pLOWVILLE — Although they are exposed to a plethora of cancer-causing chemicals on the job, volunteer firefighters often do not receive medical coverage when diagnosed with cancer because they are volunteers./ppThis was the main idea presented to Lewis County firefighters by the Firemen’s Association of New York State on Wednesday evening during a presentation at the Lowville Fire Department./ppThe statewide advocacy group for more than 90,000 volunteer firefighters and emergency service workers offered local volunteers advice on how to protect against carcinogens and highlighted pieces of legislation it is lobbying for that will protect cancer-stricken volunteers./pp“It was an outline on what we can do to help protect ourselves from getting cancer and what our communities can do to help assist with this,” said Robert A. Mackenzie III, director of the county’s Department of Fire and Emergency Management. “The presentation focused on keeping clean turnout gear. It used to be that a firefighter with a sooty face was a badge of honor, but it’s the soot on his face that can cause that cancer.”/ppUnder current state guidelines, he said, municipal firefighters who are paid to fight fires receive medical coverage for a cancer caused by carcinogens encountered on the job./pp“But volunteers don’t get that same coverage, and neither do federal firefighters, although we fight the same fires,” he said. /ppAs a longtime volunteer fireman and paramedic for the Lyons Falls Fire Department, Mr. Mackenzie said he finds this lack of policy frustrating./pp“The cancer rates among volunteers are just unacceptable,” he said. “Today’s houses aren’t what they used to be years ago. Everything, from our furniture to our carpets to the drapes on our walls — all of it has carcinogens that when ignited become airborne. These toxins become embedded in our turnout gear and in our firefighting hoods. They’re embedded in our skin.”/ppMr. Mackenzie said to deny coverage to the very men and women who are volunteering their time to protect their communities is wrong. He said the average active volunteer firefighter serves about 320 hours a year, the equivalent of eight unpaid weeks of service./pp“Me, personally, I don’t understand it,” he said. “Currently, the only credit we get for volunteering to provide this vital service in our communities is a $200 tax credit.”/ppMr. Mackenzie said local fire departments, with FASNY, have contacted the north country’s elected officials about the issue, urging them to pass the “Presumptive Cancer Coverage Bill,” which has been introduced into the state Senate and Assembly./ppThe bills, cosponsored by Assemblyman Kenneth D. Blankenbush, R-Black River, and Sens. Joseph A. Griffo, R-Rome, and Patricia A. Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, would extend cancer coverage to volunteers./ppThey are considered top priorities on FASNY’s “2016 Legislative Scorecard,” as is a bill that would prohibit the use of carcinogenic chemical flame retardants on residential upholstered furniture./ppTo view additional legislation prioritized by FASNY, visit http://wdt.me/fasny-legislation./p
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