Breathing Air and Firefighter Safety
by Chief Richard Marinucci
Recent years have provided much more information about the increasing health risks to firefighters during the normal course of doing their job. One aspect is the toxicity of the environment in which the firefighters work. The content of the smoke is very hazardous to one’s health and would be classified as a hazardous material if it were not affiliated with a burning building. Those operating in this environment are subject to immediate danger as it would be classified as an IDLH and also to long-term effects on the body. More specifically, the toxins increase the risk of cancer significantly and can also trigger other health issues. Frankly, in these modern times, based upon the contents that can be burning, there is no telling all the dangers present.
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