CANTON — Chief Charles Doody is pleased to announce that the Canton Fire Department has been awarded an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the amount of $103,000 for firefighter health and wellness.
The grant is part of the Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grant program which supports projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards with a primary goal to reduce injury and prevent death among high-risk populations.
Occupational cancer and heart disease are two leading causes of firefighter deaths nationally. The grant funds are intended to reduce firefighters’ risk of developing these and other deadly occupational diseases, as well as improve overall physical health. The Canton Fire Department will use the awarded funds to update and improve gym equipment and provide physical fitness and nutrition programs to Canton’s firefighters.
Firefighters Katie McLaughlin and Frank Walsh, members of the department’s Firefighter Health and Wellness Committee, authored the grant application with the assistance of Deputy Chief Scott Johnson.
“In recent years, fire departments around the country have begun to realize and work to combat the occupational health risks firefighters face while on the job, often taking a toll even after they have completed their careers,” Chief Doody said. “We are appreciative that FEMA has recognized these needs and supports us in making improvements to firefighter wellness through this grant program. I would also like to commend Firefighters McLaughlin and Walsh and Deputy Chief Johnson for their work on the grant.”
About the Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants
The Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants are part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG), a nationally competitive grant program funded by FEMA. The purpose of the FP&S Grant Program is to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters by assisting fire prevention programs and supporting firefighter health and safety research and development. FP&S grants are offered to support projects that are either designed to reach high-risk target groups and mitigate the incidence of death, injuries, and property damage caused by fire and fire-related hazards, or are aimed at improving firefighter safety, health, or wellness through research and development that reduce firefighter fatalities and injuries.
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