WTNH
WATERBURY, Conn. — Firefighters wear hoods that are meant to protect them in fires, but these tools could be hurting crews long after the flames are out.
“Unfortunately, our culture was the more soot you had on you, it was almost a badge of honor,” said retired Waterbury firefighter Dan Huften. He says his white firefighter hood would often turn black. Huften retired from the Waterbury Fire Department from a back injury and was then diagnosed with Stage 3 Colo-rectal cancer.
“I underwent chemo and radiation, followed by surgery, which resulted in a permanent colostomy followed by more chemotherapy,” said Huften. Friday, more than 200 hoods were donated anonymously to the Waterbury Fire Department. It’s for crews to rotate them and not need to wear a dirty one.
Full story: Firefighter hoods possibly leading to cancer