EMS

Protect Yourself and Your Family: Report Your Toxic Exposures

With cancer becoming one of the leading causes of death among firefighters, and as cancer diagnoses become a regular occurrence in the fire service, it is imperative that firefighters and EMS personnel report exposures on a regular basis. CPF’s Personal Exposure Reporting (PER) offers users a one-stop platform to seamlessly report exposures to cancer causing chemicals and biological toxins.

Firefighters are nine percent more likely to be diagnosed with cancer and have a 14 percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population, according to research by the CDC/National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH). Additionally, the International Agency for Research on Cancer determined in 2022 that firefighting is classified as a Group 1 carcinogenic occupation and that exposures from firefighting leads to higher rates of cancer.

Through CPF's dedicated work, the California State Legislature has recognized the significant health hazards to all firefighters and adopted strong presumptive laws. Though heart disease, cancer and some blood-borne illnesses are covered under California’s firefighter presumption laws, workers’ compensation, disability and even survivor benefits for families can be – and often are – challenged by employers.

To protect yourself and your family, you need proof, and the fully digitized PER platform that CPF offers provides you with what you need. PER meets the linkage requirements for cancer. It meets the test for proving exposure in rebuttable presumption cases.

While California has some of the most robust presumption laws in the nation, the complex environment surrounding the workers’ compensation system requires CPF members to further protect themselves by reporting exposures. These reports can be used to ensure timely access to benefits and treatment in the event of an on-the-job illness diagnosis, and during the medical evaluation process where workers’ compensation eligibility is determined.

It only takes a few minutes to report exposures—a few minutes to protect yourself, and more importantly—protect your family.

For additional information on PER, please visit www.peronline.org, email per@cpf.org, or contact Kevin Greene, CPF EMS/Health & Safety Director at kgreene@cpf.org or (916) 921-9111.

CHAPTER 1: EMS RULEMAKING UPDATE

CPF continues to be fully engaged with the Emergency Medical Services Authority’s (EMSA’s) EMS Policy Advisory Committee (EPAC). Working with fire service partners, and system stakeholders including the Local EMS Agencies (LEMSA’s), and private ambulance providers to provide a framework for a public rulemaking draft of Chapter 1 Regulations (formerly Chapter 13).

The EPAC has convened three times and continues to focus on the key EMS system issues discussed in previous articles. These include protecting the rights of Health & Safety Code 1797.201 agencies (cities and fire districts that have been administering prehospital care since June 1, 1980), greater transparency and state direction on competitive processes associated with HSC 1797.224, (that determines whether an operating area is exclusive or not), the appropriate role of medical control and the LEMSA within HSC 1797.201 agencies, and how EMS Plans are submitted and evaluated, to improve transparency and data collection to ensure the EMS System continues to innovate and focus on the highest quality of patient care—care best provided by California’s fire service.

CPF will continue to urge EMSA to use the Chapter 1 rulemaking to fully unify and synchronize the administrative practices within the California EMS System. This unification will ensure greater integration and coordination over how LEMSA's are currently executing delivery models throughout the state. Such disjointed service delivery threatens patient care and thwarts innovation in EMS.

The EPAC will continue to meet throughout 2024, and EMSA anticipates the release of a formal public draft in early 2025.