Contacts:
Tim Elliott | FCSN
818-919-5430 | telliott@fcsn.net
Creston Ludlow | Firewipes
602-410-5005 | cludlow@firewipes.com
For immediate release
March 1, 2017
FCSN partners with Firewipes to help prevent firefighter cancer Firefighter cancer nonprofit, fire-service company working together to help firefighters and their families Burbank, California – The nonprofit Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) announced today its sustaining partnership with Firewipes, a provider of cleansing wipes designed to remove carcinogenic contaminants after firefighters’ exposure to hazardous environments. Cancer is a leading cause of firefighter line-of-duty deaths in the United States. Cancer caused 62 percent of the line-of-duty deaths for career firefighters in 2015, according to International Association of Fire Fighters data. Cancer is a looming personal catastrophe for every firefighter. Since 2005, FCSN has provided assistance and one-on-one mentoring to thousands of cancer-stricken firefighters and their families. FCSN also delivers extensive firefighter cancer awareness and prevention training nationwide.
“Even with today’s advanced materials, particulates and vapors can still permeate firefighters’ PPE and reach their skin,” said Firewipes CEO Creston Ludlow, a 15-year veteran career firefighter. “We want to reinforce FCSN’s call for new safety practices, including gross decon with cleansing wipes on scene.”
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“Removing fireground contaminants from the skin can reduce the risk of exposure to carcinogens,” Ludlow said. Firewipes joined FCSN’s sustaining partner program in October 2016 with a three-year financial commitment. “Although FCSN does not endorse any product or service, we’re happy to have Firewipes as an official FCSN sustaining partner,” said FCSN VP of Education Keith Tyson, a 34-year veteran firefighter retired from the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department. “The steady financial support from Firewipes means that FCSN can deliver services to even more firefighters and their families after a cancer diagnosis. It also helps us expand our cancer prevention training, which is so important now.”
Multiple studies, including a federal National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) cancer study released in 2013, have repeatedly illustrated higher rates of multiple
types of cancers in firefighters compared to the general American population. FCSN’s widely-hailed 2013 white paper, “Taking Action Against Cancer in the Fire Service,” provides lifesaving details about recognizing and reducing firefighters’ cancer risks. It’s available as a free download from FCSNwhitepaper13_CQ.
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About FCSN
FCSN is a 501(c)(3) organization established by Los Angeles County Firefighter Paramedic Michael Dubron, a survivor of stage IV colon cancer. FCSN’s objective is to provide timely assistance to all fire and EMS personnel and their family members who have been diagnosed with cancer. FCSN offers unique expertise through its network of peer-support mentors. FCSN also delivers extensive firefighter cancer awareness and prevention training nationwide. For details, please visit firefightercancersupport.org.
About Firewipes
Firewipes are helping to tackle the problem of firefighters’ extended exposure to harmful carcinogenic contaminants. For details, please visit firewipes.com and booth 603 during
FDIC 2017.
The nonprofit Firefighter Cancer Support Network relies on charitable donations from individuals, families, organizations, and sponsors to maintain and expand its firefighter cancer support, awareness, and prevention programs. FCSN does not endorse any product or service. See annual disclosure notice at bit.ly/FCSNdisclosure.
