Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Issue 4 2022
Norms about Alcohol Use among US Firefighters (Original article)
Dublin Core
Title
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Issue 4 2022
Norms about Alcohol Use among US Firefighters (Original article)
Norms about Alcohol Use among US Firefighters (Original article)
Subject
alcohol, firefighter, norms, occupation
Description
Background: Problem drinking is a perennial concern in the US fire service. A large literature has documented the importance of addressing alcohol norms in intervention research. The purpose of this study was to explore alcohol norms in a national cohort of firefighters (FFs) to inform intervention development in this occupational group.
Methods: Data were from a national online survey of career and volunteer FFs (N 1⁄4 674). Participants were recruited through national fire service listservs and a database of FFs who had agreed to be con-
tacted for research.
Results: When asked about “acceptable” levels of alcohol consumption, FFs on average suggested levels which exceeded public health guidelines. Further, approximately half of career and volunteer FFs
believed that, at least under some circumstances, drinking until intoxicated was normative. When asked how long should elapse between a FFs last drink and reporting for duty, the average suggested lag was 11.2 hours (sd 1⁄4 4.6). However, among male volunteer FFs who reported heavy drinking, the average was 6.68 hours (sd 1⁄4 4.77).
Conclusions: Given the high prevalence of heavy and binge drinking in the fire service, it is not surprising that the alcohol norms found in this study were consistent with a culture of drinking. Participants’ reports of alcohol use among their peers were consistent with the actual prevalence of problem drinking Thus, education and prevention efforts in this occupation should focus on changing norms about alcohol use, including linking heavy drinking to other health and safety issues they face.
Methods: Data were from a national online survey of career and volunteer FFs (N 1⁄4 674). Participants were recruited through national fire service listservs and a database of FFs who had agreed to be con-
tacted for research.
Results: When asked about “acceptable” levels of alcohol consumption, FFs on average suggested levels which exceeded public health guidelines. Further, approximately half of career and volunteer FFs
believed that, at least under some circumstances, drinking until intoxicated was normative. When asked how long should elapse between a FFs last drink and reporting for duty, the average suggested lag was 11.2 hours (sd 1⁄4 4.6). However, among male volunteer FFs who reported heavy drinking, the average was 6.68 hours (sd 1⁄4 4.77).
Conclusions: Given the high prevalence of heavy and binge drinking in the fire service, it is not surprising that the alcohol norms found in this study were consistent with a culture of drinking. Participants’ reports of alcohol use among their peers were consistent with the actual prevalence of problem drinking Thus, education and prevention efforts in this occupation should focus on changing norms about alcohol use, including linking heavy drinking to other health and safety issues they face.
Creator
Christopher K. Haddock, Nattinee Jitnarin, Raul Caetano, Sara A. Jahnke, Brittany S. Hollerbach, Christopher M. Kaipust , Walker S.C. Poston
Publisher
Elsevier Korea LLC
Date
December 2022
Contributor
Sri Wahyuni
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Text
Coverage
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Issue 4 2022
Files
Citation
Christopher K. Haddock, Nattinee Jitnarin, Raul Caetano, Sara A. Jahnke, Brittany S. Hollerbach, Christopher M. Kaipust , Walker S.C. Poston, “Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Issue 4 2022
Norms about Alcohol Use among US Firefighters (Original article),” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 27, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2309.
Norms about Alcohol Use among US Firefighters (Original article),” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 27, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2309.