Tucson Fire Foundation

Assess and respond to unmet needs of the greater Tucson firefighter community by facilitating access to health and wellness resources, while recognizing Firefighting/EMS heritage and culture.

Nationally, each year approximately 45% of firefighter deaths are caused by sudden cardiac events, or heart attacks. In addition, approximately 800-1,000 firefighters suffer nonfatal heart attacks while on duty each year. This makes cardiovascular disease the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the Fire Service. Understanding cardio-vascular disease progression and taking proactive steps to lessen risk factors for cardiovascular disease are essential steps in our effort to reduce the number of firefighter fatalities due to cardiovascular events. Our efforts support medical evaluations for firefighters that include an assessment of cardiovascular risk factors and identify and diagnose heart conditions that could pose an immediate threat to a firefighter's life. To date these efforts have recorded 7 saves where serious heart conditions were discovered through the additional diagnosis afforded through our Foundation. Our firefighter health and wellness programs are also designed to assist in improving overall fitness, which have a positive effect on several of the cardiovascular risk factors and have also reduced the number of injuries experienced.

In addition, it is a proven fact that firefighters get certain types of cancer at a higher rate than the general population. In some cases, significantly higher. A number of studies have been conducted over the years confirming this and correspondingly, strategies have been developed to increase awareness and identify preventative measures and treatment. These are the strategies that we are attempting to support in our efforts to address this problem. Unfortunately, far too many firefighters have already contracted one form of cancer or another. Our initial efforts will be on increasing awareness and early detection.

Lastly, the mental health and wellness of our firefighters has become a growing concern since the realization that nationally, more firefighters are committing suicide than are actually dying in the line-of-duty. According to the Fire Fighter Behavioral Health Alliance, 132 firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMT) committed suicide in 2016. That is down slightly from 2015, when 135 FF/EMT took their own life. In comparison, 89 firefighters died in the line-of-duty in 2016 and 86 firefighters lost their lives in 2015. In the past three years, Phoenix-area fire departments have experienced 12 suicides. Fortunately, this type of tragedy has not impacted departments here in southern Arizona due, in part, to GTFF's efforts to address this problem before it strikes.

OUR SOLUTION

Since the GTFF began operations, we have been working to address the issues described above. We have conducted peer fitness training classes and created a cadre of certified fitness trainers to assist area fire departments with the development of fitness programs for their firefighters. We have provided funding to conduct cardiac screening for firefighters 40 years of age or older. We have established a network of mental health providers to provide counseling within 24 hours for those firefighters who are battling depression or have actually considered suicide. Most recently we have supported research efforts to identify the types of cancer that are affecting firefighters here in Southern Arizona and have identified a program that will help us monitor firefighters for various types of skin cancer.

OUR NEED

The funding we are requesting will enable us to continue to address the cardiac, cancer, and mental health issues we have described. We need additional funding to be able to continue to provide cardiac screenings, which have already resulted in 7 "saves" by diagnosing heart-related problems in these firefighters that could have resulted in a sudden cardiac death. We need funding to continue to provide counseling services for firefighters suffering from post-traumatic stress and continue our efforts to make them aware that help is available and confidentiality is assured. We also need funding to initiate a skin cancer screening program that will identify and monitor skin cancer that is a growing concern for our firefighters especially here in southern Arizona.

Testimonials

First, I want to say that the resources I was able to access through the Greater Tucson Fire Foundation have saved my marriage. I say that with no doubt in my mind. Keeping my family together, making sure my three children have a stable family life, is the most important thing I can do for them. Knowing that all is well at home also allows me to leave home for 24 hours and stay focused on my job. For that I am grateful.
Many people don't really understand what we see and do. And that is probably a good thing. But…it can also keep us from seeking help and talking to people...