Study shows cancer remains the leading cause of fatality for firefighters
In a recent study of workers’ compensation claims, malignant neoplasms and tumors (cancers, carcinomas, sarcomas) were the leading cause of death for firefighters at 84.6%, representing a fatality rate of 993.7 per 100,000 for the years 2007 to 2021. This finding shows firefighters are on average almost twice as likely to develop cancer than the 43% rate reported by the general population. Further, the rate showed an upward trend over the time period, from 53 in 2007, peaking at 126 in 2020, before declining to 94 in 2021.
Provinces with the most fatality claims caused by cancer, with a collective total of 1,062 fatalities, include:
- Ontario: 654 claims, almost four times as many as the following province; Peaked in 2017 with 89 claims
- Alberta: 165 claims; Peaked in 2020 with 31 claims
- British Columbia: 135 claims; Peaked in 2007 with 39 claims
- Quebec: 108 claims; Quebec shows a consistent pattern, with number of claims remaining stable.
The second leading cause of fatality was traumatic injury at 6.5% of claims, and a rate of 76.0 fatalities per 100,000, followed by cardiovascular disease at 4.2% of fatality claims, and respiratory diseases with 2.6% of claims. Data showed that traumatic injury fatality is more likely for firefighters in age-group 65 and over, with 826 deaths and 54.7% of all deaths.
Moreover, there was a 231% increase in time-loss claims, from 3.59% in 2007 to 11.89% in 2021, with traumatic injury representing the leading cause with 80.6% of claims, followed by mental health claims, at 5.9% of all time-loss claims. Those in age-group 45-49 were the most likely to experience mental health related claims, representing an association between age and susceptibility to mental health-related claims among firefighters. In addition, there was a substantial and constant increase in mental health-related claims from 18 cases in 2007 to 382 cases in 2021, with a noticeable uptick starting in 2011.
Provinces with the most time-loss claims for mental health with a collective total of 1,443 claims, include:
- Ontario: 631 claims, almost twice as many as the following province; Peaked in 2021 with 188 claims
- Alberta: 390 claims; Peaked in 2021 with 106 claims
- British Columbia: 273 claims; Peaked in 2021 with 56 claims
- Quebec: 149 claims; Peaked in 2021 with 32 claims
To Learn More: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/88243
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- distress when a child was in pain and when a family was grieving; and
- sadness in the event they were not able to save a child in their care.
- concern for the injured child and the child’s family;
Particularly traumatic events, such as those involving vivid sights and sounds (e.g., families holding each other and having extreme reactions), stuck with the practitioners, having long-lasting impressions on them and causing them to re-live these events in the years following their exposure.
Even after their shift was over, practitioners said that they changed how they approached parenting and how they perceived safety during play as a result of witnessing these traumatic events. They reported having more knowledge of the causes and consequences of severe injuries, such as those that require hospitalization or emergency care. For example, practitioners were more likely to enforce boundaries around where their children could play, such as by forbidding their child to play near busy streets. They also were more likely to tell their child about safe play environments and equipment, and put this equipment on their child before play, such as explaining the benefits of using helmets while riding bikes.
Practitioners were more likely to enforce boundaries around where their children could play, and use safety equipment, such as bike helmets.
Practitioners also described being concerned about their children’s play near open windows, around large bodies of water unsupervised, and in environments where firearms were present. They also expressed worry about their children’s play on trampolines and on motorized vehicles, such as ATVs. Findings related to trampoline play safety concerns were published in the journal Injury Prevention.
Observing family grief due to child injury or death affected the mental well-being of health care practitioners, drawing attention to the need for mental health supports for those involved in caring for severely injured and dying patients.
"Raise more resilient children through play...watch and see how your child handles challenging tasks without intervening right away." —Dr. Michelle Bauer
Building resilience through play
How can parents help their children build resilience? By letting them play!
The experiences that practitioners witnessed encouraged them to support their children in building resilience through play; specifically, by supporting children in learning to cope with failure, overcome fear, build self-confidence, develop distress tolerance, and regulate negative emotions. Findings related to building resilience through play were published in the journal Child: Care, Health, and Development.
Parents fostered resilience in their kids by:
- helping their kids get back on bikes after they fell off and wanted to try again;
- sitting on their hands so they did not instinctively reach for their children when their children fell down; and
- encouraging participation in challenging and thrilling activities in forests and water while safety equipment was used.
"There are a few ways that parents can raise more resilient children through play that are supported by literature and our study findings," said Dr. Bauer. "One: watch and see how your child handles challenging tasks without intervening right away."
"Two: Ask your child how they want you to help—let them tell you what makes them feel safe and happy during play. Let them lead. And three: make play both safe and exciting by encouraging risk-taking, teaching them how to avoid hazards, and using safety equipment.”
This research was supported through Drs. Bauer’s and Gilley’s receipt of a clinical and translational research seed grant from the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR), Dr. Bauer’s BCCHR postdoctoral fellowship award, and additional training provided to Dr. Bauer through her participation in the Programs and Institutions Looking to Launch Academic Researchers (PILLAR) program through ENRICH, a national organization training perinatal and child health researchers.
Learn more about the study through two infographic posters:
Graphics and posters by Milica Radosavljevic
