Burbank, California – The Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) announced today it is providing occupational cancer awareness and prevention training to the Boston Fire Department (BFD).
Cancer is the leading cause of firefighter line-of-duty deaths in the United States. Cancer caused 60 percent of line-of-duty deaths for career firefighters between 2002-2014, according to International Association of Fire Fighters data. Cancer caused 67 percent of the Boston Fire Department’s line-of-duty deaths for the same period.
“Boston firefighters develop cancer at a rate two-and-a-half times higher than other Boston residents,” said BFD Commissioner Joseph Finn. “We have recognized cancer’s effect on our firefighters, and FCSN’s department-wide prevention training is an important part of our ongoing, comprehensive safety, health, and wellness program.”
FCSN collaborated with Finn and leaders of IAFF Local 718 to bring its cancer-prevention training to Boston. “Since 1990, the Boston Fire Department has lost 160 members to cancer,” said Richard Paris, president of IAFF Local 718. “It’s a staggering number. We know that cancer is killing our members, and we’re making a collaborative effort to save the lives of Boston firefighters. FCSN’s training focuses on preventive measures the department and firefighters can take to reduce exposure to carcinogens and help avoid contracting this deadly disease.”
FCSN President Bryan Frieders, a division chief with the San Gabriel (CA) Fire Department, praised Boston’s collaborative, aggressive approach to reducing firefighters’ occupational cancer risk. “Addressing the occupational cancer epidemic requires a cultural change for the fire service,” Frieders said. “Joe Finn and Richie Paris are leading from the front. Their work together with FCSN illustrates how effective labor-management relationships can be to enhance the safety and well-being of firefighters.”
FCSN’s training for the Boston Fire Department’s 1,400 members began in July. Russell Osgood, a firefighter with the Portsmouth (NH) Fire Department and an FCSN state director, is FCSN’s lead instructor for the Boston training. The Boston training is part of an FCSN pilot program funded by a FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety grant. FCSN’s firefighter cancer prevention pilot combines FCSN’s proven awareness and prevention training with a new train-the-trainer component. The train-the-trainer component will help FCSN ensure consistent, accurate education delivered with highly personal interaction by fellow firefighters and other qualified instructors. Please direct inquiries about FCSN’s firefighter cancer prevention pilot to Tim Elliott at telliott@fcsn.net.
FCSN’s 2013 white paper, “Taking Action Against Cancer in the Fire Service,” provides lifesaving details about recognizing and reducing firefighters’ cancer risks. An excerpt with 11 immediate actions firefighters should take to protect themselves, their families, and their fellow firefighters is available as a free download from http://bit.ly/1HH4zVA. The full white paper is available as a free download from http://bit.ly/1KbOd7r.
About FCSN
FCSN was founded in 2005 by Los Angeles County Firefighter/Paramedic Michael Dubron, a survivor of stage IV colon cancer.Today, FCSN provides timely assistance and one-on-one peer support to fire/EMS members and their families after a cancer diagnosis. FCSN also delivers firefighter cancer awareness and prevention programs nationwide.FCSN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more details, please visit firefightercancersupport.org.
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