You have probably seen a few dirty, soot-covered helmets lying around the firehouse, and are maybe even guilty of sporting one yourself over the years. But, that “salty” gear that was once the sign of a “real firefighter” is no longer a badge of honor. Turnout gear can be covered with products of combustion that are known to contribute to some cancers that firefighters are at an increased risk of developing.
What’s the Problem with Getting Salty?
If contaminants are not removed immediately following a fire or any potentially hazardous incident, they could be ingested, released into the air, penetrate skin or be spread, resulting in repeated exposure every time you put on your gear or set foot in the apparatus. The “Best Practices for Preventing Firefighter Cancer” developed by the Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (VCOS), National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance, Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN), and California Casualty details 11 ways to mitigate these risks.
Establish Policies and Protocols that Protect
Some of the things your department can do to help beat firefighter cancer are:
- Providing a second hood or a full second set of gear
- Requiring a “shower within the hour”
- Holding annual physicals
- Using in-house gear extractors and diesel exhaust filtration systems
- Practicing immediate post-fire gross (field) decontamination of gear
When NIOSH published a study in 2017 on the effectiveness of different decontamination procedures, they found that “wet” field decontamination, which involves scrubbing gear with soap and water, reduced polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination on turnout jackets on average 85% (more effective than cleansing wipes alone, at 54% reduction in PAH contamination).
It should be performed in teams of two, in taped-off areas that are upwind of the exhaust of the rig and downwind of the rehab area. When field decon is complete, gear should be removed, placed in a clear, contractor-style garbage bag, sealed and transported in an exterior compartment back to the firehouse for deeper cleaning. You should then wipe down your head, neck, jaw, throat, underarms and hands before proceeding to rehab.
Decon Deployment
Field decontamination is now making its way into departments around the country. The State of Florida received a $1 million grant to distribute 4,550 kits to all fire trucks/engines in 2018. In New York, Horseheads Fire Department in Chemung County raised enough money to purchase kits for all 26 departments in their county, as well as the fire academy. However, at a recent National Firefighter Cancer Symposium held at the University of Miami and in many conversations with departmental leadership, I learned that not all departments are on board with the process, and many haven’t even heard about it at all. Common concerns about field decon all have solutions:
- Lack of funding: Each kit, fully outfitted, only costs about $100. There are also grant opportunities out there that you can apply for that have helped departments buy second sets of gear and gear extractors as well (so you don’t have to wait to send your gear out for cleaning once or twice a year, or transport it in your personal vehicle to departments with these extractors, or worse, home to clean). Consider applying for FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant or large companies like Firehouse Subs and Georgia- Pacific that have charitable foundations.
- Timing and weather conditions: You can always adapt the procedure or prioritize based on the situation. You can set up warming/cooling stations or just dry brush the gear so it won’t be taken out of service and prevent response to another call.
- “Cancer is just a risk that comes with the job”: Never accept cancer as a fate you can’t or shouldn’t try to change! You’re not only protecting yourself, but also your fellow firefighters and your family from unnecessary harm. Your community benefits the most if you keep yourself healthy so you can continue to serve them as long as possible.
If no gear decontamination policy is in place in your firehouse, bring it up to your department leadership. You can be the one that changes the way your fellow members think about and take steps toward preventing unnecessary risks.
To learn more about field decontamination and to download our recommended procedure and kit contents, please visit www.feinsteininstitute.org/ff-cancer-study