FIREFIGHTER CANCER EDUCATION RESOURCES
Our purpose is to ensure first responders minimize their risk of developing cancer from exposure to toxins, carcinogens, and contaminants in the line of duty. We believe it is just as important to educate you about firefighter cancer and provide you the best resources for cancer education as it is to provide you with quality products. There are many excellent resources out there and we don’t want to re-invent the wheel! You can click on the title or video of each resource for more information.
Cancer Update from Grand Prairie Fire Chief
Robert Fite, Grand Prairie Fire Chief, discusses the culture of the fire service, how it has contributed to the cancer epidemic, what the risks are, and actionable steps that can be taken to minimize the risk.
Invisible Danger of Bunker Gear Transfer
This video, from the University of Miami / Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Firefighter Cancer Initiative, demonstrates processes of cross-contamination from bunker gear to individuals, equipment, the fire station, personal vehicles, and even family members.
The Clean “15”
The FDNY, along with the First Responder Center for Excellence, an affiliate of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, teamed up to produce “The Clean 15” video which provides 15 simple actions you can take to minimize your risk from the dangers of occupational exposure to fireground contaminants.
FIREFIGHTER CANCER EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
Healthy In Healthy Out – The goal of this best practices manual is to encourage safe and healthy practices from the first day as a firefighter to retirement.
Healthy Firefighters – The Skelleftea Model – This book is a guideline for how to achieve great changes in the fight for firefighters’ health and well-being by integrating well-thought out protocols.
The Lavender Ribbon Report – This report from the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) focuses on providing actions to reduce the risk factors of cancer in the fire service.
10 Considerations Related to Cardiovascular and Chemical Exposure Risks – The Illinois Fire Service Institute details ten key considerations regarding the health impacts of fireground activities and exposures.
Your Patient is a Firefighter – This document from the IAFC is designed to assist the firefighter’s healthcare provider in the evaluation, treatment, and ongoing surveillance of the health and wellness of firefighters.
The “25” – This checklist from Firefighter Cancer Consultants will assist you in ensuring your department is doing all it can to reduce the risk of its members being diagnosed with cancer.
Best Practices for Reducing Exposure to Fireground Contaminants – This “lesson plan” from the Illinois Fire Service Institute details procedures for teaching the proper procedures for removing PPE and utilizing skin decontamination wipes.
Evaluation of Fire Ground Exposures – A study by the University of Arizona Health Sciences, in collaboration with the Tucson Fire Department, has helped provide evidence that occupational exposure does pose a cancer risk to firefighters. The study identified on-scene interventions that can help reduce firefighter exposure.
CANCER AWARENESS AND PREVENTION WEBSITES
Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance – With the number of firefighters affected by occupational cancer steadily increasing, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) hopes to improve education, outreach, and prevention efforts,
The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Firefighter Initiative – The Firefighter Cancer Initiative Education Campaign is designed to educate firefighters about some of the risks they face and processes that might help reduce those risks.
IAFF Cancer Awareness and Prevention Resource – Understand your cancer risk, know the exposures to carcinogens on the job and reduce your risk of occupational cancer with the new IAFF firefighter cancer awareness and prevention training course.
Illinois Fire Service Institute – Cardiovascular and Chemical Exposures Risks in Today’s Fire Service is a grant funded project which was designed to better understand how operating in today’s Fire Service to the two leading health issues facing firefighters; namely cardiovascular events and chemical exposures related to carcinogenic risk.
Firefighters Guide to Asbestos Exposure – Firefighters face uniquely extreme asbestos exposure risks, and as a result, they suffer an elevated rate of asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma. Many organizations support firefighters with occupational cancer and work to prevent toxic exposure in the future.
RESEARCH
Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study – This three-year project, which began in July of 2016, is intended to develop and test a framework for establishing a long-term firefighter multicenter prospective cohort study focused on carcinogenic exposures and health effects.
On-Scene Decontamination Methods Evaluation Study – A study published in 2017 focused on the most effective method for removing PAHs which have contaminated PPE and skin. This study also looked at VOCs and HCN which may off-gas from contaminated gear.
Use of Urinary Biomarkers to Assess Exposures to PAHs – This thesis by Jennifer Keir of the University of Ottawa examined the effect of participating in fire suppression activities on urinary levels of selected PAH metabolites. Evidence from the research suggests that dermal contamination during live fire events is a major route of exposure.
