Blood Tests Every First Responder Should Insist On
Chief Steve Petrilli
You wouldn’t head into a call without checking your gear.
So why head into another year of this career without checking your body?
As Chief Steve Petrilli emphasizes, routine bloodwork is one of the most powerful ways to prevent serious health issues. For first responders—who face higher rates of heart disease, cancer, stress-related illness, and injury than the general population—this is non-negotiable.
Your age, medical history, and lifestyle all affect which tests matter most, but here are 10 essential blood tests every public safety professional should be getting on a regular basis.
1. Lipid Profile
What it is: Measures cholesterol (HDL, LDL) and triglycerides.
Why it matters: Heart disease is the leading cause of death for law enforcement (Zimmerman, 2020). Knowing your numbers can help you catch and correct risks early—before they cost you your health or your career.
2. Complete Blood Count (CBC)
What it is: Evaluates red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, and platelets.
Why it matters: Detects anemia, infection, clotting problems, and even early signs of certain cancers. Chronic stress can compromise your immune system; this test helps ensure you’re not running on empty.
3. Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
What it is: Assesses kidney and liver function, blood sugar, and electrolytes.
Why it matters: First responders often use caffeine, energy drinks, and shift work coping strategies that can stress these organs. CMP helps catch problems early.
4. Hemoglobin A1C
What it is: Measures average blood sugar over 3 months.
Why it matters: Shift work increases the risk of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes. The CDC reports that night-shift workers are 60% more likely to develop diabetes (Pan et al., 2011). This test can detect problems before symptoms appear.
5. Thyroid Function Tests
What it is: Measures TSH, T3, and T4 hormone levels.
Why it matters: Thyroid dysfunction can cause fatigue, mood swings, weight gain, and depression—all easily mistaken for “just stress.” Early detection can prevent years of silent struggle.
6. Vitamin D
What it is: Checks levels of the “sunshine vitamin.”
Why it matters: As we covered in Chief Petrilli’s Vitamin D3 video, low vitamin D increases risk of depression, heart disease, and poor immunity. With most first responders working indoors or at night, deficiency is common.
7. Iron Studies
What it is: Measures iron levels, ferritin, and total iron-binding capacity.
Why it matters: Both low iron (anemia) and iron overload can cause fatigue and affect performance. Particularly important if you often feel exhausted despite “normal” sleep.
8. C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
What it is: A marker of inflammation in the body.
Why it matters: High CRP levels are linked to cardiovascular disease—the #1 killer of officers and firefighters. Catching chronic inflammation early allows for lifestyle or medical intervention before it turns into a crisis.
9. Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)
What it is: Screens for prostate health in men.
Why it matters: Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men (American Cancer Society, 2023). Regular checks after age 40–50 (depending on family history) are essential.
10. Sex Hormone Tests
What it is: Measures testosterone, estrogen, and related hormones.
Why it matters: Hormonal imbalance can affect energy, mood, sleep, and even job performance. For first responders facing chronic stress, disrupted sleep, and irregular schedules, hormone checks can reveal correctable issues that are dragging you down.
Why This Matters More for First Responders
Research shows that law enforcement officers have a life expectancy nearly 10 years shorter than the average American (Violanti, 2014). Much of that gap comes from preventable conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and untreated stress-related illness.
Bloodwork is your early warning system. Catching an issue when it’s small is far easier than trying to reverse damage once it’s advanced.
Call to Action: Know Your Numbers
If you haven’t had all of these blood tests recently—or ever—make the call.
Step 1: Review the list above.
Step 2: Write down the tests you haven’t had.
Step 3: Schedule a checkup with your physician.
Don’t wait until something goes wrong.
Knowing your numbers could save your career—or your life.
Works Cited
American Cancer Society. “Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer.” Cancer.org, 2023.
Pan, An, et al. “Rotating night shift work and risk of type 2 diabetes: two prospective cohort studies in women.” PLOS Medicine, vol. 8, no. 12, 2011.
Violanti, John M. “Police Mortality: The Next Generation.” Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, vol. 37, no. 4, 2014, pp. 839–851.
Zimmerman, F. H. “Cardiovascular disease and risk factors in law enforcement personnel: a comprehensive review.” Cardiology in Review, vol. 20, no. 4, 2020, pp. 159–166.