Duty of a Fire Wife: 3 Health Conditions You Should Ask Your Husband to Check

A firefighter’s wife usually runs the home and cares for the family’s needs when her husband is on duty. Their husbands might be emotionally distant and always prioritize their jobs over spending time on holidays. Sleepless nights are also an issue because he must deal with long shifts and stressful situations daily. 

But what if there’s something else you might be missing? Every firefighter gets subjected to harmful situations, leading to chronic health conditions. Therefore, a fire wife must ask her husband to go for physical screening tests for some common health conditions. 

In this blog, we will discuss three health problems every firefighter’s wife should be aware of.

#1. Any Type of Cancer

Firefighters are three times more likely to die of occupational cancer than from natural causes. The medical industry believes they have a 9% higher chance of developing this debilitating disease.

The main culprit? That would be exposure to toxic compounds, especially per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS). What happens when you inhale or ingest it? In that case, it’ll lead to life-altering diseases (like cancer). 

This forever chemical is probably present in your husband’s firefighting equipment. Let’s take the scary aqueous film-forming foam or AFFF exposure as an example. 

This product was once attributed to being the best for mitigating Class B fuel fires. However, researchers found dangerous mixtures of PFAS in this firefighting foam. Unfortunately, manufacturers knew about the harmful effects but didn’t do anything to warn the brave firefighters. 

That’s why the affected individuals and their families have taken the legal route. They filed a firefighting foam lawsuit. This litigation aims to seek compensation for the health and emotional damages caused. The plaintiffs also wanted to be reimbursed for the hefty medical expenses required to treat kidney cancer, lymphoma, neuroendocrine tumors, etc.

TorHoerman Law states that approximately 7,170 AFFF lawsuits are still pending. That means you can benefit from this litigation if your husband developed cancer after being exposed to AFFF while on the job. 

But before that, remember to motivate your husband to get checkups for cancer. A doctor will recommend yearly or quarterly screening tests because firefighters are at an increased risk for cancer. During this, they’ll perform imaging tests or biopsies to determine the risk factors and evaluate his physical health.

#2. Mental Health Issues

Your husband faces traumatic situations head-on without complaining. Moreover, responding to medical emergencies and fires daily can take a toll on his well-being. Jon Bajek, a firefighter from North Carolina, states that mental health has always been a critical issue in the fire service industry. 

For many years, mental health has been considered taboo among firefighters. However, recent changes have motivated fire service personnel to be more open about their mental well-being. They’ve understood that this isn’t a sign of weakness. Instead, it’s a natural response to stress and trauma.

Even then, your husband might be ignorant about recognizing their mental health. That’s why fire wives must compel their beloveds to seek help from professional counselors or psychiatrists. They’ll use behavioral or pharmaceutical therapy and other mental health treatment options to bring back the lost quality of life. 

Reports suggest that being around your loved one can decrease stress. That means you’ll play a crucial role in helping your husband overcome the emotional trauma by offering support and understanding. Remember to love him and tell him he’s not alone. 

#3. Heart Diseases

Cardiac arrests amount to forty percent of all on-the-job fatalities in the fire industry. Smoke inhalation and exposure to harmful substances increase this risk. Moreover, bad mental health and a lack of sleep can lead to this health condition. 

Multiple years of physical and emotional exertion can also trigger acute cardiovascular problems. These include heat stress, heavy muscular work, etc.

But how do you prevent your husband from developing cardiac diseases? For that, you must implement the following strategies:

• Tell your husband to sign up for wellness and fitness programs.
• They must use proper PPE kits to avoid exposure to carbon monoxide.
• Ensure that they eat a healthy meal every day and get enough sleep.
• Get them to go through regular heart health screening tests.
• Your husband must clean their gear, body, and clothes properly after every job.

You might think that cardiac conditions only affect service personnel over fifty years. While that’s correct, there are instances where young firefighters lost their lives due to this. For instance, Justin Bower had a heart attack at the age of thirty due to stress and overexertion. 

In conclusion, your firefighter husband might act ‘tough’ to avoid getting these tests done. He might consider this a waste of time because he feels perfectly healthy. However, as a fire wife, you need to be persistent. A proper medical examination will help determine hidden health conditions. 

For instance, your husband might have experienced trauma and suppressed it, leading to mental health problems. If left untreated, this can lead to dangerous consequences. Similarly, you should take him for routine physical screenings for heart health indications and cancer diagnosis.