DISASTER RELIEF

Resources for Members

IAFF Disaster Relief

IAFF Disaster Relief

The IAFF Foundation provides immediate financial assistance to help displaced fire fighters and their families while they continue to serve the surrounding communities.

Disaster Relief funds are available to IAFF members who are displaced from their homes as the result of a disaster these include man-made disasters, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and other events. If you meet the following criteria, use our application form to request funds:

    • The applicant must be a current IAFF member at the time the disaster occurred.
    • The member must reside in the area in which the disaster occurred.
    • The member’s eligibility is based solely on need as determined by a majority of the trustees.
    • Members are eligible for assistance only if their home is damaged and they are displaced because of the disaster.

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Apply for Disaster Relief

Union Plus Disaster Relief

Union Plus Disaster Relief Grant Program

If you are a union member who participates in certain Union Plus programs and have been impacted by a natural disaster, you may be eligible for financial assistance through the Union Plus Disaster Relief Grant program.

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Post-Exposure Medical Exam

Post-Exposure Medical Exam

Because of potential health risks inherent in post-disaster work, a post-exposure medical exam should be administered to identify as early as possible the need for preventive measures or medical care.

NIOSH Post-Exposure Information

    • Type of work performed as response or recovery worker and circumstances under which that work was performed, with special attention to documentation of the geographic location of the work and when the work was performed. Protective measures (e.g., personal protective equipment) used
    • Injuries sustained or symptoms experience during response work: description of injury and circumstances; treatment received; whether injury resolved or still present
    • Signs and symptoms of potential illness: description of signs and symptoms, discuss new onset or exacerbation of preexisting condition, treatment, if any; symptom still present after return or new symptoms developed after return
    • It may be appropriate to include specific screening for stress-related or emotional symptoms

Specific exposures and symptoms

Exposure to contaminated water:

  • Concern if open sores, wounds, cuts, abrasion, or rashes were present before the exposure
  • Concern if open sores, wounds, cuts, abrasion, rashes, swelling, or limitations with mobility are present post-exposure
  • Concern if exposure involved contact with mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth)

Determine if any of the following symptoms is present:

  • Eye infection
  • Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramping and or diarrhea
  • Fevers, upper respiratory illness
  • Allergy symptoms – sneezing, nasal congestion, asthma exacerbation
  • Weakness, fatigue, and loss of appetite
  • Mental-psychologic issues (sleep patterns prior to, during and after response).

The Physical Exam Should Include:

  • Vital Signs – including temperature
  • Assessment of skin integrity
  • Head/neck: conjunctiva, nose, mouth
  • Lungs
  • Heart
  • Abdomen
  • Extremities
  • Mental state/depression evaluation

The Following Lab Tests Should be Performed:

  • CBC with differential
  • Serum chemistry – liver function tests, renal
  • Hepatitis profile – A, B, C IgG/IgG
  • Other labs that may be indicated based on the environment of operations and known public health threats in the region before, after, or as a result of the disaster

NFORS Exposure Tracker

NFORS Exposure Tracker App

Fire fighters on the frontlines protecting their communities now have a valuable tool for recording and providing evidence of work-related exposures to help protect them against deadly cancers and other occupational hazards in the fire service.

The National Fire Operations Reporting System (NFORS) Exposure Tracker is available as an app for fire fighters, paramedics or officers to create a personal diary for logging exposure and incident details in a private, encrypted and secure online environment.

Explore the NFORS Module Here

The information gathered in the NFORS Exposure Tracker will provide essential data to help researchers better understand toxic exposures on the fire scene and develop new treatments and prevention protocols for occupational diseases, including cancer – now the leading cause of death among fire fighters.

Download the National Fire Operations Reporting System (NFORS) Exposure Tracker App by going to your app store and searching for “NFORS Exposure” or by using the QR codes below. Enter the incident number and address or the deployment location where you are working. Floodwater and similar exposures encountered during a disaster are recorded in the HazMat module.

Behavioral Health

Behavioral Health Post-Disaster

Responding to or witnessing a disaster can have short-term and long-term effects on your behavioral health. For more information, please see the IAFF resources below. Visit www.iaff.org/behavioral-health for general IAFF behavioral health information.