Patterns of Firefigher Fireground Injuries Report

According to the NFPA report; Patterns of Firefigher Fireground Injuries, for the 2003-2006 period, there was an estimated annual average of 40,270 firefighter fireground injuries in the U.S. Of these, an average of 29,710 were minor, and 10,560 were moderate or severe.

The leading types of minor injuries were: strain or sprain accounting for an annual average of 7,035 injuries or (24%); pain only, accounting for 3,345 injuries (12%); thermal burns only, accounting for 3,415 injuries (11%); cut or laceration, accounting for 2,695 injuries (9%). The leading types of moderate and severe injuries were: strains or sprain accounting for an annual average of 3,635 injuries a year, or 34%; thermal burn, accounting for 940 injuries (9%); pain only, accounting for 920 injuries (9%). Activities related to extinguishing a fire accounted for most of the minor injuries (15,400 or 52%), and for most of the moderate and severe injuries (5,470 or 51%).

The leading causes of minor injuries were exposure to something (6,670, or 23%), while for moderate and severe injuries the leading cause of injuries were fell, slipped, or tripped (3,095 or 29%).