In partnership with the International Association of Fire Fighters, and now into its second year, January is designated as Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month to provide fire fighters the necessary tools and guidance to develop life-saving protocols for cancer prevention and to support those with a cancer diagnosis within their departments.
Canada recognized this with the adoption of Bill C-224. Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness month is focusing on “Doing it Right”. We talked with Christy Bruinink, from Mount Brydges, her late husband Firefighter Chris Bruinink was diagnosed in December of 2020 with colon cancer which was acquired through 25 years of exposures to chemicals and carcinogens on the job and passed away in November of 2023. She says he was a true advocate of the cause and she says having this month established is very important.
Chris often spoke to local fire departments to spread the message.
For 2024, approximately 75% of the Line of duty deaths of IAFF members were from Occupational Cancer and Bruinink says she’s not surprised.
She says this year a new symbol for the cause has been introduced.
At the 2023 IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial, almost 66% of the names added to the wall from 2002-2023 were members who had died from occupational cancer.
She says if she were to share a message to the public it would be this.
Since 2005, FCSN has been a lifeline for thousands of cancer-stricken fire fighters, offering one-on-one mentoring, critical support, and hope when it’s needed most.
Written by: C. Soares