| R 037 |
| 2024 -- H 7191 Enacted 01/16/2024 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| PROCLAIMING JANUARY OF 2024, TO BE "FIREFIGHTER CANCER AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Representatives Casimiro, Casey, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Spears, Shanley, Noret, Serpa, and Solomon |
| Date Introduced: January 16, 2024 |
| WHEREAS, Tragically, occupational cancer has surpassed heart disease as the leading |
| line-of-duty cause of death among firefighters. In 2023, 63 percent of the firefighters added to the |
| International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) National Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial died |
| from occupational cancer; and |
| WHEREAS, In response to this growing problem, the IAFF and the Firefighter Support |
| Network are teaming up and combining resources to tackle this growing problem and are working |
| tirelessly and striving daily to reduce the impact of cancer on firefighters through better education |
| and prevention resources within fire departments across the nation and with a particular focus on |
| early detection; and |
| WHEREAS, According to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, firefighters have a |
| nine percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a fourteen percent higher risk of |
| dying from cancer than the general United States population citing research conducted by the |
| CDC/National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH). The cancers most |
| responsible for this higher risk are respiratory (lung and mesothelioma), GI (oral cavity, |
| esophageal, large intestine) and kidney; and |
| WHEREAS, Overall, firefighters have a greater risk of getting certain cancers than the |
| general public with testicular cancer being 2.02 times higher, mesothelioma being 2 times higher, |
| multiple myeloma 1.53 times higher, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma being 1.51 times higher, skin |
| cancer being 1.39 times higher, malignant melanoma being 1.31 times higher, brain cancer being |
| 1.31 times higher, prostate cancer being 1.28 times higher, colon cancer being 1.21 times higher, |
| and leukemia being 1.14 times higher; and |
| WHEREAS, America and Rhode Island's firefighters are dedicated public safety |
| professionals who often risk life and limb to protect people's lives and property. They deserve our |
| support and the resources necessary to do everything possible to reduce their greater chances of |
| being diagnosed with and perishing from cancer; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| proclaims January of 2024, to be "Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode |
| Island; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the International Association of Fire Fighters |
| (IAFF). |
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| LC004010 |
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