2023 -- H 5024

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING JANUARY OF 2023, TO BE "FIREFIGHTER CANCER AWARENESS

MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Azzinaro, Shekarchi, Casey, Blazejewski, Chippendale,
Noret, Shanley, Craven, Solomon, and Serpa

     Date Introduced: January 10, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Tragically, occupational cancer has surpassed heart disease as the leading

line-of-duty cause of death among firefighters. From 2015 to 2020, nearly 75 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 2023, 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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