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A Profile of Injuries Sustained by Firefighters: A Critical Review

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  • Robin Orr

    (Bond Institute of Health and Sport, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4229, Australia
    Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4229, Australia)

  • Vinicius Simas

    (Bond Institute of Health and Sport, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4229, Australia
    Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4229, Australia)

  • Elisa Canetti

    (Bond Institute of Health and Sport, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4229, Australia
    Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4229, Australia)

  • Ben Schram

    (Bond Institute of Health and Sport, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4229, Australia
    Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4229, Australia)

Abstract

Firefighters, along with other tactical personnel, are at a high risk of work-related physical injury above that of the private sector. The aim of this critical narrative review was to identify, critically appraise and synthesise key findings from recent literature investigating firefighting musculoskeletal injuries to inform injury reduction programs. The methodological approach (search terms, databases, etc.) was registered with PROSPERO and reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Study quality was assessed using the Downs and Black checklist with scores graded according to the Kennelly grading system. Levels of evidence were ranked according to the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. Of the 8231 studies identified, 17 met the criteria for inclusion. The methodological quality of the studies was ‘fair’ with a level of evidence of III-2. Reported injury rates ranged from 9% to 74% with the lower extremities and back the leading aggregated bodily sites of injury. Sprains and strains were the leading nature of musculoskeletal injury, often caused by slips, trips and falls, although muscle bending, lifting and squatting or muscle stressing were also prevalent. This review may inform injury reduction strategies and given that injuries reported in firefighters are similar to those of other tactical populations, safety processes to mitigate injuries may be of benefit across the tactical spectrum.

Suggested Citation

  • Robin Orr & Vinicius Simas & Elisa Canetti & Ben Schram, 2019. "A Profile of Injuries Sustained by Firefighters: A Critical Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-20, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:20:p:3931-:d:276993
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kate Lyons & Cameron Radburn & Robin Orr & Rodney Pope, 2017. "A Profile of Injuries Sustained by Law Enforcement Officers: A Critical Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-21, February.
    2. David Moher & Alessandro Liberati & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Douglas G Altman & The PRISMA Group, 2009. "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-6, July.
    3. Brianna Larsen & Brad Aisbett & Aaron Silk, 2016. "The Injury Profile of an Australian Specialist Policing Unit," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-9, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Graham Marvin & Ben Schram & Robin Orr & Elisa F. D. Canetti, 2023. "Occupation-Induced Fatigue and Impacts on Emergency First Responders: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(22), pages 1-45, November.
    2. Muhamad Nurul Hisyam Yunus & Mohd Hafiidz Jaafar & Ahmad Sufril Azlan Mohamed & Nur Zaidi Azraai & Norhaniza Amil & Remy Md Zein, 2022. "Biomechanics Analysis of the Firefighters’ Thorax Movement on Personal Protective Equipment during Lifting Task Using Inertial Measurement Unit Motion Capture," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-16, October.
    3. Juri Taborri & Simone Pasinetti & Ludovica Cardinali & Fabrizio Perroni & Stefano Rossi, 2021. "Preventing and Monitoring Work-Related Diseases in Firefighters: A Literature Review on Sensor-Based Systems and Future Perspectives in Robotic Devices," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-22, September.
    4. Olivia Pickard & Peta Burton & Hayato Yamada & Ben Schram & Elisa F. D. Canetti & Robin Orr, 2022. "Musculoskeletal Disorders Associated with Occupational Driving: A Systematic Review Spanning 2006–2021," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-27, June.
    5. Robin Orr & Danny Maupin & Robert Palmer & Elisa F. D. Canetti & Vini Simas & Ben Schram, 2022. "The Impact of Footwear on Occupational Task Performance and Musculoskeletal Injury Risk: A Scoping Review to Inform Tactical Footwear," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-39, August.
    6. David J. Cornell & Stacy L. Gnacinski & Kyle T. Ebersole, 2021. "Functional Movement Quality of Firefighter Recruits: Longitudinal Changes from the Academy to Active-Duty Status," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-10, April.

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