There are some real dangers to being a firefighter, far beyond the smoke and flames.
Gord Schreiner spoke at Carrot River’s Fire Officer Boot Camp about the increased risk of cancer they face as firefighters.
“We’re learning more and more over the last many years that firefighters are dying from cancer, more so than the average citizen, in fact, about 15 per cent higher,” said Schreiner.
Some of the factors that may contribute to the increased cancer rate are higher stress, poorer diet and lack of sleep, as well as carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) at scenes of fires.
“The fires we go to are by and large lots of plastics and toxic chemicals, car fires, those types of things.”
Schreiner said that wearing equipment, as well as upgrading it, can assist with cancer prevention.
“The other thing that we’re learning is that even though we have some good equipment, we have to be able to clean that equipment more often,” he said. “Firefighters get issued a jacket that they wear for five years without it washed, so we’re carrying carcinogens around with us all day long.
“It’s no wonder we’re getting higher rates of cancer.”
Schreiner, who has 32 years of fire service to his name and lives in Comox, B.C., was one of several speakers during the March 10 to 12 event. He also spoke about safety in training and firefighter rehabilitation.
Les Karpluk spoke about good leadership and understanding the different types of workers and generations in a fire hall.
He said that millennials need more feedback.
“We don’t tell our people enough how much we appreciate them,” Karpluk told the group. “We need to tell every generation they’re doing a good job.
Schreiner commended Carrot River for putting on the event, which Scott Debienne, the fire chief, described as one of a kind.
“Carrot River is lucky to have this. There’s nothing like this anywhere else,” said Debienne.
The event, in its third year, saw firefighters from all corners of Saskatchewan as well as communities in Manitoba.
“I’ve had people right across Canada and down into the States express an interest in this thing and we’re planning for 2018 already.”
The Boot Camp was originally started when Debienne was looking for a way to help his firefighters become fire officers.
