13 Steps to help reduce firefighter cancer risks

Cancer is a looming personal catastrophe for every firefighter, their family and their department—and for good reason. Most of you probably know a responder who has been impacted by this terrible disease (or you may have even be impacted by it yourself). It’s gaining nationwide recognition as one of the most dangerous threats to the health and safety of our first responders.

The alarming risks

The Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) is an organization that aims to assist firefighters, EMS providers and their families after a cancer diagnosis and provides cancer prevention and awareness resources for responders and their departments.

According to the FCSN:

• Cancer caused 70% of the line-of-duty deaths for career firefighters in 2016.
• Firefighters have a 9% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer than the general U.S. population.
• Firefighters have a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population.

While the risks are undeniably scary, there are policies and procedures you can implement today to help address cancer within your fire department. One of the resources that FCSN provides is their widely hailed 2013 white paper, “Taking Action Against Cancer in the Fire Service,” which shares specific actions that firefighters can take to help address occupational cancer risks. We’re outlining those actions below in items 1-12, plus adding one of our own.

13 Immediate actions that you can take to help protect yourself, your family and your fellow firefighters against cancer risks:

1. Use of SCBA from initial attack to finish of overhaul. Not wearing SCBA in both active and post-fire environments is the most dangerous voluntary activity in the fire service today.
2. Perform gross field decontamination of PPE to help remove as much soot and particulates as possible.
3. Use baby wipes or similar cleansing wipes to help remove as much soot as possible from head, neck, jaw, throat, underarms and hands immediately, and while on the scene.
4. Change your clothes and wash them immediately after a fire.
5. Shower thoroughly after a fire.
6. Wash your PPE, gloves, hood and helmet immediately after a fire.
7. Do not take contaminated clothes or PPE home or store them in your vehicle.
8. Decontaminate the interior of fire apparatus after incidents.
9. Keep bunker gear out of living and sleeping quarters.
10. Stop using tobacco products.
11. Protect yourself while working in the sun by using sun screen, sunblock and hats.
12. The importance of annual medical examinations cannot be overstated–early detection and early treatment are essential to help increase survival.
13. Avoid diesel exhaust. The exhaust fumes are dangerous. Do not breathe the fumes and avoid getting on or into your clothes. Treat clothing as contaminated if exposed and also wash your body.

Emergency service organization leaders and their members each play an important role helping reduce the chance of cancer diagnosis among their personnel—and you can make a meaningful difference by making changes in your organization today!