Fire/EMS

Washington – Firefighters who work for federal agencies and contract certain diseases on the job would be ensured federal workers’ compensation coverage under newly introduced bipartisan legislation.

Research Triangle Park, NC – The second phase of a study to evaluate the health of cleanup workers who responded to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill is beginning, and researchers are encouraging participants to stay involved with the project.

San Francisco – First responders who were exposed to particulate matter at Ground Zero during and after 9/11 may be at higher risk for sleep apnea and post-traumatic stress disorder, suggest two new studies presented March 20 at the American Heart Association's EPI/NPAM 2014 Scientific Sessions.

Washington – NIOSH has launched an initiative aimed at better protecting responders before, during and after a large disaster.

Emmitsburg, MD – The U.S. Fire Administration recently issued a report summarizing its research on emergency vehicle and roadway operations safety.

Greenbelt, MD – To help address growing concerns about the prevalence of suicide among firefighters and emergency medical service technicians, the National Volunteer Fire Council is scheduled to host a free webinar Feb. 25.

Ottawa – Repeated exposure to heat stress on the job may cause experienced firefighters to become more tolerant to its effects, suggests a new study http://oeh.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/15459624.2013.821574 from the University of Ottawa.

New York – The nation is not prepared to protect emergency response workers’ safety and health should another 9/11-scale disaster occur, according to a report from the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health.

New York – Exposure to toxic dust at Ground Zero on 9/11 may have caused kidney damage among first responders, according to a new study from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Washington – Firefighters are more likely to develop a variety of cancers than the general public, suggests a new study from NIOSH.