Using Collaborative Partnerships to Engage Firefighters in Rural Communities

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Health
• Community-Based Research

Background:

• Firefighters face significant exposure to carcinogens and occupational hazards.
• Understanding exposure pathways is crucial for developing effective protective strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify firefighter behaviors that elevate exposure risks to carcinogens and occupational hazards.
• To leverage community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods for enhanced engagement and data collection.

Main Methods:

• Utilized key informant interviews and focus groups with fire chiefs and association leaders.
• Conducted exposure assessments in fire stations, engines, and personal vehicles.
• Developed survey questions based on identified exposure aspects: smoke, turnout gear, and station environments.

Main Results:

• CBPR facilitated access to a hard-to-reach population and secured leadership buy-in.
• Identified specific behaviors and environmental factors contributing to firefighter exposure.
• Established a foundation for targeted interventions to mitigate risks.

Conclusions:

• CBPR is a valuable approach for researching occupational health in populations like firefighters.
• The study successfully identified key areas of exposure, paving the way for improved safety protocols.
• Partnership with the fire service community is essential for effective occupational health research.