F.F.A.M.

Gold Helmet Recognition

The National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer

Cancer has become a top issue in the fire service and has been for quite some time. Nearly every experienced firefighter knows a brother or sister in the fire service who has had cancer, has undergone significant treatment for cancer, and/or has succumbed to this pervasive disease. We desperately need research to better understand cancer in the fire service, so we can reduce the risk of cancer. The National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer aims to achieve these goals! The NFR for Cancer, which is managed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), is the only nationwide effort to evaluate firefighters’ risk of cancer over time.

It’s important that both firefighters with and without cancer join the NFR. Response from both groups allows NIOSH scientists to compare those who develop cancer over time to those who do not. This will help researchers better understand factors that contribute to cancer development in firefighters. These factors may include exposures from cumulative fire responses, unique exposures from major events or disasters, and sleep disruption. The NFR can also evaluate the impact of protective practices, like routine laundering of turnout gear, use of skin cleansing wipes, and even annual physicals.

The NFR requests participation by all genders, those who have left the profession (e.g., retirees), volunteer, airport-rescue, military, industrial, and wildland firefighters, as well as inspectors, investigators, and instructors. NIOSH’s goal is for 200,000 firefighters to enroll in the NFR. This is about 10% of the eligible population (i.e., ~1 million active firefighters and a similar number of former/retired firefighters).  

Enrollment Steps

Enrollment is straight-forward. Steps 1-5 below can be completed in as little as 5-10 minutes. The time involved to complete the questionnaire, depends largely on the career of the individual. However, the system is designed to allow firefighters to leave and return as time permits to complete this section.

  1. Visit NFR.cdc.gov 
  2. Confirm eligibility and click login.gov
  3. Create a secure account
  4. Read and electronically sign the consent form
  5. Fill out the user profile 
  6. Complete the questionnaire (demographics, work history, health history, and lifestyle)

After completing the user profile, you will receive an NFR participant number – keep this number for your records. If you encounter any issues, there is an option to call a help desk for support.

Privacy and Data Security

Privacy and data security are top priorities for the NFR. Firefighters register for the NFR through a secure website using multi-factor authentication. Firefighters create an account through Login.gov, which is a single sign-on solution for U.S. government websites. When completing the registration process, firefighters are automatically logged-off if there is no online activity for 5 minutes. When they submit the questionnaire, their information is recorded to the secure encrypted database.

Only authorized NIOSH researchers will have access to identifiable information collected as part of the NFR. Data collected through the NFR are protected by an Assurance of Confidentiality (AoC), which is the highest level of protection available for public health data. The AoC states that no identifiable information may be disclosed without the consent of the individual and is even protected from subpoena. 

Gold Helmet Recognition

Fire departments who have at least 50% of their active firefighters OR more than 300 active firefighters signed up for the NFR are eligible for this recognition.

If you believe your department has met the eligibility criteria, please email NFRegistry@cdc.gov  and provide the total number of active firefighters in your department. Please note: participants will need to select/enter their current department in the user profile to be counted towards this distinction.

NIOSH will then review the NFR database. If your department meets the criteria, NIOSH will send you a confirmation email. This email shares details about the Gold Helmet Department recognition and includes a certificate, website badge, and social media posts to share.

Missouri Leads the Nation with 3 Gold Helmet Departments:

  • Warrensburg Fire Department, MO
  • Central Jackson County Fire Protection District, MO
  • Lake Ozark Fire Protection District, MO

Who’s next?

Learn more about this initiative at NIOSH Gold Helmet Challenge: www.cdc.gov/niosh/firefighters/registry/goldhelmet.html

About the Authors

Lindsay Judah is a contractor for NIOSH and serves as a fire and emergency services consultant. She has a Doctorate in Public Administration from Valdosta State University. She is a graduate professor and Division Chief of Rescue for a metro fire rescue agency. Dr. Judah is an advocate for the NFR for Cancer, NFFF Everyone Goes Home, peer reviewer for CPSE, and an IFSTA validation committee member. 

Kenny Fent is a Research Industrial Hygienist and Manager of the NFR for Cancer at NIOSH. He has spent over a decade studying firefighters’ exposures and health effects. Dr. Fent has published over 80 articles and reports summarizing his findings, and serves on several fire service, public safety, and scientific advisory committees. He is also a Captain in the U.S. Public Health Service, where he has responded to domestic and international emergencies.