Logo image
Injury Correlates Among a National Sample of Women in the US Fire Service
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Injury Correlates Among a National Sample of Women in the US Fire Service

Brittany S. Hollerbach, Christopher M. Kaipust, Walker S. C. Poston, Christopher K. Haddock, Katie M. Heinrich and Sara A. Jahnke
Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, Vol.62(8), pp.634-640
08/2020
PMID: 32472845

Abstract

Life Sciences & Biomedicine Public, Environmental & Occupational Health Science & Technology
Objective: To examine occupational injuries among career women firefighters (FFs). Methods: A national cross-sectional survey assessed injury prevalence, types, frequencies, and predictors. Results: A total of 3012 women career FFs were enrolled in the study. Almost a third (31.7%) reported at least one occupational injury in the past 12 months. The most common injuries were dislocations, sprains, or strains (59.3%). Racial minority status, self-rated health, body composition, exercise habits, substance use, mental health, and job dissatisfaction were all significant injury correlates. Nearly 43% of injuries resulted in missed workdays. Additionally, 25% reported incurring chronic injuries. Conclusions: Women FFs reported a high prevalence of occupational injury and a significant percentage reported chronic injuries. These data can inform initiatives to curtail injuries in the fire service and better protect women FFs.

Metrics

1 Record Views

Details

Logo image