Pundits of cancer’s grip on the firefighter community are no concern to Cottleville Community Fire Protection District (Mo.) Chief Rob Wylie — he has seen his staff fall victim to it firsthand. In fact, Wyile said 10% of his 50-person career work force has been diagnosed with cancer in the last four years.
Two long-time firefighters currently are undergoing intensive cancer treatments, Firefighter Mike Bailey died of colon cancer on Dec. 31 at the age of 56, and Capt. Jim McNamara recently lost his fight to pancreatic cancer at age 61.
Now, Wylie is making it his personal mission to fight cancer through prevention and by discussing taboo medical topics with his staff.
It started when he became chief six-years ago, when the department instituted the IAFC/IAFF wellness initiatives and standards that called for screenings and physicals.
“We were making all of [our staff] go to an annual physical that … included cancer screening, such as for prostate cancer,” he said.
However, HIPAA laws prevented chiefs from knowing the full extent of firefighters’ ailments. HIPAA is a personal privacy act used to protect patients. What the chief does get is a classification report, which is part of the IAFC/IAFF wellness standard. Class 1 classification means a staffer is OK to work. Class 2 means follow up is needed, and Class 3 means personnel must be pulled from the truck.
“The reports had no indication that our folks had anything until Jim [McNamara] was diagnosed,” Wylie said. “At the time it was diagnosed, it had metastasized and moved into other parts of his body.”
Wylie went back to the department’s healthcare provider and asked how the cancer could have been missed and what could be done to prevent the oversight. The provider said the screenings worked. However, there were warning signs and recommended follow up pointed out to the individuals that, because of HIPAA, could not be shared with the chief.
“It’s 100% personal responsibility [in this case],” he said. “We tell [the staff] all the time that they have to be their best own health advocate … that they know their body and what’s normal. And if something is not right, they have to act on. And certainly, during the physical, someone tells them you should follow up … you need to follow up.”
To fight the taboo that “it’s weak” to go to the doctor, Wylie is bringing the conversation even further into the open. During shift and departmental meetings, command staff address health with an emphasis on the importance of screenings, the need for a primary-care doctor, and the importance of following up on findings. They also discuss age-related tests, like the need to have a colonoscopy after after age 50.
Wylie’s also not afraid to bring up medical care in casual conversations and address firefighters one-on-one. As HIPPA does not let him know the details of his staff members’ health, “all I can do and our officers can do is to hound them and say is there anything you are suppose to be following up on.”
He admits that nobody really wants to talk about a colonoscopy or “get something shoved up their butt,” he said. “But that is part of your personal responsibility for your own health care. You owe it to your family, yourself and your crew mates.”
Regular screening becomes more important in a job where staff is exposed to toxins and carcinogens, Wylie said. While there is some debate about whether the cancers were related to the job, the chief isn’t taking any chances and recently implemented a hydrogen-cyanide air monitor on scene that lets staff know when it’s safe to remove SCBA.
“I don’t know, but I am going to err on the side of caution and say there is a link to what we do,” he said. “So let’s look at opportunities to minimize exposure.”
Wylie said chiefs should lead by an example when it comes to their own health.
“Make sure you get the tests done and let people know you did it,” he said.
Related links:
Subscribe
Subscribe
Subscribe
Subscribe
Subscribe
Subscribe
