FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) — The risks firefighters face while fighting fires are clear, but there are also concerns about the protective clothing, known as turnout gear, they wear.
Firefighters can be exposed to hundreds of different chemicals in the form of gases, vapors, and particles. Men and women on the frontlines can get breathe them in, get them on their skin or in their eyes, or ingest them, which can increase the risk of cancer.
“It started with losing firefighters, I can’t stomach that,” firefighter Jason Burns said. “I can’t see another widow or fatherless child.”
For years, firefighters like Burns have dealt with the loss of young men and women to work-related cancer. It is a leading cause of death for firefighters across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read More…
Leave a Reply