Tim McGraw's song "Live Like You Were Dying" is a good stop-and-think song, sort of like the old Harry Chapin "Cat's in the Cradle" some 30 years ago. Maybe, for firefighters, there's another message in McGraw's song: Know when it's time to stop risking your life needlessly.

"He died doing what he loved" is somehow touching when you hear of an old duffer dying on the 16th hole or the fisherman who fades away at his favorite fishing spot. But as much as you love fighting fires, there's a time to hang up one's helmet before you become another statistic or affect someone else's safety.

During Fire-Rescue International in New Orleans, the National Fallen Firefighters' Foundation LODD committee met again to go over the 16 essential steps identified in previous summits and meetings to stop preventable deaths.

Currently, nearly 50% of firefighter deaths each year are from heart- or stress-related illnesses. According to the NFPA 2003 firefighter fatality report, of the 47 heart attack victims in 2003, 11 were known to have had prior heart problems -- usually prior heart attacks or bypass surgery -- and medical documentation showed that another nine had severe arteriosclerosis, two were hypertensive and one was diabetic.

"Over the past 25 years, medical documentation has been available for 670 of the 1,236 heart-attack victims," according to the NFPA report. "Of those 670 victims, 49.1% had had prior heart attacks or bypass surgery and another 31.3% had severe arteriosclerotic heart disease. Another 12.7% had hypertension or diabetes."

One of the toughest jobs my brothers (with the chief's support) had was to convince my dad he should not be responding to fire calls. It wasn't easy, and there were hurt feelings, but eventually Dad realized he couldn't keep up with the younger guys. He didn't want to jeopardize their lives by getting in their way or because they were looking after him. If they had to worry about him, the firefighters couldn't do their jobs effectively.

It's no less difficult to approach an elderly parent or relative and take their car keys away when it's not safe for them to be driving on the road. A driver with diminished response or a high risk of heart attack or stroke endangers other people on the road, too. Perhaps it's time to have a discussion in every department on when it's time to stop responding to fire calls. Find other ways to offer support or experience -- perhaps become another set of eyes for safety -- but don't let your passion for firefighting kill you.

This topic is probably going to stir up some strong emotions. Don't start citing laws, regulations or hardships; I'm suggesting some common sense. If you are diagnosed with a potential or serious health condition, rethink on your own or don't get upset when someone tells you it's time to contribute in another way.

Firefighting is physically demanding and stressful work. Young or old, you need to be in good physical shape and not risk the lives of others even though you feel "as good as new." If you're diagnosed, take it as a warning or a second chance, but don't continue to put yourself on the front line.

Tim McGraw is right on target. "Live Like You Were Dying" is about doing all the things you wanted to do and seizing every moment, but rethink your passion for firefighting and acknowledge when it's time to help in another way.

Janet Wilmoth, Editor