Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report: Fire Apparatus Driver Operator Experiences Chest Pain While Exercising at Fire Station and Dies Three Days Later Due to a Pulmonary Embolous in Maryland

摘要

On January 9, 2008, a 36 year old Fire Apparatus Driver Operator (D/O) reported for duty at 0700 hours. Later that afternoon the D/O began walking on an exercise treadmill - a sanctioned activity that the Fire Department (FD) encourages while on-duty. While exercising, the D/O experienced chest discomfort. After being evaluated by a paramedic in the station, the D/O was transported and admitted to a local hospital. A number of medical tests were conducted focusing on a cardiac etiology including a cardiac catheterization which revealed no significant coronary artery disease. The D/O was discharged two days later (January 11) and instructed to report to the Fire Department's health care provider for a 'return to work' evaluation. On January 12, the D/O collapsed at his residence. An advanced life support (ALS) unit responded to the scene and found the D/O in severe respiratory distress. Upon arrival in the hospital's emergency department, the D/O went into cardiac arrest. Despite advanced life support (ALS) provided by personnel in the emergency department, the D/O died. The autopsy listed 'occlusive bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism' (pulmonary embolism (PE)) as the cause of death. Given the cause of death, it is unlikely the Fire Department (FD) could have prevented the death of this D/O. Therefore, the following recommendations address