Firefighting might be the best job in the world, but it definitely takes its toll on your long-term health.
While we claim in the fire service that we are 200 years of tradition unimpeded by progress, nothing could be farther from the truth. This is in part due to the firefighters’ experience and research – and this is especially true when it comes to firefighter health research and progress on prevention and intervention.
Over the past two decades, since FEMA began funding firefighter health research, there has been a surge in interest in this population, resulting in 80% of the peer-reviewed medical literature on the topic. However, more important than the literature are the resulting improvements to the health and wellness of firefighters. Advances have led to significant improvements in understanding cancer, cardiovascular disease, reproductive health, sleep, the value of workplace culture, behavioral health, building resilience, and injury risk and prevention.
Additionally, the knowledge gained has led to policy and operational changes worldwide. The recent reclassification of firefighting by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a Group 1 carcinogen (or known carcinogen to humans) was driven significantly by recent research from groups such as NIOSH and the dedicated work of scientists nationwide, collaborating on projects through the Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study. With all this research underway and available, it is suddenly no longer the exception but rather the rule for people to ask, “What is the evidence for that approach?” or “What data do we need to collect to ensure this is the right choice, program or change?”
We are on the precipice of a culture shift in health and wellness that many have been working toward for their entire careers – a tipping point for focused efforts to improve health and truly drive down morbidity and mortality among our nation’s frontline workers, directed by evidence.
And yet, this work is barreling to a screeching halt with little notice or fanfare. Recently, hundreds of employees (in addition to those already fired) were laid off from NIOSH – the institute that runs the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program, several studies on workplace exposure, and the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer. Some rumors suggest that more layoffs are expected, and that the Registry itself might be on the chopping block. Keep in mind, the Registry was created by an Act of Congress and signed into legislation by President Trump with the goal of creating a national cohort of firefighters to track cancer morbidity and mortality – the first and only registry of its kind nationally. The Registry authorization took years of advocacy and education on the Hill, with unprecedented support and buy-in from all the major fire service organizations. Cutting the Registry not only wastes the effort of the thousands of firefighters who have already signed up but also millions of dollars and thousands of hours dedicated to its development and implementation, with nothing to show for the effort. What a waste.
[Read next: The Firefighter Cancer Registry: Is it waste, fraud or abuse? I’m listening.]
FEMA funding for studies already in progress is slowly drawing to a halt as reimbursements for costs are creeping far past the contractual 30-day payment window. Meetings are being canceled and teams are being encouraged to explore funding options for other topics and populations. The latest Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for research has been halted until an undetermined date, if it is released at all.
This is not a situation where a pause is merely a blip and work just picks up where things left off. There are consequences. No matter the level of dedication from the small but mighty group of scientists who have migrated to the fire service, they are simply not able to continue the work without the support they need.
Fortunately, this is not a partisan issue. Firefighters and organizations nationwide support the need for continued research into the risks and mitigation of the risks for those who form the front line of defense and safety net in our communities. Firefighter health research seems to be more a casualty of other issues, but it cannot end without a fight from the firefighters and organizations that benefit from the efforts.
Chief Denny Compton described the historical perspective of this issue:
Additionally, retired FDNY Chief of Safety Frank Leeb and current manager of the First Responder Center for Excellence, shared his perspective:
For those wanting to reach out to their congressional representatives, the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) has excellent resources for action.
We must all work together and advocate for the continuation of critical research on firefighter life safety and health.
