January marks Firefighter Cancer Prevention Month. According to NIOSH (the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety), firefighters have a 14% higher chance of getting cancer than the public.
Here are some cancer prevention tips for our friends in the firefighting community:
Wear your P.P.E. at all times
Wear PPE even after the fire is out, at small fires and during overhaul.
Properly don P.P.E.
Properly don PPE at all incidents and ensure crew members do also.
Post fire procedures
Clean & Decontaminate Your P.P.E.
- Reduce chemical exposure risk by regularly cleaning your personal protective equipment. Studies have shown PPE, neck skin and hand skin are most susceptible to PAH contamination during firefighting.
- Establish policies for mandatory decontamination whenever crews move from the fire ground. This includes:
- Using hose lines to perform gross decontamination of bunker gear and SCBAs
- Providing wet wipes to remove contaminants from all exposed skin
- Switching crews to B-set gear (if available) until contaminated gear can be cleaned
- Ensure all crew members change and wash uniform clothing immediately upon returning to the station and can “shower within the hour.”
- Station policies often include the route washing of apparatus. Similar policies should address the routine washing of hoods and other PPE.
- Ensure personnel are properly trained and use in-station diesel exhaust systems.
- Establish policies for proper storage of PPE and prohibition of it in living quarters.
- Establish and use personnel injury reporting systems to establish records of exposures.
- Advocate for the establishment of, and participation in, ongoing occupational medical surveillance.
Training & tactics
- Treat every fire as hazardous materials call—because it is.
- Include smoke hazards at planning and briefing sessions and in fire behavior forecasts.
- If possible, conduct overhaul 45 minutes after fire extinguishment to allow time for toxic gases to dissipate, and ensure all crew performing overhaul operations continue to wear SCBA.
Schedule a cancer screening
Ask your doctor if you need more frequent cancer screenings.
