By FireRescue1 Staff
WESTOVER, Pa. — A firefighter who died after returning a hose to a fire truck suffered a heart attack, investigators found.
Volunteer Lt. Roy Everett Westover, 41, of the Westover, Pa., Fire Company complained of a headache, tightness in his chest and shortness of breath just before he became semiconscious, a NIOSH report released Wednesday said.
The ambulance crew on scene found him to be sweating heavily and carried him to the ambulance for transport to a local hospital, where he died.
An autopsy of his body revealed severe coronary artery disease and the report said he had five health factors that put him at risk: male gender, family history of the disease, smoking, hypertension and obesity/lack of exercise.
As a result of the findings, NIOSH recommends fire departments:
• Provide preplacement and annual medical evaluations to all firefighters
• Perform a preplacement and an annual physical performance (physical ability) evaluation
• Ensure that firefighters are cleared for return to duty by a physician knowledgeable about the physical demands of firefighting, the personal protective equipment used by firefighters, and the various components of NFPA 1582
• Phase in a comprehensive wellness and fitness program for firefighters
• Provide firefighters with medical clearance to wear SCBA as part of the Fire Department’s medical evaluation program
• Conduct annual respirator fit testing