Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report: Fire Fighter Suffers Sudden Cardiac Death During Rural Water Supply Planning in Illinois

摘要

On October 13, 2008, a 24-year-old male volunteer fire fighter (FF) drove a fire department tanker during rural water supply training. After dumping one load of water and refilling the tanker, the FF and a fire fighter cadet returned to the water drop site. En route to the site, a truck pulled out ahead of the tanker. The FF forcibly applied the brakes, causing the tanker to skid and roll into a ditch. The cadet got himself out of the tanker and summoned help to extricate the FF trapped in the tanker. After approximately 5 minutes, the FF was almost extricated when he lost consciousness. The FF had no visible evidence of major trauma. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was begun, an automated external defibrillator (AED) was applied and advised not to shock, and an oral airway was placed. The medical helicopter arrived, and the FF was airlifted to a local hospital. En route to the hospital, a combitube airway was inserted, a cardiac monitor showed asystole, and an intravenous line was placed. The FFs condition did not improve during the flight, and the helicopter arrived at the hospitals emergency department where CPR and advanced life support treatment continued. Approximately 67 minutes after his collapse, despite CPR and advanced life support, the FF died. The death certificate and the autopsy completed by the coroner listed severe coronary artery atherosclerosis as the cause of death. Given the FFs underlying coronary artery disease (CAD), the physical stress of crashing the tanker probably triggered a heart attack or a cardiac arrhythmia resulting in his sudden cardiac death.