Public Safety Medical began forming the Institute in 2014 and was granted not-for-profit status in October of 2015. It is our desire to share the knowledge and experience gained from our extensive database of health and medical findings. This data has been collected over decades of exclusive service to public safety professionals and from our service to thousands of public safety professionals every year. We perform research, and partner with other researchers and institutions, to help develop and recommend best practices to public safety agencies.
Fire, EMS, and law enforcement represent some of the most dangerous professions in the United States. This danger not only comes from the physical nature of their on-duty activities, but from the exposures they experience during those activities.
Consider these statistics:
- The average age of a first heart attack in the general U.S. population is 66 years old.
(Source: American Heart Association)
- The average age of a first heart attack for a firefighter is 49.
(Source: United States Fire Administration)
- Firefighters are two times more likely to develop testicular cancer than civilians.
(Source: University of Cincinnati)
- Law enforcement officers have higher blood pressure and cholesterol when compared to civilians.
- Forty percent of law enforcement officers have a sleep disorder that puts them at higher risk for depression, stroke, obesity, and accidents.
The Mission of the Institute
To develop a premier organization to facilitate the highest quality research, as well as provide education and advocacy to maximize the health and safety of all public safety personnel.
The strategic initiatives include:
Clinical Research:
- Conduct funded research into current public safety health issues
- Collect and analyze data to support policies and practices to improve the health and safety of public safety personnel
Education:
- Indiana Fire Service Wellness-Fitness Symposium
- Indiana Law Enforcement Wellness-Fitness Symposium
- Symposia to expand regionally, then nationally
- Dissemination of information to public safety associations, agencies, and public policy makers
- Public education and awareness
- Policy changes through the government
- Operational changes within public safety agencies
Advocacy:
The following outcomes will be realized through the work of the Institute:
- A comprehensive, state-of-the-art literature warehouse and reference database of best practices
- Periodic communications including research updates and outcomes
- The development of two annual leading edge occupational health conferences dedicated to Fire/EMS and Law Enforcement personnel
- Strategic research and best practice communications will be provided to local, state, and national government agencies
- Public awareness programs and campaigns on the increased health risks experienced by public safety professionals
For more information on our research projects, click here.
If you would like to speak with a Public Safety Medical representative, please click here or call 317.972.1180.
