Passive Smoke: The Overlooked Risk
For both firefighters and their administrators, safety and health in firefighting has become paramount. Gone are the days of the “leather lung” firefighter—now sophisticated equipment and specialized training are available for the purpose of health and welfare.
New rules and techniques are being enforced every day. Some departments require more regular physical examinations, exercises training, and have even restricted or forbidden smoking on and off the job. NFPA 1500 encourages concern for the effects of stress, personal health, and safety. Almost all departments make the use of SCBA mandatory and many encourage that personal hygiene include maintenance of turnouts and equipment.
In a recent announcement, the surgeon general of the United States suggested that heart damage and lung cancer risk may have been grossly understated in the past. Recent black box studies at a fire scene—after the fire was extinguished and the area was cool—recorded the presence of 21 hazardous chemicals in the air. Of the 21, 19 are listed as toxic by inhalation and/or skin absorption. Seven are possible carcinogens.
Department administrators, in cooperation with national and state agencies, have addressed most of the health and stress problems brought on by exposure and risk during the fire. However, the passive problems of smoke inhalation and exposure after the fire have not received proper attention.
We are all acutely aware of the amount of cleaning being done daily by the professional firefighter to reduce these contaminants. Vehicles, ladders, and hoses are gleaming examples. In fact, the entire department is usually kept in immaculate condition—every-thing, that is, except the bunker gear. It is usually hung up as a blackened badge of experience to identify a seasoned professional.
Carbon particles from the transient smoke and the charred materials at a fire scene contribute to the discoloration of the turnouts. Carbon is a very efficient filtering agent, and it absorbs most of the liquid and gaseous toxins created by superheating most modern construction materials. The carbon is very visible. Not visible, but present nonetheless, are the toxins held by the carbon. You can’t see the toxins, but you can smell them.
If you can smell smoke on your gear, you are inhaling the toxins. If you wear that gear, your skin may absorb some of the toxins. But the risk is not just to the firefighter. Anyone who comes in contact with contaminated gear is exposed, including the families of firefighters who transport their turnouts in the family car or store the gear at home. Passive smoke and cross-contamination may be hazardous to anyone exposed to it.
The solution to diis problem may be simpler than you may think. These few easy steps can reduce most of the passive smoke risk:
- Always wear SCBA and a full facepiece.
- With your turnouts and SCBA still on, rinse yourself off thoroughly at the fire site to remove gross contaminants and to prevent the toxins from becoming airborne.
- Remove SCBA and facepiece only after the turnouts and helmet have been removed and bagged for transport to be cleaned.
- Machine wash turnouts in an approved detergent system as soon as possible. Clean all smoke residue from helmets, SCBA, and any other personal equipment.
- Shower thoroughly and wash and rinse hair.
- Avoid wearing any possibly contaminated clothing.
- There are several valid reasons for aggressive maintenance:
- By removing visible smoke residue you will remove as much as 96 percent of the liquid and gaseous toxins they may contain.
- Carbon particles are abrasive; clean turnouts last longer.
- Approved turnouts are fire resistant but the carbon and chemical residues are not. Dirty gear may be combustible.
- Light-colored gear reflects more heat, but when they are blackened they start to absorb heat. The firefighter’s resistance is lessened and stress is increased.
- Cleaned gear will lessen the amount of passive smoke inhaled by the families of firefighters.
We can’t eliminate all the risks a firefighter must face every day. But those that we can reduce or eliminate we must.
