When I joined the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office 19 years ago, heart attacks were not among the concerns I had for my safety.

That was a mistake.

Medical and law enforcement experts say police officers are 25 times more likely to die from a heart attack than be killed by a suspect, and the average age of a heart attack is 46 years old.

I was 47 years old when I had a heart attack. I was in good shape. I exercised and jogged. However, shift work meant long and irregular working hours. I wasn’t getting enough sleep. I ate too much fast food at work. I suffered from PTSD and drank too much during off-duty hours.

result? My left anterior descending artery is 100% blocked and my left marginal artery is 80% blocked. After going into heart failure, my doctor and nurse were able to revive me with her three-minute CPR, making me one of the few people to survive a so-called “widow maker” heart attack.

If I had been lucky enough to have my heart tested in the years leading up to my heart attack, I would have learned about the blockage and could have taken proactive steps to become healthier.

That’s why I’m urging the state Legislature to pass House Bill 1219 this year. This bill would establish a Public Safety Cardiac Testing Trust to fund cardiovascular testing and other preventive health tests for peace officers as available. The program, sponsored by House Speaker Julie McCluskey (D-Dillon) and state Rep. Mike Lynch (R-Wellington), is similar to one created a decade ago for firefighters, and aims to improve heart and circulation. Trusts are used to pay for medical malfunctions. This current bill extends firefighter benefits to part-time and volunteer firefighters.

Sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of on-the-job deaths among firefighters in the United States nearly every year. A police officer’s risk of sudden cardiac death is 30 to 70 times higher when he is in a stressful situation, such as detaining a suspect, chasing him, or brawling, than when he is engaged in routine activities. . However, heart screenings are typically not covered by health insurance companies before and after a cardiac event. When I needed additional tests after my heart attack, my insurance didn’t cover it (but I was lucky that the VA covered it).

Studies show that police officers have some of the worst cardiovascular health outcomes of any profession. The average age of an American who dies of a heart attack is 65 years, but the average lifespan of a police officer is 49 years. Additionally, the average life expectancy of a police officer in the United States is 22 years less than that of a non-police officer.

The reasons for these grim statistics are multifaceted and include high psychological stress resulting from traumatic events, unpredictable work and sleep schedules, high incident volumes, poor eating habits while on the job, and prolonged sitting. This includes everything such as: Many experts also point to the unique nature of police stress patterns. It occurs when a long period of routine (sometimes monotonous) work is suddenly interrupted by an event that requires intense physical and psychological reactions that significantly increase adrenaline and can overload the cardiovascular system. It’s about to be interrupted.

I have personally seen how well heart tests work. When I returned to work after my heart attack, the sheriff’s office began offering heart tests. Five officers were found to have at least 60% blockage and took steps to control the condition before it was too late.

Urge your legislators to support HB-1219. It will save lives.

Jason Pressley is the Arapahoe County Sheriff.

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