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Study: Responder deaths linked to sleep problems

A study found about 37 percent of firefighters have at least one sleep disorder, and says it may be a contributing factor in responder injuries and deaths

New York Times

NEW YORK — More than 60 percent of deaths of firefighters are caused by heart attacks and traffic accidents. Sleep disorders may be an important contributing factor, a new study suggests.

Researchers screened a nationally representative sample of 7,000 firefighters in 66 fire departments for obstructive sleep disorder, insomnia, restless leg syndrome and shift work disorder. They interviewed the subjects and documented traffic accidents using police reports and detailed descriptions from subjects.

The study, published in The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, found that about 37 percent of the firefighters screened positive for at least one sleep disorder, most for obstructive sleep apnea.

Read full story: Firefighter Accidents Are Linked to Sleep Problems