Introduction:

First responders in emergencies are exposed to psychosocial factors that can increase the risk of stress, due, among other variables, to the conditions of the functions performed, which can undermine the health status of this population.

Objective:

Determine the symptoms that reveal the presence of stress reactions in first responders to emergencies and their association with age and seniority in the institution.

Method:

A cross-sectional study was carried out that included first responders to emergencies from a fire department in Colombia, 215 participants. An association was made between the level of stress and the variables age and seniority.

Results:

A high and very high stress level of 50.3% was found. Physiological and social behavior symptoms presented the highest levels. Older workers had greater stress. There was no association with length of service.

Conclusion:

More than half of the population has high and very high stress levels. The oldest emergency first responders were those with the highest risk levels of stress.