In this month's episode we chat about firefighting and lung health and explore the respiratory risks associated with increased exposure to smoke, and how firefighters can keep themselves protected while on the job. As we head into wildfire season, many communities are bracing for smoky conditions as the fires are becoming more frequent and intense every year. Wildfires produce significant amounts of smoke, and our firefighters are the first responders to tackle these dangerous conditions. So, when your duty requires you to expose yourself to dangerous chemicals and particulates, how do you mitigate risk, and how can firefighters stay prepared and stay safe while on the job? To learn more, we are joined by Tom DeSorcy, Retired Fire Chief from Hope, BC, and BC Lung’s Board Chair, and Brian Hutchinson, the Superintendent of Provincial Operations – Fire Services with the BC Wildfire Service, and the former Fire Chief of the District of North Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services.

Referenced links:

• National Fire Protection Association Standard –NFPA 1981 - https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/nfpa-1981-standard-development/1981
• Register for Climb the Wall 2026 - https://secure3.convio.net/bclung/site/TR?fr_id=1150&pg=entry

Tuberculosis, also known as “TB” is a disease caused by bacteria that usually attacks the lungs. Despite being preventable and treatable, TB remains one of the top infectious disease killers worldwide. World TB Day is March 24th and commemorates the day that Dr. Robert Koch shared his discovery of the bacterium that causes TB, leading to advancements in diagnosing and treating TB. It is a day to remember the immense devastation that TB has had and continues to have worldwide, including Canada.

In honour of World TB Day, we chat with Dr. Jay Johnston, the Evaluation Lead for Provincial TB Services at the BC Centre for Disease Control, and the former Head of Respiratory Medicine Division at Vancouver General Hospital. Tune in to learn more about the history of TB, barriers to preventing TB, and emerging research in eradicating this disease.

Referenced links:

• Dr. Johnston is the President of the North American region of the International Union against TB and Lung Diseases (The Union). The Annual TB Conference was held in Vancouver this year from Feb 26 – March 1. You can view the conference presentations at bclung.ca/nar.
• For more information about TB and you can visit the World Health Organization’s website: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis
• For information on how to support and advocate you can visit stoptb.org.
• Visit the BC CDC’s website for info on TB testing and tuberculosis clinics in the lower mainland: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis

On this episode of Airwaves & Airways we're chatting about patient engagement! Patient engagement involves building a collaborative relationship between patients, caregivers, researchers, and decision makers. There are many benefits to having patients and their caregivers involved throughout the research process. This practice is becoming increasing integrated into research as it allows patients to contribute firsthand experiences, identify gaps in healthcare, and confirm that research and studies are relevant and valuable to help improve care.

One organization making great strides with patient engagement is Legacy for Airway Health, who has developed a Community Partner Committee, comprised of around 14 individuals from diverse backgrounds affected by COPD or asthma. So, to chat about patient-oriented research, we are joined by Dr. Stephanie Harvard (researcher) and Tony Lanier (patient partner) to learn more about this innovative research process. If you’d like to learn more about patient engagement and patient-oriented research, you can visit Legacy for Airway Health’s website at legacyairwayhealth.ca.

Additional resources:

• Patient and Citizen Engagement in Research: https://sporevidencealliance.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/6.-SPOREA-COVIDEND_Patient-and-Citizen-Engagement-Tips.pdf
• Difference between patient partner and patient participant: What is POR? | Patient-Oriented Research Repository (ubc.ca)
• Tips for being a patient partner (Page 1): Patient Engagement - Teams (healthresearchbc.ca)
• Tips for research teams (Page 2): Patient Engagement - Teams (healthresearchbc.ca)
• Interested in learning about what frequently used health research terms mean? Try using: CIHR Jargon Buster: https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/48952.html