Shield 23 Foundation has as one of its mission goals increasing public Awareness of the impact of job-related cancer in the fire service as well as encouraging education about cancer risk prevention practices in the fire service. We have provided categories of information such as related to support, research, and latest news.
The following list of resources are for educational and informational purposes only. Shield 23 Foundation does not suggest that a resource listed here is endorsed by the Foundation. Information provided was current at the time of listing but we cannot guarantee its current status. We encourage that the reader does their due diligence.
Firefighting is a dangerous profession, and a growing body of research and data shows the contributions that job-related exposures have in chronic illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently undertook two large studies focused on firefighter cancer and concluded that firefighters face a 9 percent increase in cancer diagnoses, and a 14 percent increase in cancer-related deaths, compared to the general population in the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/firefighters/injury.html
More than 60% of occupational Line of Duty Deaths are due to cancer, according to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).
Bipartisan bill H.R. 4625 to create a volunteer firefighter cancer registry
Asbestos:
LAVENDER RIBBON REPORT
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/newsroom/feature/firefighter-cancer-awareness.html
https://www.firerescue1.com/fire-products/personal-protective-equipment-ppe/articles/8-ways-to-protect-against-cancer-with-ppe-XzM7sDwO97IO6YnP/
https://www.tdi.texas.gov/tips/safety/firefighters.html#:~:text=2%20Use%20full%20personal%20protective,toxins%20and%20cancer%2Dcausing%20agents