Welcome to Our Mission!
Statistics show that 60% of line of duty deaths are cancer-related. 60%! We want to help firefighters be more aware of this growing problem, and what they can do to prevent it, saving themselves and others through their job!
Overview
Firefighters are our hometown heroes. We depend on their sacrifices to save our lives but they do so at great personal risk, not only from a bravery standpoint but from health risks related to their career. There is a 47% chance that a firefighter will have a cancer diagnosis and half of those will be fatal. Sixty percent of line-of-duty firefighter deaths are from cancer. These are staggering statistics, and Code Red is determined to find ways to lower the risk.
Several types of testing took place as we searched for a solution:
1. Rinse water from engine seats was evaluated using a photon spectrophotometer
2. Bioassay toxicity tests were performed on Daphnia magna
3. Straps were sewn from donated bunker gear and effectively collected contaminants from firemen inside structure fires
4. Strap-contaminants were identified using x-ray fluorescence
5. 30 samples of rinse water were taken from 4 different cycles of washing bunker gear and analyzed using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometer
Results show dangerous elements on the gear, in water exposed to smoke, and in rinse water collected between wash cycles of bunker gear. Gross decontamination on-site with water-only was found to have some effect on reducing exposure but washing gear multiple times instead of once greatly reduced the level of contaminants.
Using a 3-pronged approach including education, prevention, and contribution, these findings were reported to career firemen, and the 70% of firemen serving on volunteer forces. Armed with knowledge, we hope to save the lives of our heroes.
Several types of testing took place as we searched for a solution:
1. Rinse water from engine seats was evaluated using a photon spectrophotometer
2. Bioassay toxicity tests were performed on Daphnia magna
3. Straps were sewn from donated bunker gear and effectively collected contaminants from firemen inside structure fires
4. Strap-contaminants were identified using x-ray fluorescence
5. 30 samples of rinse water were taken from 4 different cycles of washing bunker gear and analyzed using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometer
Results show dangerous elements on the gear, in water exposed to smoke, and in rinse water collected between wash cycles of bunker gear. Gross decontamination on-site with water-only was found to have some effect on reducing exposure but washing gear multiple times instead of once greatly reduced the level of contaminants.
Using a 3-pronged approach including education, prevention, and contribution, these findings were reported to career firemen, and the 70% of firemen serving on volunteer forces. Armed with knowledge, we hope to save the lives of our heroes.
The most common types of cancer in firefighters?
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How YOU Can Help Us With Our Mission
- Be aware! Educate local firefighters of their increased risk of cancer!
- Direct them to our website! We have a ton of information here that they might want to know!