January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month

January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month in Canada.

2024 marks the first year this designation has been recognized in Canada.

The purpose is to highlight the dangers posed to firefighters by toxic substances in the course of their jobs and to provide the tools and protocols for illness prevention.

Cancer accounts for more than 86 per cent of all duty-related deaths among Canadian firefighters. These dedicated individuals face a 9 per cent higher risk of cancer diagnosis and a 14 per cent higher risk of cancer-related mortality compared to the general population.

Federal Health Minister Mark Holland released a statement that reads in part, "is currently developing a comprehensive national framework to raise awareness on this issue, with the goal of improving access to cancer prevention and treatment for firefighters."