The International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (VCOS) and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have released an update to the Lavender Ribbon Report that provides 11 best practices for reducing exposure risks and preventing occupationally caused cancer in firefighters. The new Lavender Ribbon Report Update includes additional information, essays, articles, research, and ideas for successfully implementing the best practices.

Unfortunately, this topic has had a significantly increasing impact on firefighter health and welfare. We have started to see great strides by departments and responders everywhere in combatting and preventing cancer, but more still needs to be done. The time is NOW to make changes. 

Our hope is that this report provides a helpful summary of best practice solutions to implement in your departments to prevent cancer. We’ve aimed to keep this report focused and easily digestible to give you real takeaways and solutions. Divided into 11 best practices, the report provides background information, statistics, resources and action items to put into place.

It is imperative that local leaders take this report to heart and spend the time and energy to make changes to improve the safety and health of responders. Too often, we hear about firefighters suffering from and dying of cancer. What if we had done things differently and washed our personal protective equipment (PPE) thoroughly and stored it in a better way? There are many relatively cost-effective actions that can be taken to make a difference. 

The VCOS and NVFC leadership would like to thank the committee that worked diligently to put this report together. A lot of hours and hard work went into compiling this report. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this report. Please help us distribute this life-saving information. Stay safe out there.