The Time Is Now
In 2023, the International Association of Fire Fighters reported that 72 percent of U.S. line-of-duty deaths were caused by occupational cancer. The number was more than 90 percent in Canada. And in Emmitsburg, more and more cancer-related deaths are being recognized.
Next month marks the second annual Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, with the goal to educate and inform the fire service about the growing problem that affects firefighters, their families and their colleagues. It seems that most every department has been affected by cancer based on the people I talk with.
We are proud to partner with the First Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE), which is a National Fallen Firefighters Foundation affiliate organization, to present the content in this supplement. The goal of the FRCE is to provide awareness and education to first responders on various health topics, including cancer—the leading killer of firefighters today. Visit their website for more resources: firstrespondercenter.org.
I encourage each of you to invest a little bit of time after reading this supplement to register with the National Firefighter Registry (NFR). The NFR is paving the way for needed research and future benefits from on-the-job exposures for career and volunteer firefighters because of the dangerous environments that you work in. Taking the time to register today and then adding incident exposures might seem like a low priority now, but it might be too late if you are diagnosed. Begin the registration process at nfr.cdc.gov.
At firehouses across the country this year, memorial services were held for firefighters who lost their life to a firefighter-related cancer. Fundraisers were held to help ease the burdens of the brothers and sisters who are enduring treatment.
In the background, key organizations and fire service leaders are fighting to get you benefits and protections to reduce cancer and help, if needed.
If you’re committed to cancer prevention, you should not only talk the talk but walk the walk … before it’s too late. —Firehouse Editor-in-Chief Peter Matthews
