Frederick, MD (KK) – Senator Chris Van Hollen announced $2 million to implement the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act which allow for better research of the link between firefighting and cancer. The registry will include data about a person’s years of service, number of incidents responded to and more. According to the International Association of Firefighters, cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters in the line of duty.
“The very least we can do is to take measures like this where we can get the information necessary to better protect the firefighters themselves who are working every day to protect the rest of us,” said Senator Van Hollen, (D-MD).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that firefighters have a higher risk for certain kinds of cancer.