You’ve heard the advice from experts about preventing cancer: Put your face mask on when you’re going into a fire and keep it on during overhaul. Wash your hood and your turn-out gear after an incident. Shower when you return to the station. Do you do these things or do you keep your gear salty and give in to peer-pressure?
Recently, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation hosted “Heart to Heart,” a two-day conference that brought together leading researchers in the area of firefighter health and fitness, fire service leaders, physicians and advocates to discuss strategies for helping firefighters embrace a healthier lifestyle. The goal is to lose fewer firefighters each year due to heart attacks.
The fact is more than half of line-of-duty deaths are a result of a cardiac incidents every year. In 2014, 57 of the 84 line-of-duty deaths were caused by heart attacks. And the number of firefighters dying each year from cancer is on the rise.
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is meeting in Washington to spread the word and change some old habits. The men and women who risk their lives can do a lot more to save themselves from cardiovascular disease.
A growing group of U.S. firefighters are connected beyond the usual camaraderie of the fire service and the passion for their work. These are firefighters with cancer.
I am writing to you related to the “Wash-Your-Hood-Sunday” program. This program promotes what should be common sense. This simple act of washing your hood can have a significant impact on you and your families’ lives.
The number one reason why firefighters die in the line-of-duty is due to a heart attack. The fire service wants this to change.
In May of this year (2015) the Boston Fire Department released a video about the impact of cancer on Boston firefighters and their families. During the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance Meeting in Northern Virginia, Fire Commissioner Joe Finn and Local 718 president Richard Paris talked with NFFFTV about the impact of the video.
Kyle Jameson saw his doctor for a routine physical. The lymphoma they detected took everyone by surprise. It’s not typical of healthy young men. They soon realized it was due to the exposure to multiple toxins from fighting fires. Watch this video to hear his story.
Author: Web Staff
Date Published: 2/8/2015
Publisher: Time Warner
Keywords: Health, Cardiac
