Local 2068 Health & Safety
Fire fighter occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty death in the fire service.
At the 2023 IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial, 63% of the names added to the wall were members who had died from occupational cancer.
In partnership with the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN), the IAFF has designated January as Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month to provide fire fighters the necessary tools and guidance to develop life-saving protocols for cancer prevention and to support those with a cancer diagnosis within their departments.
The IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery is a one-of-a-kind addiction treatment facility specializing in PTSD for IAFF members – and IAFF members only – who are struggling with addiction, PTSD other related behavioral health challenges to receive the help they need in taking the first steps toward recovery. It is a safe haven for members to talk with other members who have faced or overcome similar challenges.
𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗜𝗔𝗙𝗙 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟲𝟴!Today we honor all the incredible moms, especially our firefighters, paramedics, and 911 telecommunicators who proudly wear the title “Mom” and are spending the day on shift, serving our community instead of celebrating with their families. Your sacrifice and dedication do not go unnoticed. Thank you for all you do, on and off the job.Wishing you all a safe, joyful, and love-filled Mother’s Day! ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲! IAFF Local 2068 wants everyone to enjoy those backyard BBQs safely. Outdoor grilling is fun, but it’s also one of the leading causes of accidental home fires this time of year. Before you fire up the grill, keep these tips in mind:- Grill outdoors only, never use a grill inside a garage or under overhangs.- Keep your grill at least 10 feet from your home, deck railings, or anything flammable.- Clean your grill regularly, grease buildup is a major fire risk.- Never leave the grill unattended while cooking.- Keep a spray bottle of water and a fire extinguisher nearby just in case.- Check gas lines and connections before using propane grills.Let’s keep this season full of good food and great memories, not preventable emergencies.#Local2068 #fairfaxcounty #FCFRD ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗻, 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲!Did you know that cooking fires are among the leading cause of home fires and injuries? As your Fairfax County Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 2068 wants to help keep you and your family safe with these simple but life-saving kitchen safety tips:- Stay in the kitchen while cooking, especially when using the stovetop.- Keep flammable items like towels, paper, and potholders away from burners.- Know how to put out a small grease fire, never use water! Slide a lid over the pan and turn off the heat.- Set timers to avoid overcooking or forgetting food on the stove.- Keep kids and pets at least 3 feet away from hot surfaces.- Have a working smoke alarm in or near your kitchen area.Fire prevention starts with awareness, please share these tips with your friends, family, and neighbors. Together, we can reduce the risk and protect what matters most.#Local2068 #fairfaxcounty #FCFRD ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗕𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗟𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗗𝗚𝗘𝗦, 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗬!Come cheer on your Fairfax County Firefighters as they face off against Fairfax County Police in the ultimate Police vs. Fire Charity Ice Hockey Game!- Saturday, May 10- Puck drops at 6:00 PM- Reston SkateQuest – 1800 Michael Faraday Ct, Reston, VA 20190- FREE Admission!This family-friendly event supports the MEG Foundation (Making Everything Good), donations will be accepted at the door to help support this great cause.Bragging rights are on the line, and we need our community in the stands to show support!Let’s pack the rink and show who really brings the heat on and off the ice!#Local2068 #fairfaxcounty #FCFRD ... See MoreSee Less
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On behalf of the members of IAFF Local 2068, we extend our condolences to Arlington County and our brothers and sisters of IAFF Arlington Local 2800 during this difficult time.We stand with you in solidarity as you navigate this loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, your department, and the family and friends affected. ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵: “𝗗𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂,” 𝗔 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗢𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿We encourage all members, families, and supporters to take 27 minutes to watch “Dying to Save You," a moving documentary that follows three Phoenix, AZ Local 493 fire captains as they share the devastating impact of occupational cancer on firefighters and their families.Occupational cancer has become the leading cause of firefighter line-of-duty deaths in the United States. Tragically, here in Fairfax, we are seeing the same devastating trend, with increasing diagnoses and even LODDs among our own brothers and sisters.This is not just a national crisis, it's personal.We must continue to raise awareness, push for protections, and support our members facing this fight. Watch. Share. Advocate.Watch the full documentary here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2f_F4BD7vQ#Local2068 #DyingToSaveYou #OccupationalCancer #FirefighterCancer ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟵-𝟭-𝟭 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀! Wednesday marked major progress: the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee approved the Enhancing First Response Act (S.725), bipartisan legislation that would finally reclassify Public Safety Telecommunicators as Protective Service Occupations.This is the first time this legislation has cleared a Senate committee, building real momentum in both the House and Senate.IAFF Local 2068 joins the National Emergency Number Association in applauding Senators Amy Klobuchar, Marsha Blackburn, and all cosponsors for championing this long-overdue measure. We also thank Chairman Ted Cruz and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell for their leadership.We represent Fairfax County 911 Tele-Communicators, and believe they are the FIRST first responders, and they deserve recognition, respect, and proper classification for the critical role they play in public safety.We urge the full Senate to act quickly and get this done!🔗 Learn more: www.nena.org/news/news.asp?id=699946#911saves #Local2068 #fairfaxcounty #fairfax911 ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝟰𝟮𝟲 Last week, our dedicated members at Firehouse 426 took advantage of some downtime between calls to sharpen their skills with a vehicle extrication drill. They focused on stabilizing vehicles in challenging positions, including those resting on their sides or roofs, ensuring they're ready for any scenario they may face on the road.Hands-on training like this keeps our members sharp and our community safe. Every drill brings us one step closer to saving lives when seconds count.#Local2068 #fairfaxcounty #FCFRD #edsallroad #IAFF ... See MoreSee Less
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