Occupational Hazard

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Once upon a time, having a dirty firefighting uniform was like a badge of honor. It meant you’d seen some heavy action.

“In the past, the dirtier your gear, the dirtier your helmet, it was like a trophy,” recalls Longboat Key Fire Chief Paul Dezzi. “Now you clean it all up to make sure you’re not breathing that stuff in.”

That’s because, of all the dangers that firefighters face, the deadliest of all is a silent killer: cancer. Occupational cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters, according to the International Association of Fire Fighters. Every time they’re working at the scene of a fire, they’re in danger of breathing in carcinogens from synthetic building materials, plastics and chemicals.

That’s why Sarasota Memorial’s Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute is teaming up with fire departments throughout Sarasota and Bradenton to fight cancer through a local initiative called the Firefighters Cancer Collaborative.

Firefighters face a higher risk of cancers, including skin cancer, bladder cancer and mesothelioma, says Richard Brown, the cancer institute’s medical director. “What we’re looking at is a long-term relationship in terms of helping them screen for cancer — and once something is found, helping them navigate through the health care system.”

The collaboration started when Dezzi, the Longboat Key fire chief, cold-called the Jellison Cancer Institute early last year asking for help. The institute started holding monthly classes about cancer risks for the Longboat Key Fire Department. This has since spread to fire stations throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties, where fire rescue workers watch the classes on video as part of their ongoing training.

Researchers hope to improve the fire departments’ cancer screening procedures, says Kelly Batista, the cancer institute’s executive director. She noted that the state of Florida pays for firefighters’ medical care for 22 different cancers — but monitoring and screening guidelines are insufficient. “We need a coordinated effort on how to best screen firefighters so we can find those cancers at earlier, more treatable stages.”

Some things that fire rescue workers can do to protect themselves from cancer: wash their gear after each exposure; wear hats and long sleeves when they’re out in the sun; and wear a breathing apparatus at all times in potentially harmful situations.

“After a fire, we do a quick ‘decontam’ of our fire gear — brush it off, wash it off and dry it,” Chief Dezzi says. “We’re trying to keep all the chemicals out of the fire station.” 

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