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Just being a Firefighter increases your chances of "Dying Young"
In 2006, a University of Cincinnati cancer study showed Firefighters compared to the (GP) general population you are 102% more likely to develop Testicular Cancer, 53% more likely with Multiple Myeloma, 39% more likely with Skin Cancer, 32% more likely with Brain Cancer and 22% more likely to develop Stomach Cancer....
Click here to listen to the radio show and learn how to reduce the risk.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fireengineeringtalkradio/2013/06/14/ep...
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Derek J Sinesi on
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Along with a hundred other things that can kill us.
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Permalink Reply by Robert J. Higgins on
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Guess I'm one of the lucky ones, retired after 25 years on the job, I do have Postate cancer but I'm 88 years old I was sure to get somthing
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Permalink Reply by Oldman on
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102% more likely? When I went to school, 100% was the top.
My problem with studies such as this are the numbers, and how they arrived at the percentages. Several hundred thousand firefighters compared with several millions in the general population, will cause the percentages to be way off. If the used the same numbers in the general population, as firefighters to balance the numbers, what criteria and what demographics did they use to "balance" the two sides.
Now I don't deny that some of the things we are exposed to could cause various cancers and other illnesses. I wont deny there are many things we aren't doing and probably should be doing, to lessen our chances. But I'm not redy to have certain body parts removed just I have a higher than average chance of developing cancer. I might not use them anymore, but I like them where they are at.
FETC, as usual, you do post a thought provoking item.
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Permalink Reply by WestPhilly on
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Oldman
If you have 100 dollars and I have 102 dollars, I have 102% of your amount.
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Permalink Reply by FETC on
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Well I will put it in easier terms to understand.
The SCBA has pretty much eliminated lung cancer. It is not even near the top of the list.
In Palm Beach for example, they currently have 1300 guys (either currently active or retired) and 688 of them are fighting this disease in one form or another. Thats about 53%. Not sure how many other occupations you can poll and find over 50% of them are fighting for their lives. Miami Dade is about the same.
Now if your department goes to a fire once in a blue moon, taking into consideration that you may miss or be a driver at the occasional fire... your exposure to these toxins while fighting fires would be alot less and therefore will most likely not contract the disease from the occupation itself.
The show was to educate and attempt to reduce your chances of exposure. The flip side of the issue is many states do not have presumptive cancer laws, therefore the disease is not covered under any workmen's compensation benefits or considered a LODD for PSOB.
So when you run out of sick time, and you used up your 12 weeks of FMLA and they fire you.... when your medical benefits are terminated your on the hook for the bills... Example Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma is running about 1.1 million dollars to fight. Colon cancer is about $500,000.
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Permalink Reply by Don Catenacci on
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It is a dangerous job, and by the mere nature of it we enter environments with a witches brew of chenmicals and compounds that no chemist, scientist, or anyone else can predict with any certainty. Does this mean we surrender to that? No! SCBA usage is vital to protecting our body from those things entering via our breathing them in. But that is not now and never will be enough. We need to stop making excuses for not wearing our SCBA in any environment that may contain a hazardous atmosphere, including during overhaul at a fire. But even that isn't enough. We need to clean our turnout gear much more often. This includes our bunker coat and pants, gloves, hood, helmet, and the liner. It means stopping the insane practice of taking our fithy PPE into the living area of the station and particularly into the bunkroom. It means pure and simple bringing back common sense.
The other element is cleaning ourselves. While it may not be practical to take a shower after every fire in an urban environment it most certainly is in smaller suburban or rural FDs. If you can't shower at least wash your fash and hands to eliminate casual continual contamination when you eat, rub your face or eyes, or your nose.
Simple, but effective precautions.
I apologize if these were mentioned in the blogcast. I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet.
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