MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

While today’s EMS, fire and rescue departments have a host of missions, I believe everyone would agree that the most important objective is saving lives. But who is going to save the lives of our firefighters?

At the 2022 IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial, nearly 75% of those honored died from cancer. That’s a grim statistic to talk about but if we don’t talk about it and take protective measures, this percentage will not drop. Moreover, there is some evidence that families of firefighters are more susceptible to cancer as well.

In emergency services, safety has always been the responsibility of multiple people at multiple levels: organizational leadership, management, labor and the individual responder. While there have been numerous studies, new initiatives and precautionary measures instituted in many departments over the past few years to help curve these statistics, there are still departments nationwide that have not adopted any of these practices.

It is imperative that fire service leaders empower all individuals under their command to allow and encourage organizational leaders to employ cancer prevention initiatives. New organizational cultures need to be initiated and prevention practices need to prevail so that we can keep the focus on saving lives, knowing ours are as best protected as possible.

MICHAEL E. COX JR.