VIDEO: Cancer is among the leading cause of death for firefighters. A new partnership between Sarasota Memorial’s Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute and local fire stations aims to help change that and save more lives.
“When firefighters joined the fire department, we knew it was a dangerous job. What we didn’t know was that over a period of years, the cumulative effect, what it would cause on our bodies and we are just learning that now,” said Longboat Key Fire Chief Paul Dezzi.
Longboat Key Fire Rescue has been working with SMH for about a year now on a “Firefighter Cancer Collaborative.” According to a news release, the initiative aims to “raise awareness about the occupational hazards of the profession and share important safeguards and steps firefighters can take to reduce their exposure to hazardous and cancer-causing agents.”