Health and Wellness of Women Firefighters Study (07/20/2016-01/19/2020)
Funding: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) EMW-2015-FP-00848
Principal Investigator: Dr. Sara Jahnke
Project Coordinator: Hannah Kelley
Goal:
While firefighter health research has experienced exponential growth over the past decade, the published literature has focused almost exclusively on males. The lack of data on how firefighting impacts women has been hypothesized to negatively impact recruitment, retention, and job satisfaction. Particularly lacking are details about female-specific health concerns (e.g. reproductive cancers, reproductive health, safety of breastfeeding). We also address other critical areas of concern including cancer, injury, and behavioral health issues among both career and volunteer female firefighters.
Specific Aims
1. [Epidemiology]: To conduct a 2-year prospective cohort study of career (n = 2,000) and volunteer (n = 2,000) female firefighters focused on key health concerns including: a) maternal and child occupational health risks; b) cancers, with a focus on reproductive cancers; c) behavioral health risks; d) cardiovascular risk factors; e) injury and f) morale and perception of department support.
2. [Laboratory Analysis]: Evaluate brominated fire retardant concentration and toxicity of breast milk collected from lactating firefighters at baseline and at intervals after a structure fire, compared to breast milk from non-firefighters.
3. [Health Practice Recommendations]: Based on results from Specific Aims 1 and 2, synthesize the available scientific data on occupational risk factors for women in the fire service, in conjunction with our stakeholder advisory panel, including key fire service leaders, health researchers, occupational medicine physicians, policy experts, human resource leaders, and national experts in obstetrics and gynecology. Based on this evidence base, the panel will provide policy recommendations and suggestions for prevention to guide the decisions of firefighters, fire service organizations, healthcare providers, and management related to the safety and health of female firefighters and to protecting maternal and child health.
Impact
With this study, we sought to collect data on how firefighting impacts women. We employed a longitudinal cohort study of critical issues as well as a chemical analysis of breastmilk. The information from this research provided an empirical foundation for decisions by both firefighters and management on appropriate measures to protect the health of current and future female firefighters.