Firefighter Contamination Reduction and Cancer Prevention Course

Occupational cancer due to firefighting is a silent killer. Firefighters face a 9% increase in cancer diagnoses and a 14% increase in cancer related deaths. Unlike many tragic events that take firefighters' lives, many firefighters are dying due to firefighting related cancers. Unfortunately, many of these deaths often go unnoticed. 

To combat these trends, DHSES and the Office of Fire Prevention and Control have established basic, inexpensive protocols which will go a long way in limiting firefighters' exposure to harmful chemicals often found in smoke.

State experts are also traveling across New York State to bring these protocols directly to firefighters via in-person educational sessions at local fire departments. At each session, firefighters will view a live demonstration of the new decontamination protocols, a new educational video that details the protocols and the risks facing firefighters and will have an opportunity for a Q&A with OFPC personnel involved in developing the protocols. Additionally, OFPC is expanding its entire roster of firefighting classes and trainings to include a section on cancer awareness and prevention education. A decontamination kit will be provided to each station that is in attendance at this training.

New sessions are added on a rolling basis. Firefighters looking to attend a session can view the calendar listing below. Firefighters looking to host an educational session should contact their county's fire coordinator.