Inside a burning building, the non-seasoned firefighter may think that the main hazard is, in fact, the fire. Although fire does present a hazard in its own right, smoke is also a major hazard that needs delved into.
It’s a fact that smoke inhalation, and not fire, is responsible for the most deaths in a fire. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), smoke is the killer in 60 to 80 percent of all fire deaths. When a fire is developing inside a structure, it will consume most of the oxygen that is available inside.
The Deadly Sisters
When we talk about the dangers of smoke inhalation, two main toxins must be discussed: carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN).
CO is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that, when ingested above 35 parts per million, can be toxic. Some symptoms that will let someone know they have been exposed to CO are headache, nausea and dizziness.
HCN is formed when there are materials present that have not been completely consumed by the fire. [link url=”http://www.firefighternation.com/article/firefighter-safety-and-health/carbon-monoxide-hydrogen-cyanide-make-today-s-fires-more-dangerous” title=”Compounds that can be associated”] are nylons (brushes and clothing), polyesters (hair dryers and computers), and thermo sets (TV’s and toilets).
The importance of these play a larger role in today’s fire service then your grandfather’s. Reason for that is the smoke in which firefighters were exposed to in years past is not that of what is present in today’s homes. This is largely in part due to the many chemically-manufactured materials that invade homes across the U.S.
What Are We Doing About It?
Firefighters are taking a proactive approach to addressing these concerns in Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s). In doing this, response personnel can have procedures that must be adhered to in the event of a combustible gas activity. Also, many departments actively engage in training that allow firefighters to recognize signs that these toxic gases may be present in a structure, such as familiarization with combustible gas indicators (CGI).
What You Should be Doing
Ensure your home or business/place of work is equipped with gas detection equipment, such as a CO detector or a combination detector that can detect the presence of smoke and toxic gases. And familiarize yourself and family about the signs and symptoms associated with combustible gases.
Moving Forward
The danger doesn’t disappear when the fire is out, as dangerous gases can still be present. Especially with the soot and particulate matter that covers turnout gear and equipment can still present a hazard. Stressing to everyone who is exposed to a house fire that a thorough decontamination or even showering can remove these toxins away from bodies should be annotated in department SOP’s.
[link url=”https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/firefighter-fatalities/” title=”Be Safe”].
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