Fire isn’t the biggest threat facing firefighters: it’s cancer.

Cases among firefighters are explosion. Four firefighters currently employed by the Sherbrooke Fire Protection Service (SPIS) and seven retirees have developed cancer linked to their profession in recent years. This is without counting the three deaths that have occurred since 2019 within the service.

A figure that tends to rise over the years. If previously, the majority of constructions were made of wood, today, several materials are used. When they burn, the fumes which enter the respiratory tract and which also come into contact with the skin could be responsible for these cancers.

Alexandre Groleau is one of them. The head of division at SPIS Currently battling leukemia. Even if his medical file increased in 2018, the firefighter is still doing well under the circumstances. CNESST”,”text”:”I can’t complain about that. I have good treatments. The situation is stable. It is an occupational disease which has been recognized by the CNESST”}}”>I can’t complain about it. I have good treatments. The situation is stable. It is an occupational disease which has been recognized by the CNESSThe told the microphone of Looking forward to the return.

Currently, nine types of cancer are recognized by the Commission for Standards, Equity, Health and Safety at Work (CNESST) as being an occupational disease. In the case of Alexandre Groleau, he had to take numerous steps for three years to get the organization to recognize that his illness was directly linked to his work.

Alexandre Groleau’s daily life is now filled with medications, immunotherapy and medical appointments. I also had prolonged work stoppages at certain times in my life during relapses.

Everyone has their struggle in life. It’s mine.

Working methods are changing

He admits to having changed his way of working in order not to come into too much contact with substances that could be carcinogenic. I expose myself as little as possible. At fire scenes, I will stay within the perimeter, but I will stay far away under my doctor’s recommendations.

CNESST has published the Guide to good practices on cancer prevention among firefighters produced by theAPSAM,“,”text”:”We hope that the curve will go back down, but we are currently at the peak of this curve. We have been more aware for eight years, when the CNESST published the Guide to good practices on the prevention of cancer among firefighters produced by the APSAM,”}}”>We hope that the curve will go down, but we are currently at the peak of this curve. We have been more aware for eight years, when the CNESST published the Guide to good practices on cancer prevention among firefighters produced by theAPSAM, says Mr. Groleau.

Since then, several measures have been put in place and investments have been made to protect firefighters from cases of cancer. Despite everything, cancers are increasing and not decreasinghe laments.

He claims that the profession has made a 180-degree turn in terms of decontamination. For example, a firefighter returning from a fire must take a shower within an hour before returning to duty. Also, the engineers have two complete combat outfits and they are placed in special bags to prevent harmful substances from spreading into the passenger compartment of the trucks.

We hope that the measures put in place will bear fruit in bringing the curve down.