PREVENTION
HOW WE ARE HELPING
FIREFIGHTERS
Prevention is one of our top priorities. Through a combination of education, advocacy, partnership, and funding the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation works to prevent unnecessary exposures to carcinogenic toxins for firefighters on the job.
We educate every incoming SFFD fire academy class about the cancer risks in our profession. We also provide continuing education to San Francisco firefighters throughout their careers on cancer risks and steps they can take to reduce exposures.
View our Pre- And Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) Substance Awareness slideshow HERE.
Working with community partners and firefighting industry leaders, we advocate for changes in regulations and legislation, and to raise awareness and reduce the presence of toxins on the fire ground and in our homes and workplaces. It is increasingly clear that firefighting foam and protective equipment are included in this category, and we are committed to seeking safer alternatives.
View the Firefighting Foam webinar (June 23, 2021) that our board director, FF Arlene Nuñez participated in on the value of PFAS-free firefighting foam and the standard set by GreenScreen Certified, a program of Clean Production Action.
Working with the administrations of the SFFD, we help craft policy changes and emphasize the need for more and safer personal protective equipment to help reduce the risk of job-related cancer.
As new technology becomes available, the SFFCPF has put forward the seed money to launch pilot programs that protect firefighters. The adoption of commercial extractors to clean turnouts by the SFFD began with the purchase of the first ten extractors by the Foundation. We are now supporting a pilot program exploring the use of infrared saunas after fire exposures.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
FEATURED NEWS
RELATED POSTS
PREVENTION
GreenScreen Firefighting Foam Webinar
GreenScreen For Safer Chemicals View presentations by and a discussion with Arlene Nuñez, Holly Davies, and Shari Franjevic [...]
The First Independent Certification for PFAS-free Foam
Green Screen Chemicals Clean Production Action is a non-profit dedicated to producing solutions for a safer chemicals economy. [...]
Resolutions Pass to Protect Firefighters from Toxic Substances in PPE
San Francisco Firefighter Cancer Prevention Foundation Delegates at the IAFF 55th Convention voted overwhelmingly in favor of resolutions [...]
Cancer Prevention in the Fire Service
University of Arizona, Tucson Fire Department, FDIC International The University of Arizona, the Tucson Fire Department, and the [...]
Pre- And Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) Substance Awareness Slideshow
By SFFCPF At the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation, we educate every incoming SFFD fire academy class [...]
Dark Waters Movie | Exposé on Dupont and The Chemicals Industry
Focus Features From Participant, DARK WATERS tells the shocking and heroic story of an attorney who risks his [...]
‘A Silent Killer’: 9 South Metro Firefighters Battling Cancer
By Fox News Denver It was February 2, 2017 when South Metro Firefighter Tony Palato went in for [...]
New Threats Put Wildfire Fighters’ Health on the Line
By New York Times (feat. Capt Matt Alba) America's rapid suburban expansion into the wilderness, combined with the [...]
Firefighters Battle Occupational Cancer
By CBS News Every day firefighters risk their own lives to protect the lives of others. Firefighters like [...]
‘It’s Killing Us’: Why Firefighters are Battling to Ban Flame Retardants
By The Guardian Massachusetts has failed to sign a bill banning flame retardants into law [...]
NH Senators Call for Replacing Firefighter Gear with Potentially Carcinogenic Chemicals
By NBC 10 Boston Two New England senators are calling for at least some firefighter protective turnout gear [...]
Cancer Awareness & Prevention: Time for a Cultural Change
By Tony Stefani, Firehouse SFFCPF's Tony Stefani explains the importance of firefighters accepting the magnitude of the chemical exposure [...]
Surviving A Fire Service Career
By Captain Jennifer Chadwick and Lieutenant Dino Bissaro of the SAFD Understanding occupational cancer and prevention are key [...]
Firefighter Health
By Tony Stefani “You have cancer”—three mind-numbing words that now seem to resonate throughout the entire firefighting profession. [...]
The States That Don’t Protect Sick Firefighters
By The Atlantic First responders get cancer at higher rates, but in some states, they battle for benefits [...]
Firefighters and Flame Retardant Activism
By Cordner et al. In the past decade, exposure to flame retardant chemicals has become a pressing health [...]
Saving Our Own | Cancer Prevention
By The Boston FD Firefighters in Boston are battling a cancer epidemic, but there are steps that can be [...]
Saving Our Own | Recalling Colleagues Who Died From Occupational Cancer
By The Boston FD In Recalling Colleagues Who Died From Occupation Cancer by The Boston FD, three city firefighters [...]
Flame Retardant Study in SF Firefighters
Firefighters may be exposed to a wide range of toxic chemicals both during and while cleaning up after fires. A study [...]
Fear Fans Flames for Chemical Makers
By The Chicago Tribune The Chicago Tribune released an article highlighting Dr. David Heimbach's exceptional storytelling that is part [...]