FIREFIGHTING AND CANCER

FIREFIGHTING AND CANCER

• In 2005 over 10.5 million Americans were living with some form of cancer

• This year alone it is projected that 1.2 million Americans will be diagnosed with some form of cancer

• Chances are that cancer has touched your life one way or another

FIREFIGHTING AND CANCER

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Firefighter Mortality &

Morbidity Statistics• Approx 100 line of duty deaths a year• Thousand of injuries every year• Tracking of cardiac arrest, vehicle

accidents, building collapse, smoke inhalation and etc.

• NO TRACKING OF CANCER YET!

FIREFIGHTING AND CANCER

• While 100 firefighters die in LODD per year, HUNDREDS more die from cancer each year in which we may never know about.

• Firefighters are 200% more likely to get cancer than the general population per the CDC.– 300% above normal rate for lung cancer– 200% above normal rate for throat

cancer (thyroid)– 150% above normal rate for prostate

cancer

FIREFIGHTING AND CANCER• In 2006 the University of Cincinnati did a study of 110,000 firefighters and

found that we are 2 times more likely of dying from cancer than none firefighters

• 20 cancers were analyzed and 10 developed more frequently in firefighters– Testicular Cancer 102% – Thyroid Cancer 98% – Bladder 83% – Multiple Myeloma 53%– Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 51%– Skin Cancer 39%– Brain Cancer 32%– Prostate Cancer 28%– Colon Cancer 21%

FIREFIGHTING AND CANCER

CARCINOGENS IN SMOKE

ASBESTOS ARSENIC

FORMALDEHYDE

BENZENECYANIDE, ETC

PREVENTIVE MEASURES• Always wear proper PPE• Clean gear after every fire• Keep gear either at station or in gear bag• Remove diesel from fire station• Have a second set of gear (if possible)• Keep wet naps in rig• Fitness• Nutrition

FIREFIGHTING AND CANCER

FIREFIGHTING AND CANCER

• What are your SOPs with gear?

• Are you issued a second set of gear?

• Any Questions?