The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) launched the Firefighter Safety Through Advanced Research (FSTAR) initiative to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical fire service applications. FSTAR aimed to enhance firefighter safety and health by translating complex research findings into accessible resources for fire departments.
Key Objectives of FSTAR:
Research Translation: FSTAR converted over 25 scientific studies into concise fact sheets, focusing on topics like fire dynamics, cardiac health, wellness programs, and fire prevention.
Health and Safety Focus: The initiative emphasized firefighter health risks, including cardiovascular events, respiratory illnesses, cancer, musculoskeletal injuries, and behavioral health issues. It developed resources like a medical practitioner's guide to conducting NFPA 1582 physicals and fact sheets on fitness and wellness programs.
Educational Outreach: FSTAR organized town hall events in collaboration with the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to disseminate research findings on fire dynamics and tactical decision-making.
By providing these resources, FSTAR aimed to inform and equip fire service personnel with the knowledge to make evidence-based decisions, ultimately improving safety outcomes on the fireground.
acute cardio effects
Sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of death in firefighters. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cardiovascular and hemostatic consequences of fire suppression and determine if active cooling during the firefighter rehabilitation period could reverse any identified adverse effects. Researchers evaluated ninety-four firefighters at a live-fire drill. Forty-four firefighters were assessed only on the acute effects of fire suppression, while the remaining firefighters were randomized to take part in either post-fire forearm immersion in 50°F water or standard rehabilitation (resting in the shade and consuming a cool beverage).
aerobic capacity
Due to the vigorous physical demands that firefighters endure on the job, assessing their aerobic work capacity can help to insure their health, safety, and performance. While maximal graded exercise tests require sophisticated equipment, medical supervision, and great effort on the part of the subject, validated submaximal tests can be used to estimate maximal capacity with reasonable accuracy, at a lower cost, and with a reduced demand on the subject.
attic fire mitigation tactics
Attic fires can be challenging for the fire service to mitigate, and the U.S. Fire Administration estimates 10,000 residential building attic fires are reported to U.S. fire departments each year and cause an estimated 30 civilian deaths, 125 civilian injuries and $477 million in property loss. Using actual building mock-ups, Underwriters Laboratories conducted 46 experiments over a 2-year period to examine attic fires and fires that start on the exterior. There were four types of experiments utilized as testing included medium scale wall experiments, eave experiments, full scale attic experiments and field experiments.
Cardiovascular and Chemical Exposure
The two most pressing health concerns in the fire service are cardiovascular events and carcinogenic risks. This study examined acute physiological responses and markers of toxic exposure of firefighters for 12 hours following realistic fire scenarios using common household furnishings. The impact of different tactics (traditional interior attack vs. transitional attack) and different firefighting location/assignment (interior attack, outside operations, overhaul) as well as measures such as skin cleaning and gross on scene decontamination to affect these risks were investigated.