Firefighters run into dangerous situations that most people would run from. They are brave and courageous in the face of adverse conditions.
But their job is highly dangerous. Still, the most common injuries these workers suffer may not be what you think.
Muscle and tendon injuries
The most common injuries firefighters suffer are muscle pain, sprains and strains. They usually end up with an injury due to jumping and falling. They also may overexert themselves when doing their job, which can lead to these conditions. Overexertion may happen due to them being focused on the job they need to do and not paying attention to their body telling them they are doing too much or going past their limits.
Other factors
Age is also a factor in these common injuries. Firefighters are most likely to have an injury when they are older, between ages 40 and 44.
Injuries happen during active calls more often than at any other time, which makes sense since that is when they are most active. The good news is that on-the-job injuries for firefighters are going down. And these muscle-related injuries are something they can train to avoid through ergonomics and education.
People might assume that firefighters most often suffer burn injuries or issues due to smoke inhalation due to the nature of their job. But it appears it is simply more dangerous to work in unstable structures and during situations where adrenaline is pumping, and they may not realize their physical limits. Still, the good news is that increased training and work on physical fitness can help to prevent these injuries.