INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Firefighting is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, and now medical science is telling us it’s also one of the unhealthiest professions.
Firefighters contract multiple cancers at rates far higher than the general population.
In light of that, the Indianapolis Fire Department says it’s taking steps to reduce the risk.
“When I came on, we had SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) but you didn’t wear one because the older firefighters were telling us, come on kid, show us what you got,” said IFD Cpt. Tim McDonnell.
McDonnell contracted throat cancer 21 years into his 36-year career — and he’s not alone.
Male firefighters contract testicular cancer at a rate 102 percent higher than other men. Other cancer rates are also higher: multiple myeloma, 53 percent higher; non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, 51 percent higher; skin cancer, 39 percent higher; and brain cancer, 32 percent higher.
IFD has become a national leader when it comes to the health and safety of its personnel by giving each firefighter a comprehensive annual health exam.
“Full blood work on members … we give physical and mental health evaluations, and all of that,” said IFD Chief Ernest Malone.
IFD has also become the first department in the country to adopt all of the nearly one-dozen recommendations of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network.
Those recommendations include mandatory use of oxygen during and after a fire, decontaminating gear of soot, and wiping down and cleaning skin with wet-naps.
The state of Indiana now awards line-of-duty benefits to the families of any firefighter who dies of cancer within five years of their retirement.
Republished with permission from The Indy Channel