Thursday, March 18, 2010

Firefighters and Mesothelioma

We understand that risking our lives to save others can be part of the job. When we face immediate and obvious dangers we take necessary precautions to help ensure our safety. Unfortunately, we also face exposure to asbestos and many times we may not be aware if the substance is present in the structure. Asbestos exposure can be deadly since it is directly connected to causing mesothelioma cancer. The dust lingers in the air around the area and can also be trapped within clothing or settled onto our apparatus and equipment. Therefore we can become exposed at the fire ground, the fire station, and there have been cases of asbestos fibers being carried home and exposing family members. To help prevent exposure, as firefighters we should take time to clean our turnouts and equipment after a call, and should visit doctors regularly for check ups. Currently there is no cure for mesothelioma, but if the disease is detected early on, there exists several treatment options that have produced favorable results. Every day, tests are providing positive news about mesothelioma treatments from around the world. For more information, questions and concerns about mesothelioma visit
CA Rangel###

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