The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) Research funding at two Western Universities that will focus on how wildland firefighters’ work affects their health.
The $305, 000 will fund projects to be conducted by researchers at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) and the University of Alberta, the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rular Developments (FLNRORD) said in a news release on Oct.29.
”Our firefighters And during the record jungle seasons”, the British Columbian worked hard on the front lines to keep residents safe”. said FLNRORD minister Doug Donaldson. ”These studies will provide support for their long-term health and well-being.”
The UNBC portion of the research will be led by Chelsea Pelletier, an assistant professor at UNBC’s School of Health Sciences
Peltier will examine scientific literature from all over the world dimensions of firefighter health, including physical, mental and emotional aspects, will be examined.
Her work will try to find solutions to any night health problems firefighters face and ” identify any gaps in the work-related health knowledge of wild land firefighters and associated personnel.”
The results of the project will help BCWS design a long-term strategy for the worker’s health. It is expected to be completed in the summer of 2020.
The University of Alberta research will be led by Nicola Cherry, the chair of occupational health with that university’s Division of Preventive Medicine
Cherry will look at hydrocarbons in the air that firefighters inhale and Firefighters breath and accumulate on their skin, the effectiveness of respiratory and if wild land firefighters suffer from lung diseases compared to other people of the same gender and geography.
About 50 BCWS firefighters have taken part in that study and firefighters from Alberta are going to join it as well.
A progress report on Cherry’s research is expected in March 2020.
