Support Your Lung Health
October 27, 2015
This week is Respiratory Care Week, with Wednesday designated Lung Health Day. The event is designed to help raise awareness for improving lung health around the word. Lung health remains a focus in November, which serves as Lung Cancer Awareness Month as well as contains the Great American Smokeout on November 19.
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| Photo courtesy of Lauralee Veitch |
Lung health is especially critical for members of the fire and emergency services. Firefighters are at greater risk of inhaling carcinogens that could result in life threatening or life altering lung diseases such as cancer, emphysema, and COPD. Full and proper use of PPE and SCBA during response and overhaul are critical components in protecting yourself against these threats. Since carcinogens cling to materials, proper cleaning and storage of gear is also necessary to prevent long-term illness. Lifestyle choices such as smoking put you at additional risk – so if you smoke, take steps to quit.
Here are some resources to help you focus on lung health and disease prevention:
- Firefighter Cancer Prevention and Awareness – National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC)
- PPE Video Series – NVFC
- Overhaul: What’s the Worst that Could Happen? – NVFC course through Virtual Classroom
- Cancer in the Fire Service: A Growing Epidemic – NVFC course through Virtual Classroom
- Know your Health: A New Look at Why I Smoke and How to Quit – NVFC course through ESIP training platform (register for free with code 6832)
- Smoking Cessation Tips and Resources – NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program
- Implementing a Department Smoking Ban – NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program
- Improve Your Lung Health – NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program
- Lung Diseases – NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program
- Lung Cancer Awareness – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Lung Cancer – American Cancer Society
- Great American Smokeout – American Cancer Society
- Respiratory Care Week – American Association for Respiratory Care
