Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report: Career Lieutenant Suffers Sudden Cardiac Death At His Station After Making Multiple Runs During the Day in Tennessee

摘要

On October 24, 2005, the Lieutenant (LT) arrived for duty at his fire station at 0700 hours. Throughout the morning the crew checked the fire apparatus and equipment, then performed station housework (cleaning, sweeping, mopping, etc.). During the day, the crew responded to four incidents: two fire alarms and two EMS calls. During all four responses, the LT performed only light physical activity. Later that evening, while sitting in a chair, the LT collapsed. Despite exhaustive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performed at the scene, in the ambulance, and in the emergency department (ED) of the local hospital, the LT died. The autopsy, completed by the medical examiner, revealed marked enlargement of the heart with left ventricular hypertrophy. The death certificate, also completed by the medical examiner, listed cardiac arrhythmia as the immediate cause of death due to hypertensive cardiovascular disease. The NIOSH investigator concluded the LT's underlying heart disease, possibly triggered by the stress of responding to two emergency calls earlier in the day caused his sudden cardiac death (SCD). His death may have been avoided at this time if the fire department (FD) followed National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1582, Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medicine Program for Fire Departments. NIOSH investigators gave recommendations to minimize the risk of similar occurrences.