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Table 2 Comparison of job-related factors preceding the on-duty fatality: CHD† deaths versus trauma deaths.

From: Firefighters and on-duty deaths from coronary heart disease: a case control study

 

CHD Deaths

(n = 52) % (n)

Trauma Deaths

(n = 51) % (n)

P-value OR@

(95% CI$)

Strenuous Physical Activity on the job in the preceding 12 hours

67 (35)

39 (20)

0.004 3.2 (1.4–7.2)

Possible Smoke Exposure at Incident

42 (22)

31 (16)

0.25 1.6 (0.7–3.6)

Last Job Activity:

   

   Fire Suppression

36 (19)

31 (16)

 

   Training

17 (9)

8 (4)

0.002 1

   Fire House

14 (7)

0

 

   EMS¶ or Other Non-Fire Emergency

12 (6)

6 (3)

 

   Alarm Response

10 (5)

33 (17)

 

   Returning from Alarm

10 (5)

6 (3)

 

   Desk Duty (Light Duty)

2 (1)

0

 

   Inspection or Investigation

0

6 (3)

 

   Maintenance

0

8 (4)

 

   Non-emergency Transit

0

2 (1)

 

Carboxyhemoglobin Post Incident:

   

   <3 %

76 (13/17)

_____

_____

   3–4.9 %

18 (3/17)

  

   5–10 %

6 (1/17)

  

Hours on Duty Prior to Symptoms (Professionals Only):

   

   0–3.9

24 (7/29)

_____

_____

   4–7.9

28 (8/29)

  

   8–11.9

17 (5/29)

  

   12–15.9

10 (3/29)

  

   16–19.9

7 (2/29)

  

   20–23.9

0

  

   >24

14 (4/29)

  

Workshift Type (Professionals Only):

   

   24 hour

34 (11/32)

_____

_____

   Rotating, night or evening

23 (8/32)

  

   Overtime

22 (7/32)

  

   On Call

9 (3/32)

  

   Regular, Daytime

6 (2/32)

  

   48 hour

3 (1/32)

  
  1. 1p-value for last job activity relates to the X2 test of the difference in the distribution of the proportions of firefighters in each group engaged in each of the duties described. †See Table 1; @Odds ratio; $Confidence interval; ¶ Emergency medical services.