A new study suggests volunteer firefighters are at higher risk of heart disease than other emergency personnel.
The study, carried out by researchers at Western Australia's Curtin University, assessed almost 3000 volunteer firefighters from Victoria for a variety of risk factors including age, sex, smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose.
Volunteer firefighters' heart disease risk was higher than their paid counterparts, seen here battling a blaze in the Blue Mountains. Photo: AAP
The report says volunteer firefighters are at a greater risk of coronary heart disease than other volunteer and paid emergency services personnel - with their extreme working conditions the likely cause.
Dr Kevin Netto, a senior lecturer at Curtin's School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, said the results revealed volunteer firefighters were subject to unique demands.
The predicted 10-year risk of coronary heart disease for the volunteer firefighters was three times that of their emergency counterparts.
"The general population isn't subjected to bursts of high intensity activity performed in a potentially hazardous environment, with long shifts and shortened sleep patterns," Dr Netto said.
"Volunteer firefighters could be putting themselves at considerable risk."
The study also said volunteer firefighters did not get access to the same health checks as their paid counterparts, and would not receive the same frequency or level of physical training.
"Given the crucial role volunteer firefighters have in Australia - including working at Victoria's Black Saturday fires and the recent destructive blazes in New South Wales - our research clearly supports a case for improved health and fitness guidelines," Dr Netto said.
