THE HEALTH-STATUS OF AN AMBULANCE SERVICE

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the current health status of male ambulance personnel based in Belfast, taking the opportunity to compare results with those from a comparable local survey of the general population. Risk factors for coronary heart disease were assessed. Ninety-three men were studied. Blood pressure values were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the present study than in a comparable local survey of the general population, with 23 per cent of systolic values being over 140 mmHg and 27 per cent of diastolic readings being over 90 mmHg. The incidence of self-reported smoking was also higher in the ambulance service (36 per cent) compared with the local population (31 per cent). Computation of body mass indices for ambulancemen showed that 52 per cent of personnel fell outside the acceptable range of 20-25 kg/m(2) with 10 per cent being greater than 30 kg/m(2), recognized as the threshold of clinical obesity. With regard to serum cholesterol, 52 per cent of personnel exceeded the desirable threshold of 5.2 mmol/l, while 18 per cent were above 6.4 mmol/l. In addition, the high density lipoprotein fraction was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the ambulancemen compared with the general population (mean +/- SEM: 1.10 +/- 0.3 VS, 1.18 +/- 0.01, respectively). Although 54 per cent of the sample claimed to be physically active, only 35 per cent reportedly took sufficient exercise to be of benefit to their health. Cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly higher in this group. The ambulance service nationally remains the only emergency service without a strategy for health and fitness. The results of the present study justify consideration of such a programme.