Actually, Gracie, medical research indicates that being jarred out of a sound sleep in order to respond to a fire alarm is one of the principal causes of Cardiac Heart Disease (CHD.) This has been accepted fact
for decades, and the
majority of our states, Florida among them, have codified a
presumption of Line of Duty injury for firefighters who develop CHD.
Florida has added coverage for police as well in recent years.
FLORIDA STATUTE 112.18 (2002)
112.18 Firefighters and law enforcement or correctional officers; special provisions relative to disability —
(1) Any condition or impairment of health of any Florida state, municipal, county, port authority, special tax district, or fire control district firefighter or any law enforcement officer or correctional officer as defined in s. 943.10(1), (2), or (3) caused by tuberculosis,
heart disease, or hypertension resulting in total or partial disability or death shall be
presumed to have been accidental and to have been suffered in the
line of duty unless the contrary be shown by competent evidence.
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One medical study said: Coronary heart disease (CHD) has consistently been the leading cause of "on-duty deaths" or fatalities resulting from injury or illness occurring during fire department duties. CHD accounted for about
45% of these deaths from 1977–2002. This compares with 22% of on-duty deaths due to CHD among police and detectives, 15% among occupational fatalities overall, and 11% among other emergency medical service (EMS) workers.
The study reports: Numerous occupational factors could precipitate CHD events in firefighters. First, firefighting includes long sedentary stretches followed by irregular heavy exertion. Firefighters
react immediately to alarms with
significant increases in pulse rate. During fire suppression, they work at
near maximal heart rates while wearing about 50 pounds of protective equipment, sometimes for prolonged periods. Heat stress and fluid losses can result in decreases in cardiac output despite
sustained tachycardia. Second, self-contained breathing apparatus use has reduced, but not eliminated chemical exposures including carbon monoxide, particulates and other toxicants. Third, firefighters experience intermittent noise exposure, which may increase blood pressure. Fourth, firefighters often perform shift work, which may increase the risk of CHD.
Firefighters and on-duty deaths from coronary heart disease: a case control study