Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report: Fire Fighter Suffers a Heart Attack and Dies Several Hours After Assisting at a Structure Fire in Illinois.

摘要

On July 29, 2006, a 43-year-old male paid/call Fire Fighter (FF) responded to a residential fire at 1917 hours. The fire occurred on a very hot (81 degrees Fahrenheit (degrees F)) and humid (77% relative humidity) evening. On-scene, the FF assisted in stretching the booster hose from the engine and setting up a positive pressure ventilation fan. During fire suppression operations, the FF and two other crew members had symptoms consistent with heat strain. About 2 hours later, units returned to their fire station, and the FF returned home for the evening. Crew members called the FF at about 2130 hours to check on him, and he stated that he was feeling better. About an hour later, a crew member called the FF again, but this time the FF did not answer the telephone. The crew member asked his spouse to drive over to the FFs house and check to make sure he was alright. After ringing the doorbell and not getting any response, she entered the house and found the FF collapsed on the floor. She called 911 and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). An ambulance arrived at his home 14 minutes later. Paramedics attached a cardiac monitor which revealed asystole (no heart beat). The coroner was notified and pronounced the FF dead via telephone. The death certificate (completed by the coroner) and autopsy (completed by the forensic pathologist) listed 'fatal cardiac arrhythmia' due to 'thrombosis of a severely narrowed artery' due to 'clogged artery' as the cause of death. NIOSH investigators concluded that the heat and physical stress of fire suppression probably triggered this FFs fatal heart attack. Recommendations are presented to addressed general safety and health issues. However, it is unclear if any of the recommendations would have prevented the sudden cardiac death.