NEW REPORT FROM USFA - HOW WE GET HURT

NEW REPORT FROM USFA-HOW WE GET HURT This newest report looks at firefighter injuries sustained at, responding to or returning from a fire incident, using data reported to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). Each year, tens of thousands of firefighters are injured while fighting fires, rescuing people, responding to emergency medical and hazardous material incidents, or training for their job. While the majority of injuries are minor, a significant number are debilitating and career-ending. Such injuries exact a great toll on the fabric of the fire service. Report findings An estimated 70,450 firefighter injuries occurred annually. Of these injuries, --31,550 occurred on the fireground, and 4,150 occurred while responding to or returning from an incident. -The majority of fire-related firefighter injuries (87 percent) occurred in structure fires. In addition, on average, structure fires had more injuries per fire than nonstructure fires. -Injuries resulted in lost work time for 42 percent of firefighters with reported fire-related injuries. -Fires resulting in firefighter injuries were more prevalent in July at 12 percent and peaked between the hours of 1 and 4 p.m. -Overexertion/Strain was the cause of 27 percent of reported fire-related firefighter injuries. Download the free report from the U.S. Fire Administration's website:
www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/reports.html