Perceptions of Work-Related Health and Cancer Risks Among Women Firefighters: A Qualitative Study

Natasha Schaefer Solle1, Katerina M Santiago, Paola Louzado Feliciano

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida (Dr Solle); Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida (Ms Santiago, Ms Louzado Feliciano, and Dr Caban-Martinez); Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida (Dr Solle and Dr Caban-Martinez); Division of Field Studies and Engineering (DFSE), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio (Dr Calkins and Dr Fent); Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research, National Development & Research Institutes, Leawood, Kansas (Dr Jahnke); San Francisco Fire Department, SF, California (Ms Parks and Ms Buren); Fire Protection Research Foundation, Quincy, Massachusetts (Grant); Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (Dr Burgess).

Summary

Women firefighters face significant health concerns, including occupational cancer risks and specific women's health issues. They report a lack of tailored health and safety resources within the fire service.

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