The epidemiology and prevention of burn injuries to firefighters

From 1981 to 1991, 746 firefighters were treated for burn injuries at New York Hospital-Cornell Burn Center. The predominant anatomic areas of deep injury were the hands and lower extremities. An educational program was initiated that urges proper use of the protective gear as designed. A reduction in the number of burns to the hands subsequently was noted, but lower extremity burns persisted. Analysis of the lower extremity burns revealed that firefighters functioning as nozzle operators were particularly prone to injury because of inadequate lower extremity protection. Improved protection of the lower extremities with the introduction of bunker pants could reduce the incidence of the injuries and result in substantial cost savings for the City of New York.