OVERWEIGHT firefighters are putting themselves and the public at risk, a new study has warned.
According to research by Dr Christopher Ide, the former medical adviser of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, more than one-quarter of firefighters become overweight or obese after joining up – gaining up to 61lb. He warned that fat firefighters are more likely to suffer ill effects from intense heat, can struggle to squeeze through small spaces and cannot carry victims down ladders.
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