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OBJECTIVES: Firefighter health has received a great deal of increased attention over the past decade, but most work has been specific to men in the fire service due to small numbers of women, likely due to challenges with recruitment and retention of women in the fire service. While findings suggest men in the fire service struggle with high rates of overweight and obesity due to a number of occupational challenges, limited data are available on large samples of women firefighters. METHODS: Using snowball sampling techniques, we conducted an online survey of both career (N=2,398) and volunteer (N=781) women firefighters. RESULTS: Rates of obesity for both career (15.4%) and volunteer (31.6%) women firefighters were not only lower than men in the fire service (33.5% career and 43.2% volunteer), but also lower than the general population (41.1%). Women career and volunteer firefighters who engaged in heavy physical activity were less likely to be obese. Being a racial or ethnic minority firefighter was associated with being obese, as was serving more than 20 years in the fire service. CONCLUSION: Findings highlight that women firefighters have been successful in overcoming the occupational risks, such as a challenging nutrition environment, inconsistent schedules, limited time for fitness, and the metabolic impact of shift work, that put firefighters at increased risk for obesity.
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Etnicidade , Bombeiros , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Grupos Minoritários , Obesidade/epidemiologia , PrevalênciaRESUMO
Objectives Despite increasing attention to the occupational impact of firefighting, little is known specific to the health of women firefighters. In particular, quantitative data is lacking on the impact firefighting has on maternal and child health for women who become pregnant while working as firefighters. Methods A total of 1821 women firefighters responded to requests to complete a self-report survey of questions about pregnancy. Women answered questions about their departments' policies and practices and their own experiences of pregnancy. Those participants who reported a pregnancy while serving as a firefighter were asked detailed questions about their pregnancy and outcomes. Results Female firefighters reported that nearly a quarter of their first pregnancies while in the fire service ended in miscarriage and that increased to a third of pregnancies by the fourth. Rates of pre-term delivery also were high among this population. Conclusions Findings have important implications for policy and practice among women who become pregnant while actively serving in the fire service.
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Saúde da Criança , Bombeiros , Saúde Materna , Exposição Ocupacional , Saúde Ocupacional , Aborto Espontâneo/epidemiologia , Adulto , Criança , Feminino , Comportamentos Relacionados com a Saúde , Nível de Saúde , Inquéritos Epidemiológicos , Humanos , Exposição Ocupacional/efeitos adversos , Gravidez , Resultado da Gravidez/epidemiologia , Inquéritos e Questionários , Estados Unidos/epidemiologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Achieving a tobacco-free military requires rethinking current perceptions of service members' tobacco use and unmasking the forces perpetuating those perceptions. Prohibiting tobacco use would be entirely consistent with other military requirements regarding health.
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Militares , Abandono do Hábito de Fumar/legislação & jurisprudência , Prevenção do Hábito de Fumar , Direitos Civis , Comércio , Política de Saúde , Humanos , Manobras Políticas , Medicina Militar , Fumar/legislação & jurisprudência , Indústria do Tabaco , Abandono do Uso de Tabaco , Estados UnidosRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Prevalence rates of smokeless tobacco (SLT) use and late initiation among firefighters (ie, starting use as an adult after joining the fire service) are remarkably high, 10.5% and 26.0%, respectively. The purpose of this study is to examine characteristics associated with late SLT initiation in a sample comprised of male career firefighters from two large cohort studies. METHODS: We examined correlates of late SLT initiation in a secondary analysis of data combining the baseline evaluations of two published firefighter health studies with 1474 male career firefighters in the United States. RESULTS: Fourteen percent of participants were current SLT users. Among this group, the unadjusted rate of firefighters who initiated SLT use after joining the fire service was 15.9%, while the age-standardized rate was 38.2%; this is substantially higher than the national adjusted late initiation rate among adult males (0.8%). In addition, firefighters demonstrated higher rates of late SLT initiation (15.9% unadjusted; 18.4% age-standardized) when compared to males in the military overall (13.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The exceptionally high prevalence of SLT use overall and late initiation in the fire service suggest that joining the fire service in the United States is a risk factor for SLT use. There is a need to develop interventions aimed at reducing SLT use in the fire service that are specifically tailored for this occupational group. IMPLICATIONS: The high prevalence of late SLT initiation (ie, starting use as an adult after joining the fire service) among firefighters should be addressed by both researchers and fire service organizations given the significant health risks associated with SLT and its impact on occupational readiness. There is a need for developing intervention programs aimed at reducing SLT use in the fire service. Interventions would need to be specifically tailored for this occupational group and their unique culture, given that joining the fire service appears to be a risk factor for SLT initiation among firefighters who did not use tobacco prior to joining the fire service.
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Bombeiros/estatística & dados numéricos , Uso de Tabaco/epidemiologia , Tabaco sem Fumaça , Adulto , Cognição , Estudos de Coortes , Humanos , Masculino , Saúde Ocupacional , Prevalência , Estados Unidos/epidemiologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Tobacco use among members of the US military service is unacceptably high, resulting in substantial healthcare and personnel costs. Support of military command is critical to the success of tobacco control policies because line commanders are responsible for implementation and enforcement. This study is the first to examine US military line commanders' perspectives about current tobacco control policies and the impact of tobacco on readiness. METHODS: We conducted key-informant interviews with 20 officers at the US Army's Command and General Staff College about military tobacco use and tobacco control policy. RESULTS: Participants identified the long-term impact of tobacco use on military members, but were unaware of proximal effects on health and readiness other than lost productivity due to smoke breaks. Officers also discussed nicotine addiction and the logistics of ensuring that an addicted population had access to tobacco. Regarding policy, most knew about regulations governing smoke-free areas and were open to stronger restrictions, but were unaware of current policies governing prevention, intervention and product sales. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that strong policy that takes advantage of the hierarchical and disciplined nature of the military, supported by senior line and civilian leadership up to and including the secretaries of the services and the Secretary of Defense, will be critical to substantially diminishing tobacco use by military personnel.
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Política de Saúde , Militares , Política Antifumo , Fumar/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Entrevistas como Assunto , Masculino , Prevenção do Hábito de Fumar , Estados UnidosRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Higher tobacco taxes reduce tobacco use. On military installations, cigarettes and other tobacco products are sold tax-free, keeping prices artificially low. Pricing regulations in the military specify that tobacco should be within 5% of the local most competitive price, but prices still average almost 13% lower than those at local Walmarts. METHODS: To gain insight into policy leaders' ideas and positions on military tobacco pricing, we interviewed members of the Department of Defense (DoD) Addictive Substances Misuse Advisory Committee and the Advisory Committee on Tobacco about tobacco pricing policies (n = 12). RESULTS: Participants frequently lacked specific knowledge of details of military pricing policy, and the impact higher prices might have on military tobacco use. Most participants thought tobacco should not be sold at military stores, but many also felt that this policy change was unlikely due to tobacco industry pressure, and DoD reliance on tobacco profits to support Morale, Welfare, and Recreation funds. CONCLUSIONS: Achieving a tobacco-free military will require changing pricing policy, but this study suggests that for effective implementation, military leadership must also understand and articulate more clearly the rationale for doing so. IMPLICATIONS: Previous work has found that adherence to military tobacco pricing policy is inconsistent at best. This study suggests that lack of knowledge about the policy and conflicting pressures resulting from the funding stream tobacco sales represent extend to high level military policy leaders. Without clearer information and direction, these leaders are unlikely to be able to establish and implement better tobacco pricing policy.
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Comércio/economia , Política de Saúde , Militares , Prevenção do Hábito de Fumar , Impostos/economia , Produtos do Tabaco/economia , Humanos , Entrevistas como Assunto , Abandono do Hábito de Fumar/métodos , Estados Unidos , United States Department of DefenseRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Tobacco pricing impacts use, yet military retailers sell discounted cigarettes. No systematic research has examined how military retail stores use internal community comparisons to set prices. We analysed data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request on community price comparisons used by military retail to set cigarette prices. METHODS: Data on cigarette prices were obtained directly from military retailers (exchanges) from January 2013 to March 2014. Complete pricing data were obtained from exchanges on 114 military installations. RESULTS: The average price for a pack of Marlboro cigarettes in military exchanges was US$5.51, which was similar to the average lowest community price (US$5.45; mean difference=-0.06; p=0.104) and almost a US$1.00 lower than the average highest price (US$6.44). Military retail prices were 2.1%, 6.2% and 13.7% higher than the lowest, average and highest community comparisons, respectively, and 18.2% of exchange prices violated pricing instructions. There was a negative correlation (r=-0.21, p=0.02) between the number of community stores surveyed and exchange cigarette prices. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference between prices for cigarettes on military installations and the lowest average community comparison, and in some locations, the prices violated Department of Defense (DoD) policy. US Marine Corps exchanges had the lowest prices, which is of concern given that the Marines also have the highest rates of tobacco use in the DoD. Given the relationship between tobacco product prices and demand, a common minimum (or floor) shelf price for tobacco products should be set for all exchanges and discount coupon redemptions should be prohibited.
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Comércio , Militares , Fumar , Produtos do Tabaco/economia , Custos e Análise de Custo , Humanos , Marketing , Estados UnidosRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: To date, there have been no large-scale, national epidemiological studies of tobacco use patterns among firefighters, particularly with a focus on smokeless tobacco (SLT) and dual use with cigarettes. While rates of firefighters' smoking are relatively low compared to the general population, SLT use typically is substantially higher than the populations they protect. In the current study, we systemically examine tobacco use, including SLT and dual use, and the health-related profiles of various tobacco use groups in a national sample of career firefighters. METHODS: Data are from a national cohort study of career departments (N = 20) comprised of 947 male firefighters. RESULTS: Among 947 participants, 197 (21%) were tobacco users, of which, 34.5% used cigarettes, 53.2% used SLT, and 12.2% used both cigarettes and SLT. Adjusted rates of smoking, SLT use, and dual use were 13.2%, 10.5%, and 12.2%, respectively. Tobacco users of all types were significantly younger and had served fewer years in fire service and were significantly more likely to engage in heavy and binge drinking, as well as more likely to show signs of depressive symptoms compared to nontobacco users. CONCLUSIONS: Detailed information on tobacco use pattern will aid in better understanding what factors are contributing to the high rates of SLT and dual use among firefighters in order to guide and develop an appropriate treatment program for the fire service.
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Bombeiros/estatística & dados numéricos , Produtos do Tabaco , Tabagismo/epidemiologia , Tabaco sem Fumaça , Adulto , Estudos de Coortes , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Saúde Ocupacional , Texas , Tabagismo/prevenção & controleRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The military has had a long pro-tobacco tradition. Despite official policy discouraging smoking, tobacco still is widely seen as part of military culture. While active smoking has presented a particular challenge for the military, in recent years there also has been increasing concern with secondhand smoke. This is especially true in closed environments and submarines may be deployed for months at a time. The current case study describes the successful implementation by the Navy of a comprehensive ban on smoking aboard submarines. METHODS: The authors searched documents on the internet, popular media, military-based news outlets and the scientific literature. We also conducted interviews with Navy officers who were instrumental in policy implementation. FINDINGS: Data demonstrating substantial exposure of non-smokers to tobacco smoke aboard submarines had major impact on successful adoption of the policy. A systematic and extended roll out of the ban included establishing a working group, soliciting input and active engagement from submarine personnel, and offering cessation assistance. Support was enlisted from Chief Petty Officers who could have been strongly opposed but who became strong proponents. Fewer problems were encountered than had been expected. In contrast to a previous unsuccessful attempt by a Navy captain to ban smoking on his ship, the ban was adopted without apparent tobacco industry interference. CONCLUSIONS: Lessons learned included the importance of strong empirical support, effective framing of the issue, setting a realistic timeline, soliciting support from key personnel and providing appropriate resources. These lessons have implications for those considering further tobacco policy changes in the military and elsewhere.
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Militares , Exposição Ocupacional , Navios , Política Antifumo , Abandono do Hábito de Fumar , Prevenção do Hábito de Fumar , Poluição por Fumaça de Tabaco/prevenção & controle , Poluição do Ar em Ambientes Fechados , Humanos , Exposição Ocupacional/legislação & jurisprudência , Fumar/legislação & jurisprudência , Medicina Submarina , Indústria do Tabaco , Poluição por Fumaça de Tabaco/legislação & jurisprudência , Estados UnidosRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: We conducted a longitudinal assessment of tobacco pricing in military retail outlets, including trends within each service branch. METHODS: We determined the price of a single pack of Marlboro Red cigarettes at military retail stores located in the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii and at their nearest Walmarts in spring 2011 and 2013 (n = 128 for pairs available at both assessments). RESULTS: The average difference between cigarettes sold in military retail outlets and Walmarts decreased from 24.5% in 2011 to 12.5% in 2013. The decrease was partially attributable to significant price decreases at Walmarts. The largest increases in cigarette prices occurred on naval installations. Potential savings at stores on several installations remained substantial in 2013; the largest approached $6 per pack. Stores on 17 military installations decreased cigarette prices during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco can be purchased in military retail stores at substantial savings over civilian stores. If tobacco pricing is to cease to be an incentive for use among personnel, a revised military tobacco pricing policy is needed.
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Instalações Militares/economia , Produtos do Tabaco/economia , Custos e Análise de Custo/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Estudos Longitudinais , Instalações Militares/estatística & dados numéricos , Produtos do Tabaco/estatística & dados numéricos , Estados Unidos/epidemiologiaRESUMO
The present multi-centre randomised weight-loss trial evaluated the efficacy of a low-intensity 12-week online behavioural modification programme, with or without a fortified diet beverage using a 2 × 2 factorial design. A total of 572 participants were randomised to: (1) an online basic lifestyle information (OBLI) intervention, consisting of one online informational class about tips for weight management; (2) an online behavioural weight management (OBWM) intervention, entailing 12 weekly online classes focused on weight-loss behaviour modification; (3) an OBLI intervention plus a fortified diet cola beverage (BEV) containing green tea extract (total catechin 167 mg), soluble fibre dextrin (10 g) and caffeine (100 mg) (OBLI+BEV); (4) OBWM+BEV. Assessments included height, weight, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-derived body composition, and waist circumference (WC). Attrition was 15·7 %. Intention-to-treat (ITT) models demonstrated a main effect for type of Internet programme, with those assigned to the OBWM condition losing significantly more weight (F= 7·174; P= 0·008) and fat mass (F= 4·491; P= 0·035) than those assigned to the OBLI condition. However, there was no significant main effect for the OBWM condition on body fat percentage (F= 2·906; P= 0·089) or WC (F= 3·351; P= 0·068), and no significant main effect for beverage use or significant interactions between factors in ITT models. A 12-week, low-intensity behaviourally based online programme produced a greater weight loss than a basic information website. The addition of a fortified diet beverage had no additional impact.
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Bebidas/análise , Redução de Peso/efeitos dos fármacos , Programas de Redução de Peso/organização & administração , Adulto , Cafeína/química , Dextrinas/química , Feminino , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Razão de Chances , Extratos Vegetais , Chá/química , Reino Unido , Estados Unidos , Programas de Redução de Peso/métodosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Firefighters are occupationally exposed to hazardous chemical mixtures. Silicone passive sampling devices capture unique exposures over time with minimal impact to the participant and allow for the analysis of a broad chemical space. OBJECTIVE: Silicone dog tags were worn by firefighters while on- and off-duty to measure individual exposures, identify potential occupational exposures, and assess their relation to occupational variables including fire response frequency, rank, and years as a firefighter. METHODS: Fifty-six firefighters were recruited from two fire departments with relatively high and low call volumes in the Kansas City metropolitan area to wear two different silicone dog tags as passive samplers while on- and off-duty. Each dog tag was worn for a cumulative 30-day exposure period. Extracts of the dog tags were analyzed with gas chromatography, mass spectrometry methods for 43 flame retardants (FRs), 21 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 42 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and 63 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). RESULTS: Ninety-two total chemicals were detected, with eight chemicals not previously reported in firefighter exposure studies. Based on the magnitude and frequency of increased exposure in on-duty dog tags, relative to paired off-duty dog tags, five PBDEs and sec-butylbenzene were identified as potential occupational exposures; sec-butylbenzene and PBDE 49 have not previously been reported in firefighter exposure studies to the authors' knowledge. Multivariate analyses for these six compounds indicated that firefighter rank, fire response rates, and years in the fire service were poor indicators of increased occupational exposure. The greatest on-duty exposures to PBDEs were found in the low-call volume department among operational firefighters. Dog tags from firefighters at the high-call volume department accounted for 75% of PCB detections; one particular fire response may have contributed to this. Additionally, there was measurable similarity in total chemical exposure profiles between paired on- and off-duty tags for some firefighters. IMPACT: This study used personal silicone passive samplers in the configuration of dog tags worn around the neck to quantify firefighter occupational exposure in on-duty samples relative to paired off-duty samples for several chemical categories: flame retardants, VOCs, and PCBs. Five PBDEs and sec-butylbenzene were identified as potential occupational exposures, however their prevalence in on-duty tags was not associated with frequency of fire responses, firefighter rank, or years the firefighter has been in the fire service. Additionally, similarity between chemical exposures in on- and off-duty tags from the same firefighter invites further investigation into individual behaviors influencing occupational and para-occupational exposures.
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BACKGROUND: Firefighters suffer from high prevalence of obesity, substandard fitness, and cardiovascular-related deaths. There have been a limited number of firefighter health promotion programs that have been developed and empirically-tested for this important occupational group. We evaluated the health of firefighters from departments with well-developed health promotion programs and compared them with those from departments not having such programs using a large national sample of career fire departments that varied in size and mission. We measured a broad array of important individual firefighter health outcomes (e.g., body composition, physical activity, and general and behavioral health) consistent with national fire service goals and addressed significant statistical limitations unaccounted for in previous studies. METHODS: Using the approach of purposive sampling of heterogeneous instances, we selected and conducted a national evaluation of 10 departments already implementing wellness and fitness programs (Wellness Approach; WA) with 10 departments that did not (Standard). Participants were 1,002 male firefighters (WA n = 522; Standard n = 480) who underwent assessments including body composition, fitness, and general/behavioral health (e.g., injury, depressive symptoms). RESULTS: Firefighters in WA departments were healthier than their Standard department counterparts. For example, they were less likely to be obese (adjusted [A]OR = 0.58; 95% CI = 0.41-0.82), more likely to meet endurance capacity standards for firefighting (AOR = 5.19; 95% CI = 2.49-10.83) and have higher estimated VO2max (40.7 ± 0.6 vs. 37.5 ± 1.3 for firefighters in Standard departments; p = 0.001). In addition, WA firefighter were substantially less likely to smoke (AOR = 0.30; 95% CI = 0.17-0.54) or ever have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (AOR = 0.27; 95% CI = 0.14-0.52) and they expressed higher job satisfaction across several domains. However, WA firefighters were somewhat more likely to have reported an injury to Workers' Compensation (AOR = 1.74; 95% CI = 1.05-2.90). It was notable that both groups evidenced high prevalence of smokeless tobacco use and binge drinking. CONCLUSIONS: Firefighters in departments selected based on having strong wellness programs (WA) were healthier along a number of dimensions important to firefighter wellness and operational readiness. However, several health areas require greater attention including problematic alcohol consumption and smokeless tobacco use, suggesting that more emphasis on these behavioral health issues is needed in the fire service.
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Bombeiros , Promoção da Saúde/organização & administração , Estilo de Vida , Obesidade/prevenção & controle , Doenças Profissionais/prevenção & controle , Saúde Ocupacional , Adulto , Consumo de Bebidas Alcoólicas/prevenção & controle , Transtornos de Ansiedade/prevenção & controle , Estudos Transversais , Exercício Físico , Comportamentos Relacionados com a Saúde , Humanos , Estudos Longitudinais , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Serviços de Saúde do Trabalhador/organização & administração , Aptidão Física/fisiologia , Desenvolvimento de Programas , Avaliação de Programas e Projetos de Saúde , Prevenção do Hábito de Fumar , Estados Unidos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Firefighters currently have substantially lower smoking rates than similar occupational groups and the general U.S. population. In contrast, firefighters have very high rates of smokeless tobacco (SLT). The reasons for this paradox have not been explored; thus, the current study examined firefighters' perspectives on tobacco use. METHODS: Key informant interviews and focus groups were conducted in a national, cross-sectional purposively sampled group of 332 career firefighters. RESULTS: Firefighters suggested several reasons for the decline in smoking in the fire service including changes in the fire service culture, concerns about the impact of smoking on their ability to perform their job, regulations aimed at reducing smoking in departments, and the costs of smoking. In contrast, they felt that the greater use of SLT was primarily due to increasing restrictions on smoking. CONCLUSIONS: The primary reasons cited for decreased smoking rates by firefighters in our study were policy implementation at the state and local levels that prohibit tobacco use as a condition of employment and related presumption laws. However, reasons beyond policy mandates such as witnessing the end results of tobacco use, fitness, greater education about the negative health effects of smoking, and awareness about increased risk of exposure to toxic products of combustions also were noted. The primary reason cited for increased SLT use was the greater restrictions on smoking.
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Bombeiros/psicologia , Política Organizacional , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Tabaco sem Fumaça , Adulto , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Grupos Focais , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Promoção da Saúde/métodos , Promoção da Saúde/organização & administração , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fumar/psicologia , Prevenção do Hábito de Fumar , Abandono do Uso de Tabaco/psicologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Cigarette prices at military exchanges historically have been discounted. DoD Instruction 1330.9 has mandated that prices be within 5% of the price offered in the local community since 2001. Because minorities are highly represented in the military, we determined whether menthol cigarette prices, the leading choice of African Americans, were compliant with the instruction. METHODS: We collected, via telephone, menthol cigarette price data from 48 randomly selected US military installation exchanges and matched local area Walmarts. We collected prices after taxes to determine the cost to consumer. Newport was selected as the index brand for menthol cigarettes because it is the leading and second leading brand smoked by African Americans and by Hispanics, respectively and has the second overall highest market share in the US. RESULTS: Smokers purchasing menthols at exchanges would realize average savings of 22.78%. There were no significant differences in savings based on military service (F = 1.850, p = 0.152) or US Census Division (F = 1.226, p = 0.311: data not shown). In addition, not a single exchange price was compliant with the DoD instruction. CONCLUSIONS: Newport menthol cigarettes at military exchanges cost substantially less than the nearest Walmart, with an average savings of 23%. Our findings demonstrate that menthol cigarettes are substantially discounted on military installations, in a manner similar to other cigarette prices, and that DoD Instruction 1330.09 is not enforced.
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Comércio , Mentol , Militares , Fumar/economia , Produtos do Tabaco/economia , Humanos , Fumar/epidemiologia , Estados Unidos/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Increasing obesity rates among USA military members vary by age, pay grade, and measurement methods and threaten force fitness and readiness. Limited research has directly measured obesity among officers; those enrolled in graduate school at the Command and General Staff College (CGSC) face additional demands and increased obesity risk. This study compared obesity measurements and performance on the Army Physical Fitness test and self-rated health for a sample of mostly CGSC officers. Participants (n = 136, 75.7% male, 79.6% officers) completed body composition measures; BMI, body fat percentage (BF%), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) estimated obesity rates and were compared for discordance. Army Physical Fitness Test pass/fail rates and self-reported perceived health were compared with each obesity classification. Obesity prevalence was 18.5-39.7%, differing by sex and measure. BMI, WC, and WHtR underestimated obesity compared to BF% at least 21% of the time. WHtR had the lowest discordance with BF%. Soldiers categorized as obese were significantly more likely to fail the fitness test and report lower self-rated health than non-obese soldiers. Overall, obesity rates among our primarily officer sample were higher than previous studies, particularly for women. Interventions to address obesity are necessary among military officers to optimize human performance.
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Background: Problem drinking is a perennial concern in the US fire service. A large literature has documented the importance of addressing alcohol norms in intervention research. The purpose of this study was to explore alcohol norms in a national cohort of firefighters (FFs) to inform intervention development in this occupational group. Methods: Data were from a national online survey of career and volunteer FFs (N = 674). Participants were recruited through national fire service listservs and a database of FFs who had agreed to be contacted for research. Results: When asked about "acceptable" levels of alcohol consumption, FFs on average suggested levels which exceeded public health guidelines. Further, approximately half of career and volunteer FFs believed that, at least under some circumstances, drinking until intoxicated was normative. When asked how long should elapse between a FFs last drink and reporting for duty, the average suggested lag was 11.2 hours (sd = 4.6). However, among male volunteer FFs who reported heavy drinking, the average was 6.68 hours (sd = 4.77). Conclusions: Given the high prevalence of heavy and binge drinking in the fire service, it is not surprising that the alcohol norms found in this study were consistent with a culture of drinking. Participants' reports of alcohol use among their peers were consistent with the actual prevalence of problem drinking. Thus, education and prevention efforts in this occupation should focus on changing norms about alcohol use, including linking heavy drinking to other health and safety issues they face.
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United States Army soldiers must meet physical fitness test standards. Criticisms of the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) include limited testing of only aerobic and muscular endurance activity domains; yet, it is unclear what levels of aerobic and muscle strengthening activity may help predict performance in aspects of the new Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT). This study explored relationships between baseline self-reported aerobic and muscle strengthening activities and APFT- and ACFT-related performance. Baseline participant data (N = 123) were from a cluster-randomized clinical trial that recruited active-duty military personnel (mean age 33.7 ± 5.7 years, 72.4% White, 87.0% college-educated, 81.5% Officers). An online survey was used for self-report of socio-demographic characteristics and weekly aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity behaviors. Participants also completed the APFT (2 min push-ups, 2 min sit-ups, 2-mile run) and ACFT-related measures (1-repetition maximum deadlift, pull-up repetitions or timed flexed arm hang, horizontal jump, and dummy drag). Bivariate logistic regression found greater aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity predicted better APFT performance, while better ACFT-related performance was predicted by greater muscle-strengthening activity. Although our data are mostly from mid-career officers, command policies should emphasize the new Holistic Health and Fitness initiative that encourages regular aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity for soldiers.
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Studies suggest that exposure to potential endocrine disrupting chemicals (pEDCs) may contribute to adverse health outcomes, but pEDC exposures among firefighters have not been fully characterized. Previously, we demonstrated the military-style silicone dog tag as a personal passive sampling device for assessing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposures among structural firefighters. This follow-up analysis examined the pEDC exposures based on department call volume, duty shift, and questionnaire variables. Structural firefighters (n = 56) were from one high and one low fire call volume department (Kansas City, MO metropolitan area) and wore separate dog tags while on- and off-duty (ndogtags = 110). The targeted 1530 analyte semi-quantitative screening method was conducted using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (npEDCs = 433). A total of 47 pEDCs were detected, and several less-frequently-detected pEDCs (<75%) were more commonly detected in off- compared to on-duty dog tags (conditional logistic regression). Of the 11 phthalates and fragrances detected most frequently (>75%), off-duty pEDC concentrations were strongly correlated (r = 0.31-0.82, p < 0.05), suggesting co-applications of phthalates and fragrances in consumer products. Questionnaire variables of "regular use of conventional cleaning products" and "fireplace in the home" were associated with select elevated pEDC concentrations by duty shift (paired t-test). This suggested researchers should include detailed questions about consumer product use and home environment when examining personal pEDC exposures.
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Disruptores Endócrinos , Bombeiros , Militares , Exposição Ocupacional , Hidrocarbonetos Policíclicos Aromáticos , Animais , Cães , Disruptores Endócrinos/toxicidade , Ambiente Domiciliar , Humanos , Exposição Ocupacional/análise , Hidrocarbonetos Policíclicos Aromáticos/análise , Hidrocarbonetos Policíclicos Aromáticos/toxicidade , SiliconesRESUMO
BACKGROUND: This study provides a comprehensive, population-based examination of tobacco use among both career and volunteer firefighters. METHODS: Data are from a population-based cohort study of randomly selected career (N = 11) and volunteer (N = 13) departments comprised of 677 male firefighters. RESULTS: Unadjusted rates of smoking were 13.6% and 17.4% for career and volunteer firefighters, respectively. Smoking rates were less than a comparable occupational group (military personnel) and adult males in the states represented. Smokers were more likely to have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (OR = 5.8; P = 0.010), have an elevated CAGE alcohol problem score (OR = 2.9; P = 0.040), and more likely to report driving after drinking too much (OR = 4.5; P = 0.020) compared to never-smokers. Large percentages of career (18.4%) and volunteer (16.8%) firefighters used smokeless tobacco. CONCLUSIONS Smoking among firefighters is associated with other significant health and safety risks. High rates of smokeless tobacco use suggest that the fire service is an important target for intervention. Thus, despite strong statements against smoking by the fire service, the need to maintain high levels of health and fitness and relatively low smoking rates, a significant proportion of firefighters continue to use tobacco products.