Do firefighters live shorter lives?

Firefighters have shorter life expectancies than the average population and are three times more likely to die on the job, partly due to inherent risks, physical and mental stresses, and exposures to toxic and carcinogenic compounds released in smoke (source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, University of Cincinnati).
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What is the life expectancy of a firefighter?

3. The life expectancy of a fire fighter aged 20–24 year at entry was 54.9 years, 2.7 and 2.8 years more in comparison to the German or Hamburg reference respectively. For a fire fighter aged 30–34 the advantage in life expectancy was 2.2 years compared to Hamburg and 2.4 years compared to Germany.
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What age do most firefighters die?

The firefighters who died in 2020 ranged in age from 18 to 72, with a median age of 48 years.
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What do most firefighters die from?

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) - Seventy-Five percent of firefighters added to the IAFF Fallen Firefighter Memorial died from cancer associated with the job from 2015 to 2020. According to the CDC, cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters.
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Do firefighters die alot?

The average annual number of on-duty firefighter deaths from 2014 to 2018 was 65. However, in 2019, there were 48 on-duty firefighter deaths in the United States, a sharp drop and the first year that the annual total was under 50 deaths.
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Firefighter catches fire while battling a structure fire in Sherman Oaks, California. (Not injured).



Is being a firefighter worth it?

Firefighting is an incredibly rewarding job that's truly worth it if you're willing to put in the time and effort. Though you will have to give up some much-valued time with your friends and family and put yourself at risk in dangerous situations, being a firefighter has plenty of benefits.
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Is being a firefighter stressful?

Firefighters are often thought of as heroes, bravely rushing into a dangerous situation to help others without a thought for their own safety. But experts say they often pay a mental and emotional price. Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, substance abuse and suicide are common problems among firefighters.
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What is the hardest part of being a firefighter?

Every firefighter holds a few secrets that they typically keep to themselves.
  • The weight of responsibility that we bear is crushing. ...
  • We are not born with the knowledge necessary to be good firefighters. ...
  • Fear of failure is the greatest unspoken fear that every firefighter carries with them.
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Are firefighters immune to fire?

Now, in a new decision, California courts have confirmed that fire departments are immune from liability where a firefighter causes death or injury through the negligent operation of a motor vehicle at the scene of a fire while attempting to rescue persons and to extinguish the fire.
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Why do firefighters retire so early?

The fire service requires a high level of physical exertion and takes a serious toll on a worker's physical abilities. As a result, many employers require fire fighters to retire as early as age 50, leaving workers burdened with securing expensive health insurance.
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Why do firefighters have heart attacks?

Research indicates that the stress of firefighting (heavy muscular work, heat stress, sympathetic nervous system activation, and exposure to smoke) triggers a cardiac event in individuals with underlying disease.
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What is it like to date a firefighter?

Dating a firefighter is mostly the same as dating anyone else. However, the work schedule, high stress, and potential for injuries and exposures can add some different types of challenges to a relationship. So, to be happy dating a firefighter means understanding those constraints and accepting them.
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What disease do firefighters get?

Firefighters commonly come into contact with dangerous, cancer-causing materials when they fight a fire. Firefighters are at increased risk of getting cancers of the colon, brain, bladder, kidney, and Hodgkin's lymphoma.
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What are the disadvantages of being a firefighter?

Here are five cons that may accompany a firefighter's job:
  • Constant training. Firefighters undergo extensive and constant training throughout their careers. ...
  • Long shifts. ...
  • Dangerous job. ...
  • Mentally demanding. ...
  • Physically demanding.
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Do firefighters have high divorce rate?

Based on their analysis, firefighters had a lower rate of current divorce/ separation than most other occupations (14.08% for firefighters vs. 16.35% for average across occupations).
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Are firefighters intelligent?

Although firefighters do need to possess a certain degree of intelligence, there are certainly many other professions that require more "brain power" than being a firefighter. I consider firefighters to be of average intelligence, but very well-rounded.
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Do firefighters get PTSD?

Research shows that 20% of firefighters and other first responders pass the diagnostic threshold for PTSD at some point in their career, in comparison with 6.8% in the general population. A higher number of first responders experience symptoms that do not meet full diagnostic criteria for PTSD.
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Are firefighters poor?

Depending on who you ask, emergency responders are either overpaid or underpaid. The median pay for firefighters in 2014 was $48,750, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while the median paramedic pay was just $31,700 in 2014.
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Do firefighters sleep at work?

Firefighters work for up to 24 hours at a time, but their downtime is spent at the fire station. This time affords them the chance to sleep, although they could be awoken at any time. To stay alert for the rest of their shift, firefighters will often power nap, which is known as safety napping among firefighters.
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Are firefighters tough?

Being a firefighter is not easy and neither is the process of becoming a firefighter. Competition is fierce and the hiring process can be very grueling and challenging, something many people do not endure or succeed at. More than 70% give up the pursuit of becoming a firefighter and move on to other career choices.
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How many firefighters lost their lives at 9 11?

The 343 FDNY firefighters killed in the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center's Twin Towers hailed from 75 firehouses across the city. FDNY's Chief of Department, Pete Ganci, was among the members killed, as was Chaplain Mychal Judge.
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What is the most common injury for firefighters?

Sprains, strains and muscular pain are the most prevalent of all injury types incurred by firefighters (Evarts & Stein, 2019; Evarts & Molis, 2018). Firefighters are most often injured by way of overexertion and falls, jumps and slips (Evarts & Stein, 2019; Evarts & Molis, 2018).
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Is it hard being married to a firefighter?

Being married to a firefighter is not always easy. First, the high risk nature of the job can be difficult for some spouses. There are many more dangerous jobs than firefighting, but waiting to hear from them after a fire can be a cause for worry. The hardest thing for the spouse of a firefighter is the absences.
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What kind of woman do firefighters like?

The kind of woman that a Firefighter likes

He looks for a woman who can: entertain herself because his shifts will be long, erratic, and can change at a moments notice. Not afraid of the dark, bugs or has a backup plan when He is on shift.
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