The NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program has released the line of duty death report of a career Pump Operator/Paramedic who suffered sudden cardiac death after a physical fitness test in 2014.
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Pump Operator/Paramedic Suffers Sudden Cardiac Death After Physical Fitness Training – Texas
On November 16, 2014, a 40-year-old male career pump operator/paramedic (“Pump Operator”) responded to a standby call and later ran 1 mile and lifted weights in the gym during his 24-hour shift. After performing fitness training, the Pump Operator went into one of the fire station’s restrooms. A crew member entered the restroom about an hour later, and found the Pump Operator collapsed on the floor. A cardiac monitor revealed asystole (no heart beat); dispatch was notified and an ambulance responded. After further assessment, the Pump Operator was declared dead on the scene at 2238 hours.
The death certificate, completed by a justice of the peace, listed “atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease” as the cause of death. The autopsy, completed by the forensic pathologist, listed “severe atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease” with “myocardial bridging left anterior descending coronary artery” as the cause of death.
Given the Pump Operator’s undiagnosed heart disease, NIOSH investigators concluded that the physical stress of physical fitness training probably triggered a heart arrhythmia, which resulted in sudden cardiac death.
Key Recommendations:
- Provide preplacement and annual medical evaluations to all fire fighters consistent with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1582, Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments, to identify fire fighters at increased risk for coronary heart disease (CHD)
- Perform symptom-limiting exercise stress tests (ESTs) on fire fighters at increased risk for CHD
- Ensure that fire fighters are cleared for return to duty by a physician knowledgeable about the physical demands of firefighting, the personal protective equipment used by fire fighters, and the components of NFPA 1582
- Phase in a mandatory comprehensive wellness and fitness program for fire fighters
- Provide fire fighters with medical clearance to wear a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) as part of the fire department’s medical evaluation program
