Surviving The “Widow Maker” Inspires Firefighter To Educate Others

By: Firefighter Roger Marks

The combination of strenuous work, heavy and encapsulating personal protective equipment (PPE), hot and hostile fire conditions, and high adrenaline levels leads to significant cardiovascular strain during firefighting. As the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports, in a typical year, more than 100 firefighters die in the line of duty, and by far the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths is sudden cardiac events.

To help combat these alarming statistics, New York University (NYU) is developing a web-based interactive training module to educate firefighters about the physiological impacts of firefighting.

This Advanced Learning Through Integrated Visual Environments (ALIVE) training module will focus on improving understanding of the individual factors that predispose firefighters to a high risk for injury and cardiac death, how firefighting may serve as a trigger for cardiac events, and strategies and techniques that are effective in reducing cardiovascular strain. This training will help firefighters improve their cardiovascular health and, in the long-term, may reduce nationwide firefighter injuries and deaths due to sudden cardiac events.

Why my interest? I am one of those firefighters who suffered a cardiac event. While on duty September 3, 2015, I developed non-classic symptoms that felt like another medical issue which caused me to seek medical attention. As it turned out, I had a 100% block of my left anterior descending artery, commonly referred to as the widow maker, and was rushed to the hospital and underwent an emergency cardiac catheterization. This form of cardiac event has a 97% fatality rate. I am now one of only 3% who survive this form of heart attack!

A NYU research coordinator heard about my event and as part of the project of interviewing firefighters who suffered a cardiac event, or surviving families and friends, asked if they could come to Montgomery County to film.

Of course I was more than happy to help. Captain Erik Smith, from FDNY and Joel Harsin, a Firefighter with the Indianapolis FD, came along with Dr. Prabodh Panindre, PhD, from NYU last Tuesday to film the facets of the story.

Since my rehab process has been a team approach, I asked that two individuals who have played a role in my recovery be included in the interview. Dr. Jill Captain, of the MCFRS Fire and Rescue Occupational Medical Services (FROMS) section, is leading the way for better screening tools for any firefighter over age 40 who may be at risk. As well, Firefighter/Paramedic Katie Dennison (Fire Station 1-C Shift) is very involved in firefighter wellness, has a Masters in exercise physiology and works part time at Suburban Hospital's cardiac rehab unit where I am doing my rehab.

In addition, MCFRS Fire Chief Scott Goldstein has plans to bring together some of the MCFRS personnel who have also experienced cardiac events for a videotaped round table to highlight the issue within the department.

I am very hopeful that the information shared in both projects will help reduce cardiac deaths in the fire service. More to come.

Firefighter Roger Marks 

Firefighter/Paramedic Katie Dennison being interviewed

Back From the Dead: AEDs Can Save Your Life

February is Heart Month. As part of that, we partnered with NBC4 on a recent story they did about Automatic External Defibrillators (AED's).

Below are two related videos. One is from the piece that appeared on NBC4 while the other shows you how you would use an AED.

You can also go to the NBC4 website to view and read: Back From the Dead: AEDs Can Save Your Life - If You Can Find Them

It's Wear Red Day! Learn Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attacks

It's National Wear Red Day; an effort to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke in women! Did you know that heart disease and stroke kill 1 in 3 women?

While we certainly encourage all of our residents to be proactive and learn how to possibly prevent a heart attack or stroke, we also want you to recognized the signs and symptoms of a heart attack.

A heart attack is a life-and-death emergency and every second counts. If you experience or see someone with any of the listed symptoms, immediately call 9-1-1. Not all these signs occur in every heart attack. Sometimes they go away and return. Heart attack victims can benefit from new medications and treatments unavailable to patients in years past. For example, clot-busting drugs can stop some heart attacks and strokes in progress, reducing disability and saving lives. But to be effective, these drugs must be given relatively quickly after heart attack or stroke symptoms first appear. So again, don't delay-get help right away! Call 9-1-1.

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, but most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

Chest discomfort:

Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body:

Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

Shortness of breath:

May occur with or without chest discomfort.

Other signs:

These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

If you or someone with you has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the other signs, don't delay - call 9-1-1 immediately.

Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attacks

A heart attack is a life-and-death emergency and every second counts. If you experience or see someone with any of the listed symptoms, immediately call 9-1-1. Not all these signs occur in every heart attack. Sometimes they go away and return. Heart attack victims can benefit from new medications and treatments unavailable to patients in years past. For example, clot-busting drugs can stop some heart attacks and strokes in progress, reducing disability and saving lives. But to be effective, these drugs must be given relatively quickly after heart attack or stroke symptoms first appear. So again, don't delay-get help right away! Call 9-1-1.

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, but most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

Chest discomfort:

Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body:

Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

Shortness of breath:

May occur with or without chest discomfort.

Other signs:

These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

If you or someone with you has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the other signs, don't delay -call 9-1-1 immediately.