Latest news with #FirefighterCancerAwarenessMonth
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Retired Vista fire captain walks to raise awareness during Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A retired Vista fire captain is walking to make a difference during Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month. Retired Vista Fire Department Captain Bob Stacey and his buddy Bob Nunez were busy trekking the busy streets of North County on Tuesday. They set out to hike 15 miles in one day from Lake San Marcos to downtown Encinitas to raise awareness for Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, which is January. Their steps all for a purpose. Southeast Disaster Relief team holds community update one year after historic flooding 'I just always liked action and wanted a career that I give back to the community,' said Stacey. Stacey was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2019. Six weeks of daily radiation treatments and 5 years later, Bob is cancer free. Escondido Police 'set the record straight' on their role in migrant mass deportations Now he wants to help other firefighter's battling cancer. 'Two-thirds of firefighters working in the fire service today will be diagnosed with occupational cancer,' Stacey said. 'Testicular cancer, breast cancer in females, a lot of blood cancers. I take a guy to chemo every week that has blood cancer.' Bird flu has made eggs more expensive — does it also make them unsafe to eat? But he wants his journey to mean something for others. 'Whatever I can do to help,' said Stacey. His emotion, an endearing quality that captures the motivation behind all of his years of service. 'I miss it. I'd go back tomorrow if I could,' said Stacey. Stacey said he hoped his impromptu idea to trek down the streets of San Marcos, Carlsbad and Encinitas with his buddy would garner some donations for the organization that's helping so many firefighters. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Spring Hill firefighters screened for cancer
SPRING HILL, Tenn. (WKRN) — According to a 2023 report from the U.S. Fire Administration, firefighters have a 14% greater chance of dying from cancer compared to the general public. There are many factors that contribute to that rate, including exposure to chemicals, toxins and smoke on almost every call. Because of that sobering statistic and because January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, firefighters with the Spring Hill Fire Department (SHFD) have undergone comprehensive medical screenings designed with cancer detection in mind. VIDEO: Firefighter cancer awareness Firefighters must be cognizant of what they inhale and what they get on their skin. For three days, the agency has offered comprehensive screening specifically designed for firefighters. Ian Merritt is a firefighter with the SHPD and an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). He is one of 45 firefighters who signed up for the voluntary screening, which includes ultrasounds checking the abdominal area, kidneys, spleen, gallbladder and more. 'As a firefighter, we are exposed to a lot of carcinogens,' Merritt said. 'The early detection is very important.' Because the 39-year-old father of two knows he could be exposed to cancerous substances on any given shift, the firefighter, who spent his early career overseas with the U.S. Marines, says he welcomes the extra medical screenings. 'It doesn't go thru my mind,' Merritt added. 'It is more along the line of taking the proper precautions.' Fire Chief Graig Temple told News 2, firefighters' exposure to cancer-causing agents has grown over the years and it's top of mind when it comes to firefighter safety. 'It absolutely is worse now than it used to be,' Temple said. 'The materials that things are being built with are more petroleum-based products and more plastics.' According to Temple, some gear — including breathing apparatuses — have also been known to have cancer-causing agents. That's why his employees carry two sets of turnout gear: in case one becomes contaminated. The chief also said decontamination, or decon, and wiping down equipment is important to remove carcinogens. 'Fire service is exposed to cancerous products on every fire we go on. There's smoke and soot and so forth. It can be absorbed through the respiratory tract or through the skin,' Temple said. 'We have even found through studies that our turnout gear can be problematic at times and has been identified as being cancer causing, so we are in the process of changing those out to cancer-free turnout gear.' ⏩ 'And just because we are wearing our breathing apparatus and our turnout gear doesn't mean we are going to be 100 percent protected,' Temple added. 'It just sends the message that we have to be proactive. The sooner you can catch the cancer and the sooner you can get treatment, the survivability increases ten-fold.' Temple said 45 firefighters signed up for the scans this year. The other half of the force will be offered the voluntary testing next year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
