Driving change through education
Asking & Answering FF Exposure Questions
Driving change through education
Asking & Answering FF Exposure Questions
Bottom line up front: minimize your exposURE!
Use your turnout gear if and when you need it for protection. Always assume that your gear is contaminated (even when returned from cleaning)!
1. Stage uphill and upwind, when practical. Stay outside of the smoke envelope without appropriate respiratory and dermal protection.
2. Wear your SCBA from initial attack through overhaul to minimize potential for inhalation exposure (if there is smoke, you are being exposed). Stay low and use positions below the neutral plane when possible.
3. Wash skin with soap and water immediately (rehab) following any firefighting activities to minimize length of exposure. If soap and water are not available, use disposable wipes.
4. Perform Preliminary Exposure Reduction (PER) on turnout gear using wet (preferred) or dry (acceptable) methods as described in NFPA 1851.
5. Bag gear in leak-proof bags following PER and transport outside of the apparatus cab of the interior of a personal vehicle per NFPA 1851.
6. SHOWER as soon as logistically possible using soap and water (at room temperature or lower). Remember, it takes several hours for material to penetrate the dermal barrier - minimize your total dose!
7. Launder your gear according to NFPA 1851 procedures.
8. Do not bring contaminated gear into the fire station living quarters.
9. Decontaminate cab to prevent any possible cross-contamination.
10. Wear nitrile gloves and other PPE whenever dealing with contaminated gear or equipment.