Cancer in the Fire Service--Awareness, Prevention, and Education

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Cancer in the Fire Service--Awareness, Prevention, and Education
Jim Brinkley, International Association of Fire Fighters Larry Petrick, International Association of Fire Fighters Francesca Litow, Johns Hopkins University

The toxic environments in which fire fighters live and work have long been suspected to have an adverse effect on their health. Chemical hazards, primarily the toxic products of combustion, have been of particular concern in regard to occupational cancer. There are many challenges to studying cancer in fire fighters, including problems assessing exposure. This workshop focuses on important strategies to minimize cancer risk, including prevention through healthy lifestyles, cancer screening and regular use of SCBA. In addition, the session will address various NFPA standards that help minimize exposures and assist in early detection and treatment to improve survivability.

Presented by:

Jim Brinkley, International Association of Fire Fighters
Jim Brinkley is the Director of the IAFF Department of Occupational Health and Safety. Jim was responsible for overseeing the revisions for the IAFF/IAFC Wellness Fitness Initiative and the Peer Fitness Training program. He directed collaborative initiatives with outside agencies to develop and implement a smoking cessation program and a hypertension awareness and treatment program. Jim also directed the development of the IAFF Fire Ground Survival Program and the revision of the IAFF Line of Duty Death and Injury Investigation Program. Jim serves as a member of the Fire Service Occupational Safety and Health Technical Committee for NFPA.

Larry Petrick, International Association of Fire Fighters
Lawrence Petrick, Jr. is the IAFF Deputy Director of Occupational Health & Safety. He is retired from the Shaker Heights Fire Department, with the rank of Lieutenant, after serving 33 years. He has been on the Executive Board for IAFF Local 516 for over 20 years and is a past president. He served as the Director of Health, Safety, & EMS for the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters for 21 years. Additionally, he was a Trustee for the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund Ohio for 11 years. He holds an AS in Fire Science Technology and a BS in Fire and Safety Engineering Technology.

Francesca Litow, Johns Hopkins University
Dr. Francesca Litow is the Adjunct Assistant Professor Environmental Health Sciences and the Co-Director, Occupational And Environmental Medicine Residency at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.