100 Club of Arizona donates kits to fire agencies to help prevent cancer
Jan 23, 2020, 4:45 AM | Updated: 7:17 am
(KTAR News Photo/Ali Vetnar)
PHOENIX — The 100 Club of Arizona is working to protect Arizona firefighters in the long run.
The organization donated 400 washdown kits to 26 different fire agencies across the state in an effort to prevent cancer.
“Unfortunately, when people think of the 100 Club of Arizona, they think line of line of duty deaths,” President and CEO of the 100 Club of Arizona Angela Harrolle told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Wednesday. “However, one of our greatest missions right now is to be more proactive.”
The washdown kits will help wash deadly carcinogens off firefighters when they get done on a fire call. The kits include an adapter for the fire truck, hose, dish soap, scrub brush and storage bucket.
.@100ClubAZ donated 400 wash down kits to 26 fire agencies across AZ. They include an adapter for the fire truck, hose, dish soap, & scrub brush to get carcinogens off firefighters faster. Hear more about the proactive/preventive measures tomorrow on @KTAR923 and @AZMorningNews. pic.twitter.com/iNdCF5XGpp
— Ali Vetnar (@Ali_Vetnar) January 23, 2020
Scottsdale Fire Deputy Chief Adam Hoster said this is just another preventive measure they will implement in their department.
“It’s a conversational piece, we’re trying protect you during your career as a firefighter but also sustain you for a healthy retirement as well,” Hoster said.
Research from the University of Arizona showed using the kits immediately after a fire, before getting back in the fire truck and returning to the fire station can help reduce cancer causing contaminants by up to 80%.
“We would much rather provide equipment to enhance the safety of our firefighters that would actually protect them in their environment, rather than meeting their family after a catastrophic event,” Harrolle added.
Most departments across the Valley have two sets of turnout fire proof gear, so once they have a fire they send in the dirty gear to get cleaned. The washdown kits will help during the time in between the gear being sent in for decontamination.
With cancer being the leading cause of death for firefighters, the 100 Club of Arizona has supported the families of six Arizona firefighters who have died from an occupational cancer in the past 18 months.
The 100 Club of Arizona is currently supporting five Arizona firefighters who are currently facing cancer treatment.