The Health of Firefighters Deployed to the Fort McMurray Fire: Lessons Learnt

Frontiers in Public Health, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: Nov. 11, 2021

Introduction: Firefighters were working in exceptionally difficult conditions during the Fort McMurray/Horse River fire May 2016. Methods: From mid-May, we recruited firefighters from 13 services as they returned fire. In October 2016 extended recruitment to all Alberta-based deployed December 2017-May 2018 sent a first online follow-up: this concentrated on mental health supports. The second follow-up, 2018-January 2019, included screening scales for respiratory ill-health and PTSD. All three contacts visual analogue chest symptoms Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale. We estimated exposure PM2.5, calculated an mitigation index reports of protective equipment (RPE). Results: 1,234 examined relation particulate exposure. was strong immediately post but weakened over time. found less tightness cough those whose RPE week mitigated by at least 10%. between questionnaires with high (reflecting ferocity fire) had poorer scores. reporting their "worst moment fire" life threatening more anxious follow-up. Overall both anxiety depression scores increased successive contacts, so recorded physician billing records before Discussion: results study overall suggest on-going fire-related effects substantial minority firefighters, similar reported longitudinal follow-up after collapse World Trade Centre. Self-reports strongly related, soon fire, exposures. time since who felt or safety been threatened, underlining need ongoing support. Our conclusions about benefits rapid research relate particularly collection biomarkers quickly widely possible, establishment nominal list participants are too dispersed.

Language: Английский

Associations Between Public Service Motivation, Depression and Anxiety Among Firefighters: A Chain Mediation Model of Employee Resilience and Job Satisfaction

Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 21(3), P. 417 - 440

Published: Oct. 10, 2023

Abstract The Chinese firefighting system has been transferred from military soldiers to professional civil servants since the 2018 institutional reform, and they have become a critical component of newly established Department Emergency Management. Studies on firefighters in China are limited, this study can contribute our understanding mental health influencing mechanisms emergency management workforces like firefighters, particularly context reform shortage disaster workforce worldwide. This investigates associations between public service motivation (PSM), employee resilience, job satisfaction, depression anxiety (DA) firefighters. A questionnaire survey 776 two provinces, one north other south, was conducted. Chain-mediated regression models were used analyze associations. results demonstrate that with more PSM significantly lower (beta = −0.215, p < 0.001), higher degrees resilience 0.946), satisfaction 0.633). Employee mediated relationship DA. Three indirect pathways detected. First, is associated Second, correlated Third, coefficients PSM, statistically significant. paper provides valuable contribution knowledge human resource well-being workforce.

Language: Английский