There is a real risk of cancer to FF. I do not have a study to back this up, but I am sure that FF have a higher rate of cancer then the general population. Fire Fighting by it’s very nature is a risky business, I know I once was a FF, on call not full time.
When we went to structure fire we would be in turnout gear and using a self contained breathing system. Were we screwed up is once the fire was out and there was no smoke, we would take off the air pack, Sucks using them, (No Pun intended ), and go about over haul and looking for hot spots. Not a go way to do it!
Besides the over hauls screw up, we never cleaned our turn out gear. There are a lot of bad chemicals in everyone’s already, add fire and it can be a deadly mix. Years of using gear that has add chems makes it a add risk for no good reason. If I was a Fire Chief knowing what I know Now I would have 2 sets of gear for every FF, One to use and one that is off to be professionally cleaned.
I don’t remember what the cost of turnout gear is, I do know the stuff is Very expensive, but hey you want a Fire Department, pay for it. Most home owners insurance companies have a rating system for Fire Dept. , low rating,higher insurance rate. You pay one way our the other.
Why am I interested in this? My former Chief who was a FF for 20 plus years has brain cancer and there is no cure. Yes I know there is a lot of stuff that might have caused it, but this is the second FF I know who has it out of 50, seems high to me.
So You might be saying this sucks, but there is nothing I can do about it, Well there is something You can do. Go to Your township/city Police and Fire meeting and tell them You want these folks to be protected. Fire Fighters cost money to train and they are getting to be fewer as they age, kids now days have little interest in FF…...just a moment….. HEY YOU KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN. :)
More info:
www.firerescue1.com/...