New law aims to protect firefighters

WASHINGTON, D.C. » A newfederal registry inspired by a Central New York fire chief will track cancer incidences among firefighters.

President Donald Trump signed the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act into law on Thursday. The law, which was cosponsored by Claudia Tenney, R-22, will potentially save lies by allowing researchers to better understand cancer incidences among firefighters. Although there is a network of existing state-based cancer registries, no centralized nation-wide registry cur- rently exists. Through the Firef ighter Cancer Registry Act, the CDC will be able to track occupational information relevant to the health and safety of firefighters.

“Firefighters put their lives on the line every day for the safety of our community and it is our responsibility to do all we can to keep them out of harm’s way while on duty,” Tenney said. “Our legislation will utilize existing resources at the federal level to improve

the coordination of vital research on cancer incidences among firefighters. As research advances, this information can be used to provide better safeguards and protocols for our nation’s 300,000 professional firefighters and emergency medical responders.”

Tenney said the legislation was inspired by advocate Brian McQueen, who served as fire chief from 1999 to 2002 at the Whites- boro Volunteer Fire Department and currently serves as a lieutenant and safety officer, in addition to serving on the Board of Directors of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York.

Analyzing this data will potentially lead to the de- velopment of new protocols and safety measures to better protect the safety of firefighters. Additionally, the bill gives the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the ability to work with experts in the field to further refine and advance these safety measures.

In 2013, McQueen was diagnosed with B Cell NonHodgkin’s Lymphoma. Following his battle with cancer, McQueen joined members of the Barneveld Fire Department to found Believe 271, to assist volunteer firefighters and EMTs who are battling cancer and life-threatening illnesses. Studies have found that firefighters have a higher incidence of cancer due to service than other first responders. According to one estimate, nearly 60 percent of deaths among firefighters in the line-of-duty are caused by cancer.

Claudia Tenney