Fire scenes expose emergency responders, their firefighting equipment, air breathing apparatus and fire trucks to a wide range of chemical and biological pollutants.
Smoke, soot and debris pose a potentially deadly cancer-causing threat. According to incomplete statistics, in the United States, from 2002 to 2019, occupational cancers caused by these pollutants accounted for two-thirds of firefighters who died on duty.
In view of this, it is very important for the fire brigade to strengthen the decontamination of firefighting vehicles to protect the health of firefighters. In this article, we will introduce how to scientifically decontaminate firefighting vehicles and tools.
What is fire truck decontamination?
Fire truck decontamination refers to the process of thoroughly washing the vehicle and various equipment at the rescue site, and then transporting the contaminated equipment back to the fire station in a way that keeps it isolated from people. The goal is to minimize ongoing exposure to carcinogens and the risk of cross-contamination, both inside the fire truck cab and through various firefighting equipment. Decontamination procedures for fire trucks involve both the interior and exterior of the vehicle.
Decontamination of fire truck cab
First, a clean cab is critical, as all firefighters assigned to rescue missions plan rescues from the cab, and travel in fire trucks to and from the scene. To protect the health and safety of firefighters, the cab must be as free as possible from dust and bacteria, as well as potential carcinogens. This requires fire truck interiors to be smooth, moisture-resistant and easy to clean.
Regular fire truck interior cleaning can be done at a fire station and consists of two steps:
In the first step, all vehicle interior surfaces are cleaned from top to bottom, using soap or other suitable cleaners and water to physically remove dirt, bacteria or other harmful substances.
In the second step, the interior surfaces are sanitized to kill any remaining bacteria.
This process should include not only structural components such as interior doors, walls, floors, and seats, but everything that firefighters come into contact with (touchscreens, intercoms, headsets, etc.).
external decontamination
Cleaning the exterior of a fire truck has long been a routine part of fire department work, but now the goal of a thorough cleaning is more than just aesthetics.
In order to minimize exposure to pollutants and toxic substances at the fire scene, we recommend that the fire brigade will clean the fire truck after each mission or once a day, depending on the management policy and mission frequency of each fire department.
Why is fire truck decontamination critical?
For a long time, fire departments were unaware of the dangers of exposure to toxins. In fact, Firefighters Cancer Support (FCSN) describes a pervasive pollution cycle:
Firefighters – most likely to be exposed to the contaminants at the rescue scene – stow the contaminated gear in the cab and return to the fire station.
Dangerous fumes can fill the air in the cabin, and particles can be transferred from polluting equipment to interior surfaces.
Contaminated equipment will be diverted to the firehouse, where it will continue to emit particulates and exhaust toxins.
This cycle puts everyone at risk of exposure to carcinogens—not just the firefighters on scene, but those at the firehouse, family members (because firefighters unknowingly bring carcinogens home), and anyone who visits people at the station.
A study conducted by the International Association of Fire Fighters found that gloves tend to be more heavily soiled than fire suits. “Routine thorough decontamination of vehicles appears to reduce many pollutants,” the researchers report.
To sum up, the decontamination of firefighting equipment by firefighters can help protect firefighters from pollutants to the greatest extent. Let’s take active action and give your fire trucks a clean slate!
Post time: Feb-01-2023