As many of us know, there has been a big push in recent years to bring cancer awareness to the fire service.The biggest result of this concern in practice is the clean cab concept requiring firefighters to decontaminate on the fireground and store turnouts in sealable containers in cabinets outside of the cab to minimize their contact. This has undoubtedly reduced the exposure risk to the firefighters. Firefighters have also been provided cancer screening opportunities to help improve cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Witnessing how the fire service came together to mitigate the threat posed by the contaminants was reassuring, but still begged the question, “What protections and provisions have been put in place for those who repair all the equipment involved in firefighting?”
Due to shifting winds and driving through puddles of water used to extinguish fires, it is undeniable that firefighting equipment also becomes contaminated. As EVTs we do much of our work in the nooks and crannies behind the pump panels, on top of the frame rails, plumbing components, and the drivetrain. These places are not readily accessible for proper cleaning by the crew, yet are the main repair areas that expose technicians to possible cancer causing contaminants.
The association is currently working on a project to provide EVTs with the same opportunities as firefighters have for cancer screening and need some input from the membership to compile raw data.
Our question to the membership is, have you or someone you know been diagnosed with any form of cancer while employed as an EVT? We do not need specifics, and no names will be disclosed. We are trying to see how prevalent cancer is, or is not, in the EVT world. By collecting this data the hope is to have something to show that we too are at risk of encountering the same carcinogens that firefighters are exposed to and in turn to have equal opportunity to be tested and treated the same as firefighters.Add a short description.
Please use the link below to submit your information before the October class.
We will have more info at the October business meeting.
