Medical impairing injuries among Swedish firefighters

Using insurance data, medically impairing injuries sustained by 111 firefighters were analyzed. The injury incidence per year among full-time working firefighters was 39 per 10 000, and among part-time working firefighters 6 per 10 000. More than half (51%) were injured during fitness training, 14% during job training, and 13% during emergency response, while 4% were injured in traffic crashes and 18% in other injury events. Soccer and floorball caused 82% of all fitness injuries, of which more than half were meniscal or sprain injuries of knees or ankles. None of those injured during emergency response suffered from burn injuries, however during job training 4 sustained burns. Less injurious fitness training and practice activities could greatly reduce impairing injuries among firefighters and consequently reduce economical losses and disability.