Calling all Firefighters: The National Firefighter Registry for Cancer

I'm tagging a few of you who are or have firefighters in your family to make sure that you see this post about the National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer.

@dorisena @rosemarya @mikeh35 @firefighter66 @fdchik22 @silentfaith @kelsey2 @skywave @fireguy8891 @katehenrichsen @timkat86 @lisag03 @bill5letsfixthis @williamsjames2015 please share with your circle of firefighters and firefighter families.

As a retired FDNY Firefighter/Fire Marshal, I am really excited to see this information posted here on Mayo Clinic Connect. The NFR is an unprecedented initiative aimed at lessening the disastrous impact cancer has on firefighter personnel, their families and the community at large. This long term project will impact my firefighting sisters and brothers well into the future. I am especially hopeful that underrepresented groups of Black and brown, as well as women firefighters, will take advantage of this opportunity to make an impact. JoAnn Jacobs (NY to JAX)

I am not/was not a firefighter, nor is/was anyone in my family. But this registry is exciting and extremely important, and I hope it helps people in the future. And @joann4 , thank you for your service!

Dear ncteacher. Thank you for YOUR service! Throughout my career I had many occasions to visit classrooms and speak to students of all ages. I truly admired the many dedicated teachers I encountered striving to enrich the minds of their charges.
A tip of the hat ... OOps! A tip of the helmet to you!

Thank you Colleen for posting, this is a great initiative. I, like JoAnn am also retired from FDNY. Back in the 70s we rarely wore a mask, they were clunky and seemed to inhibit our advances on the fire, but most of our building fires didn’t contain all the dangerous materials used today. Of course there was some macho bravado that came into play to not wear a mask. There’s a high percentage of us with lung nodules, luckily most benign.

I will let everyone in my group know about this. The information learned will definitely help present and future generations of firefighters.

Thanks,
Bill

Thanks Colleen. After 23 years fighting fires and 142 fires June this year had severe pneumonia and was in hospital 5 days. Have scarred lung lobe doctor assumes is from fighting fires. Thanks for the heads up and I'll spread the word. Do you see heart and lung problems being added to the registry?

Hi Kate. This particular Registry specifically targets firefighter cancers. However, you can go to: NIOSH or CDC.gov/NIOSH and in the search cdc.gov portal type in: Firefighter Resources. There will be an extensive list of CDC/NIOSH sites relating to firefighter studies which you can search.
Also, I am currently working with the NIOSH team that is seeking out firefighters and am really grateful to Colleen and Mayo Connect for this valuable outreach. It is already a success! But, please reach out to other firefighters you may know and inform them of the Registry. Whether they have a cancer diagnosis or not, ALL firefighters are encouraged to join. JoAnn

Thanks for the helmet tip, @joann4 ! I have indeed hosted firefighters in my school during Fire Prevention Month (October). The students always loved their presentations and completed their assignments to talk about fire safety at home and draw an exit map. Education happens in so many ways!

I was a full time municipal firefighter/Paramedic & Engineer ~
What I believe was the biggest threat to people in our dept., was our engines & ambulance did not vent exhaust to the outside so when they were starting the rigs, black diesel exhaust permeated indoors and upstairs into our day room & bunk room!!
Wasn’t until after 1998 that OSHA required contained exhaust, be captured into lines that vented outside.
Two co-workers had cancer already & 1 died, very young.
I have some lung damage probably from Fire contents, fuel exhaust, firefighter foam AFFF,
and they are watching something they saw on a CT.
Also had other med issues that are common among firefighters ~
The BEST way to protect future FF, is to have a chief that understands science & the need to keep your SCBA air tank on during overhaul, b/c after fire gases are deadly! My supervisor used to poke fun at ppl who kept their tanks on after the fire was extinguished !!!

Hi Sommerreign. I too remember my fellow firefighters wearing their scba into the building while their facepieces dangled by their sides. And, some of them even had cigarettes dangling from their lips!🤯This was in the 1980’s. Luckily things have changed, for the better, I think. Organizations like NIOSH and IAFF have been working with Fire Departments for decades and have succeeded in helping reform both fire-ground and firehouse practices. But, you’re right, there’s still much to be done and it does start with the Officers on the scene. But, I hope you will fill out the NFR Survey as this will contribute valuable information about YOUR firefighting experiences. Remember, you do not have to fill it out in one sitting. You can start and save your info if you want to do it in stages. Good luck going forward, Brother. And please, pass along the NFR info to any other firefighters you know. JoAnn Jacobs (FDNY, ret) NFR/SME