Strains & Sprains

Strains & Sprains by activity and body part (2011) - click to enlarge

Strains and Sprains are the most frequently reported injuries in our FIDO system in 2011.  As you can see, the majority of injuries are taking place during Rescue-Non-Fire calls, Fire Suppression, Station Duties and Wellness/Fitness activities.   Rescue-Non-Fire calls are the leading culprit in firefighter strains & sprains.

Of the Rescue-Non-Fire injuries we see back & neck injuries occur most frequently during EMS-type calls.  These are followed by leg injuries.  The good news is that most of the strains & sprains we see are minor and fire fighters are not missing work.

Legs, knees & ankles are the most commonly injured body parts during Fire Suppression, followed by arm, wrist & shoulder injuries and back & neck injuries.  For instance, we are seeing lots of trips over hoses and missteps out of trucks or on uneven ground, all leading to twisted ankles and knees.   

Station Duties, such as checking apparatus, moving apparatus, checking hydrants, or maintaining the station (mowing, cleaning bays, house-keeping, etc.) lead to strains & sprains also.  Like in your own home, there are hazards everywhere and accidents happen!  

Finally, we see many strains & sprains occurring during Wellness/Fitness activities.  Most often these end up being leg, knee & ankle injuries.  

Stay tuned in September as we examine more closely the causes of the strains & sprains that have been reported, and give you tips on how to stay healthy and avoid these types of injuries.  

What types of strains & sprains are common in your department?   

Why do you think these are so common? 

Feel free to share ideas and anecdotes here and we’ll address them in our future posts.