The Importance Of Eco-Healthy Firefighter

Much like the firefighters in 911 (figure 1); many people would say that a firefighter’s health is very important. Life is a precious thing and before we sit around and let controlled burnings take control, we should protect the lives of those who protect us.

Americans are neglecting the top killer in our society, and each year this killer claims hundreds of thousands of more lives. This killer is not terrorism, but rather a completely preventable disease: heart disease. The epidemic is so serious that more than 1/3 of the adult population has some form of heart disease and “if all deaths from major [cardiovascular disease] were eliminated, life expectancy in the United States would increase by about 7 years” (Hoeger 384). As a society and as individuals, we need to fight back and lower the rate of heart disease. The best way to combat America’s top killer is to educate ourselves about heart disease and use exercise and lifestyle changes to lower our risk.

For example, fashion is not just a popular trends or style in clothes. It can also cause damage to us. Like the print on the t-shirt, it has a toxic chemical. In fact, these are not just detriment to

This initiative emphasizes the importance of individuals holding themselves accountable for their own health, wellness, and safety. Additionally, this message needs to be derived and set forth by the administration of the department who should equally demonstrate the same behavior. A Fire Chief who establishes such expectations are the first in line to demonstrate their own accountability standards through their physical appearance and visible measures. For example, maintaining a healthy image resembling one of physically fit, and maintain and advocate healthy dietary eating habits both on and off the job. RMFD’s current Fire Chief emulates these standards. However, the Assistant Fire Chief and one of the Battalion Chiefs fall short, detouring the unity and strength behind the accountability maintaining a positive image.

With so many people mining for gold and trying to find as much as they can, new technology was invented to make the process easier and more efficient. Before this new gold-mining technology, many miners would dam up rivers to make their findings easier and supply water during dry months, or the rivers would become blocked with deposits and sediments, effectively changing the rivers for animals and plants. Along with that, the need for wood and lumber increased so the forest changed with more and more trees cut down to create canals. The land was essentially torn up just in the miner quest for gold. With the invention of hydraulic mining came one of the most disastrous effects on the state’s physical environment. Before workers would only dam up rivers, but with this machine, mountainsides and other areas were torn up,

The Healthy People 2020 organization is generates objectives that are science-based up to ten years to improve the health of Americans (). The Healthy People 2020 monitors the American’s health so that they can encourage collaboration amongst communities, inspire individuals to take action in their health decisions, and determine the results of prevention actions (). The overall goal of the Healthy People 2020 organization is, “attain high-quality, longer lives free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death” (para. 5). The Healthy People 2020 website has several topics and objectives to gain knowledge of. Two of the topics that will be discussed are diabetes, heart disease and stroke, as well as each topics risk factors in relation to its objectives.

As a former college athlete and the daughter of a veteran, I was always infatuated with the idea of staying physically fit. However, when I began working as a medical scribe at a Family Medicine clinic and interacting with many patients living with a pattern of chronic illnesses such as Diabetes Mellitus and Coronary Artery Disease, I realized that many people did not share these same ideas and passion for physical activity and disease and injury prevention. Talking to these patients and their families, I realized that most of their diseases were life threatening and costly, yet what if these patients had taken steps to prevent their illnesses through exercise and diet, would heart disease still be the leading cause of death in the U.S. today? If we could lessen tobacco prevalence,

United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Healthy People 2020 (2018) recognizes cardiovascular disease as one of the most widespread and costly health problems in the United States, accounting approximately $320 billion in health care expenditures and related expenses annually. Healthy People 2020 (HP2020) identifies prevention of cardiovascular disease as one of the priorities and includes an objective “to increase overall cardiovascular health and quality of life for US population." (HHS, Healthy People 2020, 2018)

Individuals from Jersey City aged 65 years and older are more likely to die from heart diseases such as heart attacks, stroke and hypertension in comparison to all New Jersey residents ("Stats," 2013). These are the leading cause of death in the United States that can be prevented by controlling or preventing modifiable risk factors such as high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, poor diet and physical inactivity, overweight and obesity ("Healthy People," n.d.). Heart diseases are among of the many known health problems that are needed to be addressed in the Jersey City community ("Stats," 2013). Healthy people 2020 goal is to prevent, detect and treat the risk factors that are associated with heart attack and stroke ("Healthy People," n.d.). And by early detection, heart diseases can be treated and repeated cardiovascular events can be prevented ("Healthy People," n.d.).

In the article, “Undulation Training for Development of Hierarchical Fitness and Improved Firefighter Job Performance,” a research was conducted when a critical problem emerged from the extraordinary job risks of firefighting. In this article, it was recognized that firefighting was a high risk occupation in which many activities were life threatening. Yearly incidences brought on from these life-threatening activities and conditions included cardiovascular disease from the inhalation of smoke as well as musculoskeletal injuries from the physical demands of the job. The problem was lying in the fact most fire departments were failing to adequately prepare the firefighters in terms of health and physical fitness to take on the

We all know someone who has suffered from heart disease. Whether it was from a heart attack, congestive heart failure, or stroke, some type of cardiovascular disease has taken the life of someone we loved way too soon. This epidemic of heart disease must be stopped through the collaboration of physicians, nurses, law makers, and concerned citizens. The purpose of this paper is to examine cardiovascular disease, the risks associated with heart disease and obesity per Milo’s framework, comparison of obesity and Healthy People 2020 national goals, and finally the long-term and short-term goals and interventions selected for this paper.

Firefighter fitness and health have become common topics in the fire service over the last few years. With programs such as the Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness-Fitness Initiative (WFI) and the Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives produced by Everyone Goes Home, demonstrate the importance of working towards improving the overall physical and mental health of firefighters. These programs are a result of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) establishing guidelines for firefighter protection. There are three standards that have been established to address firefighter health and wellness; NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program; NFPA 1582, Standard on

We can not only talk with, but we can see the person we are talking to thousands of miles away. It is mankind's greatest hour. Yet sadly, it is also our time of dying. Strange that no matter how advanced our society has become, our nation's health hasn't caught up. After all, heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, is our nation's number one killer (Preventive Magazine Health Books p. 153).

It is important that we do everything we can to keep our heart healthy. In America, heart disease is the greatest cause of death. An estimate of 64 million Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease. Creating simple changes in your life can prevent cardiovascular problems and assist in living a

The greatest threat facing the Modern Fire Service is the rate at which firefighters are dying in the line of duty. Excluding the terrible event of 9/11 that occurred in 2001 that forever changed the dynamics of the emergency response services1, firefighter deaths have averaged around 100 fatalities each year for the since 1990. This unacceptable rate of firefighter deaths has found its way to be a benchmark in the industry. The problem is that the benchmark should be zero firefighter deaths while on duty and every year that there is a fatality is a year that the fire service has failed its members. The number one cause of firefighter related deaths yearly is proven to be medical, stress, or overexertion related fatalities2. All of these causes of firefighter deaths can be avoided with implementation of training and awareness.