Many fire-related firefighter injuries result in no lost work: report

Emmitsburg, MD – More than half of fire-related firefighter injuries (58 percent) from 2010 to 2012 resulted in no lost work time, a recent report from the U.S. Fire Administration states.

These injuries were treated on the scene with first aid or later by a doctor, according to the report, which analyzed data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System. Only 3 percent of fire-related firefighter injuries were severe or life-threatening.

Almost all injuries resulting in lost work time (93 percent) were considered “moderate.”

Other findings:

• Only 9 percent of injuries suggested failure in protective equipment.
• Firefighters sustained an estimated 70,450 injuries each year during the three years; 31,550 occurred at a fire and 4,150 happened while responding or returning from an incident.
• Overexertion/strain caused 27 percent of fire-related injuries.
• Most injuries (87 percent) occurred in structure fires.
• Most occurred to upper extremities (21 percent).