On November 13, 2019 Fairfax County Fire and Rescue (FCFRD) and the NFPA Fire Protection Research Foundation conducted initial (Phase I) testing regarding Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) specific preliminary exposure reduction. A Department of Homeland Security grant is supporting the research on different Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) contamination and cleaning approaches. It is our understanding that no other scientist in the United States (and possibly the world) have conducted Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) testing on SCBA. Unfortunately, firefighters being stricken with cancer is rapidly on the rise in the fire service. Through a variety of research and studies, it has been learned that the firefighting PPE that protects firefighters in a fire, also tends to retain harmful carcinogens – which are then brought back to the fire station.
FCFRD has taken a holistic approach to cancer reduction through education, providing firefighters a second set of PPE, gross decon, to a decon “washing machine” to reduce cancer exposure. The department also appears to be the first in the U.S. to use the washer on fire helmets.
The Phase I Testing Sequence, that is highlighted in the video below, was as follows:
Fire fighters wear full ensemble w/ SCBA subjected spray of a non-toxic, fluorescent aerosol (GloGerm Aerosol) to simulate fire ground exposures to heavy particulate smoke
Fire fighters go through preliminary exposure (on-scene gross decontamination) involving an initial rinse with a hand line, light scrubbing with a soapy water (using a dish washing soap-based solution), and a final rinse.
Bank of fluorescent lights used to view and photograph the outfitted fire fighters before and after preliminary exposure to determine the any areas with fluorescence is present indicating the specific areas of the SCBA are likely remain contaminated following preliminary exposure reduction
The information from Phase I will assist in the planning of Phase II through Phase IV. Future live burns are planned with exposure of SCBA, assessment of effectiveness for different preliminary exposure reduction, and advanced cleaning techniques. FCFRD will share the information with our collective fire service family.
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