardiovascular Events; DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2007-133 – June 2007 [PDF – 1,134 KB]

Reviews

Peer Reviewers’ Comments – posted December 31, 2009 [PDF – 3,390 KB]

Response to Peer Reviewers’ Comments – posted December 31, 2009 [PDF – 4,917 KB]

Peer Review

Title: Preventing Fire Fighter Fatalities Due to Heart Attacks and Other Sudden Cardiovascular Events

Subject: Identification and analysis of critical factors to reduce the most common fire fighter fatality type.

Purpose: To outline a program to reduce the number of on-duty fire fighter fatalities due to CVD that can be used by all parties interested in or responsible for the health of fire fighters.

Timing of Review: December 2006

Primary Disciplines or Expertise Needed for Review: Public safety medicine, fire service, occupational medicine (fitness for duty), cardiology

Type of Review: Multi-stage

Number of Reviewers: 10

Reviewers Selected by: NIOSH

Public Nominations Requested for Reviewers: No

Opportunities for the Public to Comment: Yes

Peer Reviewers Provided with Public Comments Before Their Review: Yes

Peer Reviewers:

Richard Duffy
Organizational Affiliation: Assistant to the General President, International Association of Fire Fighters
Area of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Fire Fighting

I. David Daniels
Organizational Affiliation: Chair of Safety Health and Survival Section, International Association of Fire Chiefs
Area of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Fire Fighting

Rita Fahy
Organizational Affiliation: Statistical Coordinator, National Fire Protection Association
Area of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Fire Fighter Fatalities

Jim Melius
Academic and Professional Credentials: MD, PhD
Organizational Affiliation: Director, Laborers Safety and Health Fund Medical Chairman, Redmond Foundation
Area of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Fire Fighter Safety and Health

Sandy Bogucki
Academic and Professional Credentials: MD, PhD
Organizational Affiliation: Associate Professor of Medicine, Yale University, Department of Emergency Medicine; National Fire Protection Association Standard 1582 Task Force Chair
Area of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Fire Fighter Safety and Health

Leonard Goldberg
Organizational Affiliation: Consulting Physician, Los Angeles County Fire Department, California
Area of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Fire Fighter Safety and Health

Dan Samo
Academic and Professional Credentials: MD
Organizational Affiliation: Chair, Public Safety Medicine Section, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine; National Fire Protection Association Standard 1582 member
Area of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Fire Fighter Safety and Health

Denise Smith
Academic and Professional Credentials: PhD
Organizational Affiliation: Professor, Department of Exercise Sciences, Skidmore College, Champaign, IL
Area of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Fire Fighting Safety and Health

Bill Troup
Organizational Affiliation: U.S. Fire Administration
Area of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Fire Fighting

Ronald Siarnicki
Organizational Affiliation: Executive Director, NFFF (National Fallen Firefighters Foundation)
Area of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Fire Fighting Safety and Health

Charge to Peer Reviewers:

1. Does the background section appropriately summarize the current literature regarding heart disease and firefighting?
2. Do the case reports identify the important findings from the NIOSH cardiovascular disease investigations?
3. Are these findings adequately discussed in the section “Data from the NIOSH CVD Investigation”?
4. Are the conclusions supported by the body of the document?
5. Are the recommendations appropriate?
6. Are there any additional recommendations you think should be included in this document?