Co-Sponsorship Memo Details

­­­­­­While many believe flames and smoke inhalation are the biggest safety risk to our firefighters, cancer is the leading cause of death. When working in the fire service, cancer rates are high among firefighters because they are exposed to burning chemicals, plastics, and other toxic carcinogenic materials during a fire.
 
I will soon be introducing legislation that establishes a voluntary firefighter cancer registry. Specifically, my legislation will require the Department of Health to develop and maintain a voluntary firefighter cancer registry for Pennsylvania. The department will then review the data collected in the registry and publish it online for public review while maintaining confidentiality of the firefighters who choose to register. The department will also be required to issue a report of the data to the Governor and the General Assembly each year.
 
As a volunteer firefighter, I understand the risks that our firefighters undergo to their personal health and safety when they answer a call. By sharing exposure and diagnostic information with other cancer registries in our Commonwealth, this legislation can help us better understand risk factors and reduce cancer in firefighters.
 
Please join me in protecting the health of our firefighters and future generations of our fire service by signing on as a co-sponsor of this legislation.