the smoke plume is not always visible
For too long the fire service has educated their firefighters that if they stay out of the smoke plume they will be safe. While this is true, the focus of smoke plume identification has been a visual one. What undermines these teachings is that toxic gases exist outside of the visible smoke plume.
Have you ever been at a fire incident where you were outside or upwind of the visible smoke plume yet could still smell smoke? Well, if you can smell smoke, then you are in the smoke plume. You are being exposed to the same toxic gases as the crews at work. Remember the smell of the car fire after extinguishment and you're looking for remaining hot spots to cool to prevent reignition? This is when the generation of toxic gases is at its highest. The heat is there to continue the breakdown of synthetic materials but the absence of fire means that less of these toxic gases are being consumed by the fire. (Read our article on Car Fires which includes graphs and data here: http://www.firefightercancercoalition.com/articles/carfires/)
Whilst Fire Service Organisations have an obligation to provide a safe work environment, it is understood that there are inherent risks in the role of firefighting. We as firefighters acknowledge this and accept this when we sign up. However, this does not absolve us of our responsibility to mitigate our unnecessary exposure to unsafe work practices. Including the unecessary exposure to toxic gases, whether at a fire or hazmat call or other.
It could be perceived that the management of these fire service organisations are vested with the health and safety of our personnel, but they are handcuffed by, and entrenched within bureaucratic confines that prevent efficient and effective adaptation to the problems firefighters face. It should also be noted that they have "no skin in the game", they are not frontline firefighters who are facing the repercussion of the health issues association with carcinogen exposure. Management can spend countless months reviewing scientific data, best practices and then write up organisation specific Rec Pracs or Policies and procedures, but how many of our people are expose and potetially lost along the way? "Firefighting can bring all sorts of accolades to reward you for your service. Cancer should not be one of them!" The simple fact is that their one person who is ultimately responsible for your health and well-being and that is YOU! It is up to you to set the standard. Familiarise yourself with the pathways of expsoure and implement practices to minimise these.
Let's be very clear. This is not about shirking the issue. It isn't an advocacy for defensive measures and footpath firefighting. It is not asking you to give up on your honed skills as an aggressive firefighter. It is merely saying that if we are going in, let's do it. Let's get in and get the job done. But the job isn't done until you come out, get decontaminated, put on respiratory protection, bag and tag your gear and ensure nothing dirty goes back into the cab. Any fire scene is a hazardous material incident. Sure, you may not call a HAZMAT crew to attend, but the hazardous material should remain on scene and not find its way back to the firehouse where it can then continue to expose other crews and potentially their families.
Firefighting can bring all sorts of accolades to reward you for your service. Cancer should not be one of them!
Reach out to us here at Firefighter C.A.N.C.E.R. for more information on preventing unnecessary exposure to carcinogens and we will get back to you. info@firefightercancercoalition.com or via Facebook and Instagram
Have you ever been at a fire incident where you were outside or upwind of the visible smoke plume yet could still smell smoke? Well, if you can smell smoke, then you are in the smoke plume. You are being exposed to the same toxic gases as the crews at work. Remember the smell of the car fire after extinguishment and you're looking for remaining hot spots to cool to prevent reignition? This is when the generation of toxic gases is at its highest. The heat is there to continue the breakdown of synthetic materials but the absence of fire means that less of these toxic gases are being consumed by the fire. (Read our article on Car Fires which includes graphs and data here: http://www.firefightercancercoalition.com/articles/carfires/)
Whilst Fire Service Organisations have an obligation to provide a safe work environment, it is understood that there are inherent risks in the role of firefighting. We as firefighters acknowledge this and accept this when we sign up. However, this does not absolve us of our responsibility to mitigate our unnecessary exposure to unsafe work practices. Including the unecessary exposure to toxic gases, whether at a fire or hazmat call or other.
It could be perceived that the management of these fire service organisations are vested with the health and safety of our personnel, but they are handcuffed by, and entrenched within bureaucratic confines that prevent efficient and effective adaptation to the problems firefighters face. It should also be noted that they have "no skin in the game", they are not frontline firefighters who are facing the repercussion of the health issues association with carcinogen exposure. Management can spend countless months reviewing scientific data, best practices and then write up organisation specific Rec Pracs or Policies and procedures, but how many of our people are expose and potetially lost along the way? "Firefighting can bring all sorts of accolades to reward you for your service. Cancer should not be one of them!" The simple fact is that their one person who is ultimately responsible for your health and well-being and that is YOU! It is up to you to set the standard. Familiarise yourself with the pathways of expsoure and implement practices to minimise these.
Let's be very clear. This is not about shirking the issue. It isn't an advocacy for defensive measures and footpath firefighting. It is not asking you to give up on your honed skills as an aggressive firefighter. It is merely saying that if we are going in, let's do it. Let's get in and get the job done. But the job isn't done until you come out, get decontaminated, put on respiratory protection, bag and tag your gear and ensure nothing dirty goes back into the cab. Any fire scene is a hazardous material incident. Sure, you may not call a HAZMAT crew to attend, but the hazardous material should remain on scene and not find its way back to the firehouse where it can then continue to expose other crews and potentially their families.
Firefighting can bring all sorts of accolades to reward you for your service. Cancer should not be one of them!
Reach out to us here at Firefighter C.A.N.C.E.R. for more information on preventing unnecessary exposure to carcinogens and we will get back to you. info@firefightercancercoalition.com or via Facebook and Instagram