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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

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

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

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firefighters added to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) National Fallen Fire

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Fighters Memorial died from occupational cancer; and

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     WHEREAS, In response to this growing problem, the IAFF and the Firefighter Support

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Network are teaming up and combining resources to tackle this growing problem and are working

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tirelessly and striving daily to reduce the impact of cancer on firefighters through better education

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and prevention resources within fire departments across the nation and with a particular focus on

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early detection; and

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     WHEREAS, According to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, firefighters have a

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nine percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a fourteen percent higher risk of

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dying from cancer than the general United States population citing research conducted by the

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CDC/National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH). The cancers most

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responsible for this higher risk are respiratory (lung and mesothelioma), GI (oral cavity,

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esophageal, large intestine) and kidney; and

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     WHEREAS, Overall, firefighters have a greater risk of getting certain cancers than the

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general public with testicular cancer being 2.02 times higher, mesothelioma being 2 times higher,

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multiple myeloma 1.53 times higher, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma being 1.51 times higher, skin

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cancer being 1.39 times higher, malignant melanoma being 1.31 times higher, brain cancer being

 

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1.31 times higher, prostate cancer being 1.28 times higher, colon cancer being 1.21 times higher,

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and leukemia being 1.14 times higher; and

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     WHEREAS, America and Rhode Island's firefighters are dedicated public safety

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professionals who often risk life and limb to protect people's lives and property. They deserve our

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support and the resources necessary to do everything possible to reduce their greater chances of

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being diagnosed with and perishing from cancer; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

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proclaims January of 2023, to be "Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode

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Island; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the International Association of Fire Fighters

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(IAFF).

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