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Preventing cancer among firefighters

The Logan Daily News - 5/24/2018

LOGAN - Being a firefighter is a dangerous job that significantly decreases their life span as they are exposed to cancer-causing chemicals. However, legislation is working its way through the law-making process to make a change.

Recently, the Senate passed U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown's (D-OH) bipartisan legislation to establish a voluntary cancer registry of firefighters.

If passed, the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to setup and maintain a voluntary registry to compile information on cancer occurrence among firefighters, according to Brown's Office.

Brown communicated that the information collected will be added with other state data in an effort to prevent cancer among firefighters.

"Ohio firefighters put their lives on the line every day," said Brown. "We should use all of the tools at our disposal when it comes to cancer prevention and treatment of first responders who sacrifice their own safety to protect others. I urge my colleagues in the House to pass this legislation, so that we can get this bill to the President's desk."

According to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, the risk of cancer in firefighters is 250 percent greater than people not in the line of work.

Logan Fire Chief Brian Robertson is speaking out about the importance of the legislation passing as it's key to protecting those in the profession and their families.

"Most firefighters will end up with cancer either during their career or once they retire," Robertson explained. "There is a big push right now because it wasn't covered under Workers' Compensation and not considered a workplace injury. A lot of these guys were fighting it by themselves and you don't know if the insurance is going to take care of it."

The fire chief said houses these days are mostly made of plastic wood and laminate flooring - all made of toxic chemicals.

"It's fine as long it's not burning. Once it starts to burn, it puts off toxic chemicals," Robertson explained. "Our job is killing us due to what we're exposed to. Our gear protects us from the heat but not the particulates."

Even though firefighters are using protective gear it's not 100 percent preventing the exposure to harmful chemicals.

The fire chief noted that when he got into firefighting in the 1980s, cancer wasn't a big issue or they didn't think it was.

He stated that there is a big push for procedures after a fire for firefighters to wipe down their hands, equipment or anything that they've touched because it may be contaminated.

"There are a lot of fire departments that are pushing for infrared saunas," he continued. "Once you get back from a fire you jump in the infrared sauna - sweat that stuff out and push it out of your pores. It's not a health thing, it's a safety thing."