Fire & Rescue 2nd Quarter 2018

www.hemmingfire.com

the future is cordless

Second quarter 2018 issue 110

I n t e r n a t i o n a l

I n d e p e n d e n t

I n t e l l i g e n c e

Creature comfort Essential techniques for pre-veterinary care

Get your kit off Waking up to cancer prevention

new! EVO 3 unmatched performance ultimate freedom The next generation EVO 3 battery rescue tools deliver unmatched performance at a higher speed. Thanks to their smart design optimizing the benefits of cordless, these tools offer you ultimate freedom.

Go to www.holmatro.com/evo3

Full range available

Dynax REACH ad final.pdf

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10/30/17

7:23 PM

All Green for REACH 2020 ...3 Years Early!

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CONTENTS

FIRE & RESCUE Editor Ann-Marie Knegt am.knegt@hgluk.com +44 (0) 1935 374001 Managing Editor Jose Maria Sanchez de Muniain j.sanchez@hgluk.com +44 (0) 1935 374011 Group Sales Manager Kelly Francis k.francis@hgluk.com +44 (0) 207 973 4666

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Production Tim Malone t.malone@hgluk.com +44 (0) 1935 374014 Managing Director Bill Butler Published Quarterly by

A division of the Hemming Group Ltd,

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FIRE & RESCUE JOURNAL (ISSN No: 0964-972719, USPS No: 003-930) is published quarterly by Hemming Information Services and distributed in the US by Asendia USA, 17B S Middlesex Ave, Monroe NJ. Periodicals postage paid at New Brunswick, NJ and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: send address changes to Fire & Rescue Journal, 17B S Middlesex Ave, Monroe NJ 08831.

Artwork by Graphic Examples Ltd, Sherborne Printed in England by Latimer Trend & Co Ltd, Plymouth DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in FIRE & RESCUE are not necessarily those of Hemming Information Services. F&R is in no way responsible or legally liable for any statements, picture captions, reports or technical anomalies made by authors in their commissioned articles.

Affiliate associations:

4 News 8 Events 10 Pre-veterinary care for small animals Colorado firefighter Michael Davis has developed a pre-veterinary care training programme for small animals aimed at emergency responders. He provides essential advice on how to deal with common medical issues faced by furry victims after an incident.

18 Animal rescue A Hampshire firefighter has been helping to transform animal rescue in the US. 20 AFOA update The new quarterly update from the Airport Fire Officers Association.

22 Cancer prevention Dermal absorption of toxic chemicals on PPE is elevating firefighters’ risk of developing cancer, according to a new study from the University of Central Lancashire. F&R looks at research and initiatives from around the world and highlights the steps that can be taken to minimise this risk.

27 Health monitoring A new Canadian study strongly recommends the creation of a firefighter wellness surveillance system to help address soaring cancer rates and other health risks.

28 Flash forward After a tragic accident forced firefighter Steve Brisebois to reassess his approach to fire combat, he became an advocate for improving firefighting tactics and the use of the transitory attack concept.

32 Gas detection As incidents involving chemical weapons increase, gas detection equipment should become part of a firefighter’s standard response kit.

35 CBRN ARFF incident management Actions taken in the early stages of a CBRN incident can contain its effects. F&R considers how airport fire services can play a leading role in the initial management of a CBRN incident at an airport.

38 Invisible hazmat Hazmat training in confined spaces is about to go to the

next level of realism, thanks to technology making its way from the chemical warfare training sector.

40 Foam: PFAS catcher A biomaterial that transforms PFAS-contaminated water into discharge-grade water up to ten times faster than current technology is being developed at breakneck speed in London.

42 Finding the right nozzle With so many different types and confusing terminology, how can an operational firefighter know which nozzle is best to use? F&R sets the record straight.

44 Rescue: extrication comment Vehicles have evolved, rescue tools have improved, but what about rescue concepts and methodologies? F&R questions whether it is time for a refresh if rescuers are to meet the challenges of modern vehicle rescue.

Front cover picture: Los Angeles Fire Department © Harry Garvin

AIRPORT FIRE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION

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SECOND QUARTER 2018 < FIRE & RESCUE <

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NEWS

EDITOR’s Comment

T

his issue of Fire & Rescue touches on a topic that is very close to my heart as a pet owner.

When Colorado firefighter Michael Davis noticed the high frequency of pets involved in incidents, he set out to create training for pet first aid and CPR for fire and emergency medical personnel. In his article for this issue, Davis discusses some of the most common scenarios for pet pre-veterninary care likely to be encountered by first responders, including trauma from RTC incidents, hypothermia from falling through ice, hyperthermia from being locked in a hot car, and smoke inhalation.

As with human patients, Davis emphasises the importance of gauging the state of mind of each furry patient. He explains that dogs behave differently to cats, sending out an array of non-verbal communications, and can quickly go from friendly and submissive to aggressive when they feel threatened, potentially harming rescuers. Cats, on the other hand, are either happy or angry, and if they are really in distress, you probably won't be able to find them. Studying animal behaviour is therefore an invaluable tool for responders faced with injured pets.

Davis hopes that his efforts will inspire and give confidence to other professionals treating animal victims. 'As long as animals are saved and their suffering is reduced, I am all in.' And so am I. Enjoy the article on page 10.

Ann-Marie Knegt

powerful HVP6000 truckmounted fire pump A powerful single-volute truck-mounted pump has been launched by US Fire Pump.

Launched at the FDIC in Indianapolis, the HVP6000 pump is available in mid-ship or rear-mounted applications and achieved 23,681lpm (6,256gpm) from draft at 8.62bar (125 psi) in test conditions. Testing was validated by UL and the pump was mounted on a Ferrara Inundator Super Pumper.

‘We were the first apparatus fire pump manufacture to hold the Guinness World Record in 2015 and our newest pump exceeds our previous pump by 2,892lpm (764gpm) at 0.5bar (7psi) higher,’ said US Fire Pump president and CEO, Chris Ferrara.

‘Our fire pumps utilise a single volute and single impeller, where other manufacturers are utilising dual volutes and dual impellers, creating more wearable parts. Our pump has certified casting and can be made from stainless steel, cast iron or bronze.’

Armstrong 4600F pumps A line of fire pumps with improved flow performance and lower installation costs has been launched by Armstrong Fluid Technology.

The Armstrong 4600F range of horizontal split case pumps have a more efficient design and require smaller drive selections and controllers, drawing less power. This can reduce installation and lifecycle costs by as much as 20%.

With fully-aligned suction and discharge centrelines, the piping can be completed before the pumps are delivered, speeding up installation. The pumps’ compact footprint makes access easier for maintenance while clever design allows the rotating elements to be removed without disturbing the piping, and the three-piece gland seal enables the packing to be changed without removing the rotating assembly.

The stainless-steel shaft is rated for a minimum of 5,000 run hours while the pump’s double suction impeller improves flow performance, stabilising flow to prevent unnecessary wear to the pump body and key components. The externally-mounted combination bearing and seal housing minimises shaft deflection.

Models exceed the requirements of the NFPA and standards set by UL, ULC and FM. They will be released in two phases, with half available immediately and the remaining products launched later in the year.

TEEX training for public safety drone pilots A drone piloting training course aimed at public safety personnel has been launched by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service.

'Introduction to sUAS – public safety’ is aimed at pilots operating drones as part of emergency response operations. Over three days, the hands-on course will provide remote flight training to prepare sUAS pilots for the FAA Part 107 exam. It is designed specifically for police officers, firefighters, search and rescue and emergency management personnel starting an sUAS programme.

‘We’ve already seen the importance of using drones for 3D mapping of crime scenes and traffic crash reconstruction, as well as search and rescue and aerial reconnaissance in disaster recovery, such as Hurricane Harvey,’ said training manager Kyle McNew. ‘The use of sUAS has the potential to extend a public safety agency’s capabilities, help emergency managers make informed decisions, and improve safety for everyone.’

Participants will learn about the airspace and Part 107 rules and regulations, and how to read navigation charts. They will also learn multiple ways to fly drones and gain flight training experience using a simulator and training quadcopter.

Additional topics include flying multirotor and fixed-wing sUAS, maintenance, FAA policies, registration process, commercial applications, and emerging technologies.

buddy of the year awards Firefighters in Europe can now compete to be crowned Buddy of the Year in the 2018 Buddy Awards.

The competition is organised by MSA. To enter firefighters must upload their buddy stories, photos, and videos explaining why their buddy should win the award, then share their story and let others vote.

All entries will be reviewed over the summer and 25 firefighters will be invited to take part in the European finals starting on 1 September 2018. Prizes include a custom foosball or table tennis table or dartboards for their station.

The 2018 Buddy Awards are open to any firefighter in Europe. Only one submission per firefighter is allowed. The first round of the competition runs from 18th April to 30th June 2018. The second round of voting starts on 1 September 2018.

Entry is via the competition website at http://msafire.com/M1/.

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< FIRE & RESCUE < second QUARTER 2018

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news

3M settles minnesota pfc lawsuit for us$850 million The legal action was launched in 2010 by Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson, alleging widespread water contamination caused by the dumping of millions of pounds of industrial waste containing perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in the ground and water in the east metropolitan area of the Twin Cities for more than 40 years from the 1950s.

Swanson was seeking up to US$5 billion in damages from 3M to clean up the resulting groundwater pollution. 3M denied the State’s claims.

3M began manufacturing PFCs in the 1950s for use in its stain-repellent Scotchguard product. The chemicals were later sold to another company to make firefighting foam.

PFOS is listed as a Persistent Organic Pollutant under the Stockholm Convention.

The settlement was announced on 20 February 2018. The money is described as a grant for a ‘water quality and sustainability fund’. In a statement, 3M said this would fund

Safety webbing and tapes

projects to support water sustainability in the Twin Cities East Metro region, including delivery of water to residents, enhancing groundwater recharge to support sustainable growth, and habitat and recreation improvements.

In its statement, 3M denied any liability and said it was ‘proud of its record of environmental stewardship’ and that it does not believe there is a ‘PFC-related public health risk’.

3M sold the fluorochemicals to Dupont, which used these in its non-stick Teflon finish for kitchen equipment and other products. Last year, Dupont and Chemours, a Dupont spin-off company, agreed to settle more than 3,500 personal injury lawsuits relating to a PFOA leak in Ohio and West Virginia for US$671 million. PFOA is a PFC compound that has been linked to certain types of cancers and thyroid disease.

first compressed air foam conference launched On 19-20 September 2018, specialists in the field of compressed air foam from all over the world will gather at the Novotel Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for the International Compressed Air Foam Symposium (iCAFS). It is the first time that such a large-scale independent knowledge-sharing event has been organised on this subject.

The organisation is working on an extensive programme with speakers from all over the world, including The Netherlands, the US, Brazil, Germany, and Australia.

They will be sharing their knowledge on topics such as scientific research, standards, implementation, applications and training.

Speakers already confirmed include Gary Baum, New Milford Fire Protection District, US; Dr George Cajaty Barbosa Braga Federal District Fire Department Brasília; Leon Smith from the Australian fire and emergency services; Mark A Cummins, CAFS pioneer, US; Dr-Ing Stefanie Schubert, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg; Dr John Gorrie, environmental toxicologist from Asutralia; and Rijk van den Dikkenberg from the Institute For Safety in The Netherlands.

The conference will be chaired by Ritchie Trompert, manager for emergency response at the Schiphol Group.

The programme for iCAFS can be found on the website: www.icafs.com.

A new line of safety webbing and tapes for fire, law enforcement, industrial, military, and commercial fall protection has been launched by Bally Ribbon Mills. The range can be used for shoulder and chin straps, harness webbing, helmet suspension, binding tapes, lap belts and shock absorbing webbing.

Made from nylon, Nomex, Kevlar, Vectran, PBI, Nextel, and other speciality fibres, the range is designed for applications requiring high tenacity, abrasion resistance and flame and heat resistance. They can also be used on controlled elongation applications and in environments that require chemical resistance.

Nightstick launches intrinsically-safe flashlight range A range of intrinsically-safe flashlights that offer multi-angle mounting has been launched by Nightstick. The XPP-5418 series is designed for use in class 1, division 1 hazardous environments and meets the requirements of NFPA-1971-8.6. Available in red or green, the 3AA flashlights feature a 200-lumen LED beam and a 10-hour runtime.

An easily-accessible tail switch enables users to switch between momentary and constant modes, and the flashlights incorporate the

CREE LED, which offers 50,000 hours of operation Multi-angle, hands-free functionality is provided by a KO1 multifunctional mount that connects to a helmet accessory slot or directly onto the brims of most fire helmets and hard hats. The flexible mount enables users to angle the light up or down or position it for side-to-side tilt.

The lights are certified to CETLUS, ATEX and IECEX. The polymer housing is dustproof, waterproof, impact and chemical resistant.

Retroflex® COFAB Line Visibly safest performing retro-reflective trims!

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second QUARTER 2018 < FIRE & RESCUE <

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news

vehicles for white helmets

stingers for lancashire

The White Helmets Civil Defence Force programme in Syria has placed an order for nine new firefighting vehicles from South African company Firetrucks 4 Africa.

The contract was awarded under the Batal Programme set up in 2012 by non-profit organisation Mayday Rescue. This consists of multiple complementary projects that provide support to Syria Civil Defence for community engagement, organisational sustainability, training and equipment, and advocacy. The acquisition of new firefighting trucks, worth US$648,000, was part of this initiative.

The new vehicles will be based on the Isuzu chassis QL1160 and equipped with the Isuzu manual transmission and a Euro V engine. The bodies are made from carbon steel and anti-corrosion materials.

Equipment on the trucks will include straight, spray and aspirator foam nozzles as well as rescue equipment such as axes and picks. Delivery is scheduled for June 2018.

Tropos launches Able truck range Tropos Technologies has rebranded as Tropos Motors as it transitions from distributor to manufacturer of low-cost electric vehicles and trucks.

The first new vehicles developed by Tropos include the Able FRV for the fire service and the emergency medical Able EMSO compact electric utility vehicles.

The fire response vehicle bed package can transport up to 473 litres of water to emergency locations or connect to stand pipes. Its compact size means it can travel on stadium walkways and on the field, in campsites, on pavements and on campuses where standard trucks may not be able go.

The vehicle has an electric rewind Hannay 4000 series reel and Scotty Around the Pump Class A foam system with a 19-litre foam cell, equivalent to 3,785 litres of water.

The Able EMSO is designed to carry one patient on a full-size ambulance stretcher and one EMS attendant, plus storage and a fire extinguisher. The completely enclosed cab includes a large rear window and the EMS attendant seat can be locked into various positions on the seat guide rails.

‘The demand we see from the first responder market is for smaller and more manoeuvrable vehicles to meet their operational requirements, as well as vehicles that are of automotive quality but can be used indoors,’ said Tropos CEO, John Bautista. ‘The Able product line meets these needs as a dependable compact utility workhorse that’s still street-legal.’

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A Rosenbauer AT-Stinger has completed a 12-month trial with Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service in the UK. The FRS will now purchase the vehicle and is also purchasing a second, due for delivery later this year.

The vehicle concept was developed by Rosenbauer in collaboration with Lancashire FRS to create a vehicle capable of aggressive firefighting but which could also be used for everyday, smaller incidents. It also needed to be able to carry six firefighters.

The truck that Rosenbauer developed in response delivers 4,500lpm over a distance of 85m powered by the Rosenbauer NH45 pump. It also comes with a 16.5m Stinger boom package with wireless operator controls and a piercing tool that is capable of penetrating a roof, wall or window before releasing 1,000lpm of water. This enables first responders to begin tackling a blaze as soon as they arrive on scene, reducing compartment temperatures and making building entry safer.

Over the trial period, the AT-Stinger attended a number of incidents from its Blackburn station, including operations in the neighbouring counties of Greater Manchester and North Yorkshire.

‘Lives have been saved, as have millions of pounds worth of commercial and residential property, due to the capability of the AT-Stinger,’ said Rosenbauer UK’s managing director Oliver North. ‘Blackburn’s firefighters have pushed this new technology to its limit whilst in turn providing unseen and, arguably, unrivalled results nationwide.’

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news

polaris Ranger UPFIT Polaris Government and Defense has launched new equipment upfits for its Ranger side-by-side vehicles designed to meet the needs of fire and rescue services and law enforcement agencies.

The Ranger side-by-side vehicles enable access to both urban and off-road locations that other vehicles cannot reach. The Ranger firefighting units incorporate a professional system developed with years of firefighter input by RKO Enterprises. It includes a pump, hose and reel, a combination tank for water and a compressed air foam suppression system plus the ability to draw from a water source. Mounting options can accommodate preferences for different departments and uses.

The equipment is installed as a turn-key package with full warranty by Polaris. The rescue vehicles incorporate a rear-attendant seat and a Stokes rescue basket with the option of full-length or break-apart basket for shorter overall length when not in use.

Polaris is also offering a combination fire and rescue package, which includes the fire tank and equipment as well as the Stokes rescue basket. The rear equipment skids can be removed for use by other departments. All the usual Polaris accessory options are also available.

Magirus city truck at SICUR

FOAM Allision Transmission showcased a Magirus fire truck at Sicur 2018 in Spain in February.

Designed for city use, the truck has a narrow wheelbase and slim body. In combination with the Allison 3000 transmission, it offers greater acceleration and manoeuvrability, making it ideal for navigating narrow streets and tight turns.

The vehicle is based on an Iveco Eurocargo chassis 120E25 4x2 and has a Euro VIc emissions-compliant engine.

Its double cab can comfortably carry five firefighters and four seats are fitted with SCBA. The vehicle is equipped a Magirus MPH230 pump, which guarantees flow rates of 2,000lpm at 10 bar and 250lpm at 40 bar.

The combination of an Iveco 250hp engine with the Allison transmission, and a hydraulic retarder for enhanced braking and reduced brake wear, ensures optimum drivability.

‘In emergency situations, both vehicle performance and acceleration are vital,’ said Allison Transmission's Trond Johansen. ‘Thanks to our Continuous Power Technology, Allison transmissions ensure that the engine delivers power to the wheels smoothly and continuously for increased acceleration performance and shorter journey times.’

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second QUARTER 2018 < FIRE & RESCUE <

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E v e n t s

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Finally, the Engineers of Tomorrow competition pits young engineers and apprentices against each other in a live installation challenge.

For more information visit www.firex.co.uk.

19-21 June, International Tall Building Fire Safety Conference, Excel, London, UK

11-14 June, NFPA Conference and Expo, Mandalay Bay Convention Centre, Las Vegas The NFPA’s fire, electrical, and life safety event will run over four days in June, featuring an exhibition and education sessions and concluding with the NFPA technical meeting.

The education sessions cover a vast range of subjects, including updates on new or proposed NFPA standards and discussions or overviews of proposed changes.

Expert speakers will also address issues related to community risk assessment, high-rise fire risk and protection, exterior materials, fire safety in healthcare settings and industrial facilities, emergency preparedness, electrical safety, energy storage systems, and the health, safety and wellbeing of firefighters, among many other topics.

Running alongside these sessions is a three-day exhibition bringing together suppliers providing the products and services required to comply with codes and standards in the design, construction and running of buildings. This year, an interactive annex focusing on suppression will offer hands-on learning opportunities, in-depth information about codes and standards, and the opportunity to meet with NFPA technical staff.

A panel of experts in active shooter and hostile event response will also share their experiences and discuss the lead-up to the creation of NFPA 3000, Standard for preparedness and response to active shooter and/or hostile events. This will include an overview of the standard. In addition to the more serious elements, the NFPA will be hosting games and prizes at its booth, and a US$1,000 cash prize will be drawn each day.

For more information visit the event website: www.nfpa.org/training-and-events/by-type/conferences/conference.

19-21 June, FIREX INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, Excel, London, UK This three-day exhibition co-located with IFSEC International and the Safety and Health Expo sees more than 17,000 fire safety professionals from around the world come together to network, meet suppliers and partners, expand their knowledge base and share best practice.

In 2018, the exhibition will feature a live demonstration area, a Passive Protection Zone, and LPCB Red Book Pavillion. The Fire Industry Association will also be hosting a networking bar offering technical knowledge and advice on fire safety, while a free seminar programme offers more than 30 hours of CPD-accredited content.

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✜ FIRE & RESCUE ✜ second QUARTER 2018

The fifth International Tall Building Fire Safety Conference will take place in London on 19-21 June 2018, co-located with Firex.

The three-day conference will cover all aspects of high-rise fire safety, with each day given over to a different theme.

Day one will focus on fire engineering, design and fire testing in tall buildings with the keynote speech delivered by Justin Francis from Queensland Fire Service in Australia, who authored the Churchill Fellowship study into evacuation from tall buildings. Other topics will include fire testing of facades, potential issues with smoke control installations, and the role of technology in the detection and extinguishment of high-rise fires.

The first day will also see Dr Jim Glocking from the Fire Protection Association discuss the latest findings from FPA research following the Grenfell Tower Fire.

On day two, which will focus on fire safety management and insurance for tall buildings, topics under discussion include evacuation strategies, property protection principles, terrorism, and the potential for construction fire compartmentation.

Finally, day three will focus on firefighting in tall buildings including tactics and challenges, and the latest thinking and initiatives, including the Firefighter Safety Database.

The conference will be chaired by John Scott, head of technical services for Shard Quarter (REM), who is responsible for managing fire safety for the Shard, the tallest building in Western Europe.

For more information visit www.tallbuildingfiresafety.com. To book contact Russ Timpson on russ.timpson@horizonscanbcp.com.

8-11 August, Fire-Rescue International, Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center, Dallas, Texas Fire-Rescue International, the annual conference and expo of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, has been providing seniorlevel leadership training to fire chiefs for over 140 years. As an organisation, the IAFC represents the world's leading experts in the first responder community, and the association is committed to excellence in every aspect of its organisation, from the classroom to its annual exhibition.

While Fire-Rescue International focuses on leadership education, the event is not just for fire chiefs. The conference and exhibition also attracts company officers and chief officers looking to excel in their current positions and prepare for future career advancement.

The Officer Development Programme is the only programme of its kind and is designed to meet the job performance requirements of NFPA 1021.

FRI offers numerous ways for attendees and vendors to engage, creating valuable relationships and essential information sharing.

The FRI Exhibit Hall offers firefighters and officers and EMS colleagues from all over the world the opportunity to discover free education and the latest technology and equipment advancement.

Exhibitors at the event cover everything from enhanced safety to increased efficiency.

For more information please visit www.iafc.org/events/fri.

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18th International Water Mist Conference in

London, UK, on

19th and 20th September 2018 at the

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Small animal pre-veterinary care The frequent presence of pets at the scene of road accidents and house fires in his home state of Colorado prompted firefighter Michael Davis to develop a training programme for small animal pre-veterinary care for first responders.

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Above: Los Angeles firefighters apply an oxygen mask to a cat. © Greg Doyle.

Below: Los Angeles FD saved many small animals after Hurricane Harvey.

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am a firefighter for a rural department outside Denver, Colorado. It’s a mountain paradise filled with hiking trails and parks. It seems every vehicle on the road has a dog with its head out the window, and every home I visit has at least one pet in residence. I often refer to my district as ‘Doggy Disneyland’.

So, it comes as no surprise that when we respond to a motor vehicle accident, pets are often involved. While their owners are protected by seat belts and air bags, the dogs are unsecured in the vehicle. And in structure fires, we often encounter four-legged victims who didn't understand the smoke alarm’s warning and lacked opposable thumbs with which to operate closed doors.

< FIRE & RESCUE < second QUARTER 2018

Sensing a need in my community, I set out to create training on pet first aid and CPR. As my research progressed, I was pleased to learn that aside from size and a little anatomy, there isn’t a great deal of difference between humans and small animals.

My target audience for the training is fire and emergency medical personnel. I limited the topics to injuries we might encounter during our regular duties: trauma from an auto accident, hypothermia from falling through the ice of a frozen pond, hyperthermia from being left inside a hot vehicle, and smoke inhalation.

Legal considerations I began with a review of the legal aspects of providing medical care to pets. Would firefighters be practising veterinary medicine without a license? The answer, at least in Colorado, is no. Colorado statutes allow for ‘the immediate medical stabilisation of a dog or cat by an EMS provider, in an emergency to which the EMS provider is responding’. A citizen can’t call us to attend to an injured pet, but if we’re responding to an emergency call and a dog or cat needs our attention, we are allowed to help.

However, we are here to serve the citizens of our community and can only help pets when we have adequate resources to do so. You will never see one of our ambulances running lights and a siren with a medic in the back coaching a

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01_M1

animal rescue

Firefighters from the City of Maricopa in Arizona deliver emergency care to a dog. © Maricopa Fire Department.

pregnant Border Collie on her pre-delivery breathing exercises. If we have a utility vehicle available, we may transport, but ambulances are for people.

Financial considerations When discussing emergency pet care, you must consider financial liability. What happens if we respond to a fire where the homeowners are away, but a pet is inside? We extinguish the fire and transport an injured animal to a veterinary office.

The veterinarian treats the pet, and when the owner arrives, he or she is unable or unwilling to pay the bill. In this case, the fire department might be responsible for the cost of treatment. I have met with my local veterinarians, and they have agreed that if we deliver an animal to them in need of emergency treatment, they will run the risk of not getting paid in favour of saving the animal.

Responder safety Our top priority is always the safety of our personnel. This is where knowledge of animal behaviour comes into play. As with any human patient, I start sizing up an animal as soon as I see it. Dogs use body language to communicate with other animals. They are good at letting us know what’s going on – as long as we understand how to read the signals. By the time I’m within a few feet of a pet, I have a good idea about whether I can safely approach the animal.

However, dogs are complex creatures and can quickly transition from one emotion to another. A dog demonstrating submissive behaviour can become aggressive if it believes you mean it harm. Keep in mind that an injured animal – even your own dog – may lash out at you. We have to continually evaluate the animal’s behaviour lest we become patients ourselves.

I emphasise dog behaviour because dogs, especially large ones, have the potential to do serious harm to a rescuer. Cats, on the other hand, exhibit only a handful of behaviours. If they are happy, they rub against you, leaving copious amounts of hair on your uniform pants. If they are angry, they try to attach themselves to your thigh with razor-sharp claws. And if they are in distress, you probably won’t be able to find them.

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Even if you have experience with pets, I encourage you to invest the time in studying animal behaviour as this is an invaluable tool in small animal care.

Evaluation of an injured animal is always a two-person job.

One rescuer restrains the pet to ensure safety, as the other performs the examination. There are several skills you need to master. These include how to take a medium to large dog from a standing position to right-side lateral recumbent, and how to transition from this gentle, controlled take-down into a restraining posture. The standard neck and body restraint is also essential, as well as proper lifting and transportation techniques. There are videos available online that teach these skills.

It is always recommended to place a muzzle on any responsive dog you examine. To make an improvised muzzle using medical gauze, close the dog's jaw and apply two wraps of gauze around the snout. Join the cloth beneath the jaw and then tie the ends of the dressing behind the animal’s head, below the ears. Wrap a cat in a towel for examination.

One responder always holds the animal so that it can neither injure itself, or the second responder.

Examination In the emergency medical service we rely on communication with our patients. The first thing a new EMT learns is how to take a SAMPLE medical history (asking about symptoms, allergies, medication, etc), but aside from some entertaining videos on the Internet, in my experience pets don’t talk. We have to observe their behaviour and rely on the results of our examination to tell us what they need. The good news is that all your pre-hospital patient care skills will transfer seamlessly to pre-veterinary care.

Your evaluation should begin before you lay hands upon a pet. Appraise the animal’s level of consciousness from a distance. Look to see if the pet is alert and orientated. Does it follow you with its eyes? Does it seem curious or fearful? Are there any visible injuries?

If a pet is unresponsive, tap at the edge of the eye toward the nose to trigger a blink response, or pinch the skin between the claws to elicit a pain response.

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animal rescue

Pets with respiratory issues can be given mouth-to-snout rescue breaths, O2 via blow-by, non-rebreather, or a special pet O2 mask. © Harry Garvin.

Attend to the ABCs (airway, breathing, and circulation). Align the head and neck with the body to ensure a patent airway.

Dogs have long tongues, which can obstruct breathing. Reach into the mouth and pull the tongue straight out between the canine teeth. Put your face next to the unresponsive animal’s snout and look, listen, and feel for breathing. Watch for chest rise. Check capillary refill by pinching the gums. Refill should occur within two seconds.

Check the eyes – a responsive animal should be able to focus on you. The sclera should be white, and the pupils should be Pearl (pupils equal and reactive to light). Any abnormality indicates the need for veterinary care. Cats have a third eyelid, the tertia palpebral. If the third eyelid is visible, it means the pet is in severe pain or is otherwise in medical distress.

In pre-veterinary care, temperature is a critical vital sign.

Always take a rectal temperature with a digital thermometer.

Have your partner support the animal with an arm around the neck to control the head, and the other arm under the abdomen to keep the animal standing. Sitting is a typical response when you touch a dog's rear end, so do not use a glass thermometer. Many pets have been injured when glass thermometers have broken as the pet attempts to sit.

Normal temperature for adult cats and dogs is 37.8-39.2°C (100-102.5°F). New-born puppies and kittens have a slightly lower normal temperature of between 34.4-36.1°C (94-97°F),

A dog demonstrating submissive behaviour can quickly become aggressive if it believes you mean it harm.

An injured animal – even your own dog – may still lash out. © Los Angeles Fire Department

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but by ten weeks they should be at 37.8°C (100°F). An adult animal is sick if its temperature is below 37.2°C (99°F) or above 39.4°C (103°F).

Check the heart rate by palpating the femoral artery or by placing a stethoscope on the left side of the chest behind the front leg. Adult cats at rest should have a heart rate of between 140 and 220 beats per minute. Dogs at rest average 60 to 160bpm. Toy breeds can have heart rates as high as 180bpm.

A puppy’s heart rate at birth will be between 160 and 200bpm, increasing to 220 at two weeks of age.

Canine pulse rates are ill-defined because of the vast range in size. The smallest living dog is a Chihuahua named Miley who weighs just over 0.45kg (1lb). The largest is Zorba, an English Mastiff who tips the scales at 155.6kg (343lbs). This represents a 30,000% variable in weight between our subjects. And it follows that Miley has a heart rate like a hummingbird, topping 180bpm, while Zorba is likely 60bpm or less.

An adult dog at rest has a respiratory rate of 10 to 30 breaths per minute. Panting is normal in dogs as long as quiet, open airway sounds are present. Adult cats breathe at between 24 and 42 breaths per minute. Panting in cats is never normal. A panting cat is in distress.

Pets with respiratory issues can be given mouth-to-snout rescue breaths, O2 via blow-by, non-rebreather, or a special pet O2 mask. In extreme cases, pets can be intubated, and a bag-valve mask used to provide respirations. Brachycephalic dog breeds (pugs) are at higher risk of respiratory complications. Selective breeding has resulted in compromised sinus structure and an undersized trachea. If a pug is having difficulty breathing, be on guard for respiratory failure.

Trauma For pets involved in a motor vehicle accident, perform the same head-to-toe trauma assessment you would for a human patient. Dogs have seven cervical vertebrae as we do and are subject to the same stresses. The canine spinal column has roughly the same configuration as ours, except that where we have four fused vertebrae forming our coccyx, the canine has a coccygeal with 20 to 23 vertebrae in the tail. Due to artificial selection, breeds such as the dachshund or ‘weenie dog’ are especially prone to spinal injury.

A pet with a broken extremity should be immobilised to prevent further damage. Only qualified personnel should attempt realignment of a fracture or dislocation.

Small animals can be rolled in a towel and held. Use a folded blanket or pillow to immobilise a larger dog's extremity. Placing a pillowcase over a pet’s head may reduce the pet’s stress and give the caregiver added protection from being bitten.

Bleeding due to traumatic injury must be controlled. Fur may have to be trimmed to close a wound. Manage capillary bleeding by applying a dressing over the wound and applying pressure for at least five minutes. Venous bleeding is best controlled with a pressure dressing. Apply a clean dressing to the wound and wrap with gauze to maintain pressure.

A pressure dressing should also be attempted for arterial bleeding, but if the flow of blood cannot be checked, a tourniquet may be used. Be sure the tourniquet material is at least one inch in width. Using a narrow cord for a tourniquet may result in permanent nerve damage in the extremity.

Keep in mind that animals are far more tolerant of pain than humans. A dog that has been in a crash may compensate for quite some time before showing signs of injury.

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animal rescue

Be aware that animals submerged in icy water have survived extended periods of cardiac arrest. Extended resuscitation time may be warranted.

Hypothermia A dog that has fallen through the ice of a frozen pond or has been left outside in the extreme cold is likely to be suffering from hypothermia.

Move the animal to a warm environment. Dry the fur with towels, as wet fur has no insulating value. Wrap the animal in a warm blanket and take a rectal temperature. If the temperature is 35°C (95°F) or above, continue warming with blankets. A dog struggling to escape a pond will expend all its energy and exhaust its glucose stores, resulting in low blood sugar levels. Encourage the dog to swallow a sugar solution such as honey, or four teaspoons of sugar mixed in one pint of water to restore blood glucose levels.

If the pet's temperature is below 35°C (95°F), begin rapid warming. Place warm (not hot) water bottles wrapped in towels in the animal’s groin area. Keep the animal wrapped in a blanket, change warming packs and monitor temperature every ten minutes until the pet's temperature reaches 37.8°C (100°F). Do not apply warming packs directly to the animal’s skin or attempt warming with a hairdryer.

Hyperthermia

FEMA Urban Search and Rescue teams deployed to the Houston area of Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey rescued many animal as well as human residents caught up in the disaster. © Los Angeles Fire Department

Choking If a pet is choking, open the mouth and look for obstructions.

Do not perform blind finger sweeps as you might push a hidden object further into the throat. In the case of large dogs, you might lose that finger if the dog suddenly bites down.

For medium to large dogs, if no obstruction is visible, lift the dog’s hind legs to place it into a head-down wheelbarrow position and allow gravity to help to clear the blockage. If this is not successful, while still in the wheelbarrow position, apply five sharp slaps across the front shoulders to help force out the obstruction. For small dogs and cats, lift them by their thighs, hang the head down and shake them.

If these techniques do not resolve choking, immediately perform a Heimlich manoeuvre. For large animals, stand over the animals back, facing toward its head. Place the fist of one hand on the dog's stomach below ribs and above the pelvis.

Wrap your other hand over the first and thrust up towards and forward toward the dog's head. Place small dogs or cats on a table. Hold the pet with one hand over the back and use two fingers on the stomach to deliver forward thrusts.

Near drowning For an animal that has experienced near drowning, the first step is to remove water from the lungs. Hold a medium to large dog upside down by its waist. Allow water to drain out the dog's mouth and nose. For small dogs or cats, grasp the animal by its thighs and hold it upside down to drain water from the body, then position the animal on its right side and begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (see CPR below).

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For a pet suffering from hyperthermia after being locked in a hot car, move the animal to a cool environment. If the animal's rectal temperature is below 104°F, moving to an air-conditioned space may be sufficient treatment.

If the pet's temperature is above 40°C (104°F), begin rapid cooling. The dog or cat may be sprayed with water for cooling and placed in front of a fan while wet. In extreme cases, the animal can be put into a cool bath (not ice water) for up to two minutes. Place cool packs in the animal’s groin area. Wiping the paws with cold water may also help reduce the temperature. Check temperature every ten minutes, and once readings fall below 39.5°C (103°F), stop rapid cooling.

Further cooling may push the animal into hypothermia.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) If your patient is apneic (not breathing) and pulseless, lay them on their right side and begin CPR. For medium to large dogs, kneel behind the animal’s back, place the heel of one hand over the widest portion of the chest. Place the other hand over the first and provide compressions to a depth of one-quarter to one-third of the depth of the rib cage. Deliver 120 compressions per minute (roughly the same beat as the Bee Gees’ song Staying Alive or Queen’s Another One Bites the Dust).

For puppies, small dogs, and cats, place the animal on a flat surface, right side down. Place your cupped hands on either side of the rib cage over the heart. Deliver 120 squeeze compressions per minute.

Provide two rescue breaths for every 30 compressions. For large dogs, hold the jaw closed with your hands, place your mouth over the snout and blow until you see chest-rise. For puppies, small dogs, and cats, your mouth will cover both the nose and mouth. Blow gently; being careful not to overinflate the lungs, doing so could rupture the lung resulting in a pneumothorax.

The preceding pages offer the only briefest possible discussion of pre-veterinary medicine, but if this article has inspired you to learn how to help our four-legged friends, then I will count it as a success. As long as animals are saved, and their suffering is reduced, I’m all in.

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animal rescue

Pioneering firefighter transforms US animal rescue A watch manager from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has been transforming animal rescue response in California. Jim Green tells Fire & Rescue about his experiences during an eventful year in the US and why animal rescue can have such an impact on human safety.

O Hampshire FRS Watch Manager Jim Green spent a year in the US conducting training in animal rescue.

rganising an international conference, supporting the veterinary response to a major disaster, rescuing horses and evacuating llamas during an unprecedented wildfire – these things are all in a day’s work for animal expert Jim Green.

The Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service watch manager recently spent a year in the US training authorities in animal rescue. He conducted research funded by the University of California, developed plans to improve working practices, and

even proposed changes to state law.

Working as the operational lead for the Incidents Involving Animals project at the University of California’s School of Veterinary Medicine, Green created an animal rescue response unit within the UC Davis Fire Department. He delivered training to veterinarians, technical rescue teams, and other fire departments throughout northern California, helping to establish a culture of multi-agency collaboration.

His work also prompted research into a new way of keeping

Green and fellow Hampshire firefighter Adrian Knight stage a demonstration animal rescue.

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animal rescue

animals calm during rescues using the drug propranolol.

‘A large part of my job was teaching the basics of animal handling and psychology and nurturing an understanding of animal issues,’ explains Green. ‘California pet ownership is similar to the UK so there is a 50% chance that first responders will encounter animals at any incident they attend.

Firefighters need to understand the risks that distressed animals can pose to their safety and that of the public, and they also have to factor in the way people behave when animals are in distress – animal rescue has a huge bearing on the safety of humans.’

Green had plenty of opportunities to put his animal rescue skills into practice during his 12-month stint in the US. He spent time with Station 2 Sacramento, one of the busiest stations in California that experiences an average of 6,600 calls each year. During his stay, California experienced one of the wettest winters on record and one of the hottest summers.

The wet winter led to fears of a breach of the Oroville Dam and 200,000 people had to be evacuated while Jim’s team made preparations for the impact on displaced animals in the event of a possible flood.

In contrast, the summer saw some of the most devastating wildfires in the state’s history. More than 1.3 million acres burned and the fires caused deadly landslides.

Green and the university veterinary emergency response team were involved in rescuing animals and dealing with animal issues after people had been evacuated from the Sonoma and Napa Valley fires in northern California’s wine region. He was deployed to the nearby city of Santa Rosa where about 2,000 homes were lost in one night.

‘The effects of these fires were devastating and at the centre of the activity were huge numbers of animals with injury,

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displacement, and welfare needs that became more evident as time went on,’ says Green. ‘Huge animal evacuation shelters were set up with more than 600 horses in one alone. Sadly, the fires came through so quickly that many owners did not have time to move their animals as they fled for their lives. First responders, veterinarians, and volunteer rescue groups worked for days to provide assistance to human and animal victims of the northern California fires.’

As well as providing practical assistance and guidance to California’s firefighters, Green also focused on best practices and organised an international conference on animal rescue that saw 100 delegates attend from across the US and the world. Animal experts from a variety of disciplines came from as far afield as Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the UK. Steve Foye, former HFRS area manager and now Deputy Chief at Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service in the UK, chaired the conference.

Green also devised and led a rescue scenario for 14 Urban Search and Rescue teams taking part in a multi-agency resilience challenge called Urban Shield, which took place over two days in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Now back in the UK, Green works in community safety at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, having taken up the reins of animal rescue more than a decade ago. He is also a director and co-founder of the national group British Animal Rescue and Trauma Care Association.

And his strangest animal rescue experiences? Green has responded to around 500 large animal rescues in his career, and he says his strangest adventures include attending to a beached whale near Hampshire’s Hayling Island and retrieving a 12ft Burmese python from a car at Southampton Common.

second QUARTER 2018 < FIRE & RESCUE <

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AFOA cOmment

Quarterly update Online discussion forum launched; AFOA 2019 venue confirmed as Gatwick Hilton; Rosenbauer announced as main sponsor of AFOA 2019; AFOA and the ARFF Working Group work on a Memorandum of Understanding.

I

Above: AFOA chairman Simon Petts.

Below: AFOA's annual conference will be held at the London Gatwick Hilton for one last time, from 15-17 January 2019.

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am delighted to announce that the new discussion forum for the AFOA website is now live. This is something that we have been working towards for some time, as we believe that it is important to give our members a secure area for open discussion on any topic.

The forum can be found here: www.afoa.co.uk/forum/ afoa-members-forum It has been hard work to get to this point, and now it is over to you, our members. We urge you to make use of the forum and use it as another means of developing solutions for your service. As is the case with many issues, it is almost certain that someone has faced it before, and we hope the forum will encourage the sharing of advice, experience, and ideas to help resolve current and future issues for our members.

Our annual conference continues to go from strength to

< FIRE & RESCUE < secOnd QUARteR 2018

strength, with the 2018 Airport Fire Officers Association conference seeing yet another year of expansion. The committee has been steadily pushing the capacity allocation for the Gatwick Hilton, and this year we were delighted that we booked and filled 240 rooms – and much faster than ever before. Rest assured, the association is in good shape.

The London Gatwick Hilton has been booked for the 2019 conference, to take place on 15-17 January 2019. While the hotel is undergoing major refurbishment work over the next three years – and the committee has been preparing the conference for a change of location – the team at Gatwick Hilton have assured us that our 2019 conference will be as successful as the last three events. The venue change is now planned for 2020.

We can also reveal that Rosenbauer UK will be the main sponsor for 2019. John Purdy and I recently met with MD Oliver North, who is delighted to be supporting the conference once more.

Planning for 2019 is already well underway, and we have speakers lined up to cover the Dubai-Emirates B777 incident.

This resulted in the tragic death of a member of the airport’s fire and rescue service. The impact was felt worldwide and the learnings will be critical to every ARFF service.

AFOA has also been working with the ARFF Working Group to develop a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations. We envision that a trusted partnership could help to improve future shared learnings, and speakers and case study information are definitely areas where such an agreement would greatly benefit our association.

In the meantime, the next big calendar event for the association is our AGM on 19 September 2018. This is now firmly embedded as a fixture at the Emergency Services Show at the NEC in Birmingham, UK, and attendance has steadily increased as a result. As with the website forum, there is an audience participation element to the AGM – the more input we have from the AFOA membership, the better the outputs for all of us. So please do attend if you can.

I look forward to seeing you in September.

Simon Petts, AFOA chairman.

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ppe

Get your kit off Dermal absorption of toxic chemicals on PPE is elevating firefighters’ risk of developing cancer, according to a new study from the University of Central Lancashire in the UK. But what can be done to minimise this risk? Lotte Debell looks at research and initiatives from around the world and the challenges faced by fire services in getting to grips with the cancer threat.

C

Professor Anna Stec, lead researcher on the UCLAN study.

Dirty gear is still seen as a badge of honour by some fireighters, but awareness of the health risks is now on the increase. © Shutterstock

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ancer is the leading cause of death for firefighters. A search of the IAFF line-of-duty death database for cancer brings up 1,762 names. The organisation’s Fallen Firefighter Memorial Wall of Honour, erected more than 30 years ago in Colorado to honour firefighters from the US and Canada, has more than 7,600 names in total. 190 names were added in 2017. 167 were deaths caused by cancer. In fact, cancer accounts for more than 60% of the names added in the last five years.

Study after study has shown that firefighters are at an increased risk of developing cancer because of the toxins they are exposed to on the job. But for many firefighters it doesn’t take a study to tell them what they already know – that too many of their colleagues have died from, or are fighting, cancer.

The studies point to exposures to toxic compounds during fire suppression as the reason for a firefighter’s elevated risk of developing cancer. But what is becoming clearer as more research is coming out is how this exposure is happening.

Whereas for a long time, the focus had been on inhalation, current research suggests dermal absorption is the main culprit – and this raises serious questions about how firefighters can protect themselves from this potentially deadly occupational hazard.

The most recent study to provide evidence of the dangers of dermal absorption of chemicals from combustion was conducted by the University of Central Lancashire in the UK1.

Published in February 2018 in Nature’s Scientific Reports, it is

< FIRE & RESCUE < second QUARTER 2018

the first study of its kind in the country and links a firefighter’s increased risk of cancer to ‘dangerously high levels of harmful chemicals’ on their PPE after exposure to smoke from a fire. It also highlighted the need for government intervention and regulation for the long-term health protection of firefighters.

Astonishingly, despite the growing evidence, firefighting is not currently considered a high-risk occupation in Europe.

Following a meeting at the European Parliament to discuss fire toxicity and firefighter health, the study’s lead researcher Professor Anna Stec – who has been arguing for years that the risks are much higher than anyone in the fire service acknowledged – realised that more data was required to demonstrate firefighters’ exposure to carcinogenic chemicals.

‘We know that firefighters are exposed to a cocktail of acute toxins – those that have an immediate effect – as well as chronic toxins, which have a long-term effect. Within chronic toxins, not a lot of research has been carried out.’

For this reason, the study focused exclusively on PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), specifically on 16 that are classed as either carcinogenic, potentially carcinogenic or possibly carcinogenic by the US. ‘Acute toxins will depend on the fire conditions and fuel for any given fire, but soot is carbon and everything contains carbon. So, we decided to focus on soot because it is always present and it sticks to everything. Soot is a build-up of PAHs.’ While conversations about exposure have tended to focus

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ppe

on inhalation, Stec took another tack. Since the use of breathing apparatus should limit the inhalation risk, and with studies from the US showing the presence of particulates under firefighters’ clothing, the UCLAN team homed in on clothing contamination and potential exposure on the skin.

They also looked at PPE cleaning methods – or lack of them – and their effectiveness.

This is really one of the key issues. If PPE is contaminated with carcinogens and is not cleaned effectively or indeed at all between incidents, the chemicals on those garments can cause repeated exposures for the firefighters who wear them, as well as potentially contaminating vehicles and anything else they touch.

Working with 136 firefighters from two fire stations during training scenarios, researchers took pre- and post-event wipe samples from firefighters’ skin and PPE as well as from their workspace and fire engines, taking account of differences in PPE storage methods between the two stations. They looked at various roles, from instructors to trainees, and most, if not all, had carcinogens on their clothing and skin.

‘When we calculated the cancer risk to firefighters within 30 to 40 years of exposure to these contaminants on their clothing – and not washing that clothing – it is very high,’ said Stec. In fact, she says, it is as much as 350 times higher than the level that would prompt government intervention in the US. ‘A lot of firefighters have told us that they don’t have the facility to clean their kit at the station, so they either take it home to wash it or don’t wash it at all. And they often leave it in rooms close to their offices and sleeping areas. Most fire services in the UK have no regulations on how they clean their kit and based on the samples we collected, there is clear evidence that clothing is not being effectively decontaminated.’

This is a story that is being repeated around the world. A study from the US by Kenneth Fent et al2, published in 2017 in The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, found PAHs on firefighters’ PPE, necks and hands at varying concentrations depending on their role during an incident, and that levels of the chemicals on PPE increased after each fire. While the study did not measure biomarkers of PAHs, since these are readily absorbed through the skin, the authors concluded that firefighters in the study likely experienced biological uptake of these chemicals.

In Europe, researchers in Belgium identified a risk from PPE when firefighters kept isolated in a room wearing their turnout gear for four hours showed evidence of increased toxin levels in urine samples. Belgian company Decontex has since developed a full decontamination programme for fire PPE – chemical, biological and particle (asbestos) decontamination – based on the LCO2 extraction technology, to ensure that harmful compounds are effectively removed.

(F&R, Q1, 2018).

But it’s not simply a case of cleaning PPE. It’s also about persuading firefighters that this needs to happen. And that is not nearly as easy as it sounds.

‘A few years ago in Belgium, a survey asked firefighters how often they clean their gear, and most said never or once a year,’ says Tommy Verminck, who set up Decontex. ‘Why is that? Because they don’t have the facility, or they just don’t want to? Testosterone is a real problem here.’

Or, as Lieutenant Heather Buren from the San Francisco Fire Department puts it: ‘The dirtier your gear, the saltier, hardier firefighter you are.’

For the last few years, Buren has been working to educate

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The UCLAN study looked at various roles from instructors to trainees, and found that most, if not all, had carcinogens on their clothing and skin after a fire. © Shutterstock

firefighters in her department and around the US on the need for post-event decontamination and the risk of cancer as part of her work on the Women Firefighters Biomonitoring

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ppe

For many firefighters who have been in the service for a long time, cleaning turnout gear goes against the grain of what it means to be a firefighter.

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Study (WFBS) looking specifically at breast cancer risk.

Behaviour change is happening, she says, but it is a slow process – even when it is mandated from the top.

‘As firefighters, in order to cope with all the things we do and see on the job, we separate ourselves from it. We look at all this death and mayhem and say “that won’t happen to me”. Especially for those who have been in the service a long time, cleaning kit goes against the grain of what it means to be a firefighter. All these things conspire to make behaviour change difficult.’

The WFBS made a video using shaving cream to visually represent PPE contamination. It’s an extremely effective demonstration of why decon is necessary – and just how easy it is to transfer contamination from PPE to skin, to vehicles, and even to homes. ‘We also held a memorial for fallen firefighters by putting the boots of all those who have died from cancer on the steps of city hall – 250 pairs of boots. That’s something you can’t look away from and say it isn’t happening. But, fire departments are steeped in tradition. Even when a general order is issued, it’s a slow trickledown. You can mandate change, but that’s just not how it works in the service. It is going to take time.’

In Europe, unions have been a driving force behind behaviour change, says Tommy Verminck. ‘In Belgium, the union published cartoons, organised conferences and produced videos to explain the risks of taking contaminated clothing home. They also lobbied for legislation.’

In Australia, a campaign by the United Firefighters Union of Australia pushed for the introduction of presumptive legislation that recognises certain cancers in firefighters as having an occupational cause, making them eligible for compensation. In 2011, this campaign contributed to the passing of the Fair Protection for Firefighters Bill by the Australian Federal Parliament. The UFUA is now continuing the campaign at state level.

Presumptive cancer laws – laws that contain the presumption that certain cancers are a result of occupation rather than requiring the person to prove this – are hugely important in countries like the US, where they make it easier for firefighters diagnosed with cancer to claim paid medical, disability pensions and benefits for their families after death.

The inclusion of breast cancer in presumptive legislation

< FIRE & RESCUE < second QUARTeR 2018

across the US was a motivating factor for the Women Firefighters Biomonitoring Study in San Francisco. In December 2017, the provincial government of Alberta, Canada, became the first Canadian jurisdiction to add two female-specific cancers – ovarian and cervical – to its list of site-specific presumptive cancers for firefighters. It also lowered the exposure period for testicular cancer.

Presumptive laws are all very well, and undoubtedly necessary in those countries where lack of them might mean that firefighters with occupational cancers cannot receive the help and benefits they need. But what, if anything, can governments and regulators and the fire service itself do to reduce the risk?

‘There are now more than enough studies that show the risk is real,’ says Verminck. ‘What the industry needs to do now – and what the fire service is notoriously bad at doing – is move from the problem to the solution.’

But what does that solution look like? Is it behavioural, regulatory, technological, or all three? Verminck’s message, that it is time to stop talking and start doing, is not aimed solely at the fire service. Industry also needs to come together. ‘Instead of the detergent makers, machine makers, and PPE suppliers all doing their own thing, they should come together to find a solution,’ says Verminck. ‘Then they could create the best suits that could be cleaned by the best detergents, using the best technology. And the fire service should undertake to use what they develop because it is not traditionally an early adopter of technology and so industry has been reluctant to invest.’

The increase in cancer deaths since the 1970s has been blamed on changes in modern building materials and home furnishings, including the rise of synthetic materials and plastics and even flame-retardant coatings for household goods. If the increasing toxicity of the smoke from fires is partly to blame, is this an area where future regulation could make a difference?

‘There is a gap between the public perception of what a firefighter’s job is and the reality,’ said Peter Maes, firefighter and emergency medical technician with the Brussels Fire Department, speaking at the same European Parliament meeting that Anna Stec attended. ‘Being a firefighter is never running through fire: it is crawling through thick smoke. The smoke is hot, it is flammable, it is blinding. It is also increasingly toxic, and only a small amount of material can create a huge amount of smoke.’

Another attendee, Tommy Kjaer, a Danish firefighter and president of the Danish Firefighters against Cancer Association, said he has no doubt that this toxic smoke is the biggest long-term threat to firefighter health. ‘It is a silent killer. We need MEPs to help us save lives and to keep us healthy. We need proper, large-scale testing of building materials and we need the toxicity of smoke to be tested and labelled.’

‘The testing and labelling the smoke toxicity of construction products is a first step in having safer, healthier firefighters,’ Stec agrees. ‘The EU needs to admit there is a problem and act to regulate smoke toxicity. I am hopeful that my research, and the research of those feeding into the European Parliament’s roundtable discussions, will be influential in that outcome.’

However, even if regulations on smoke toxicity did come into effect – and in the EU at least that is not likely to happen any time soon – soot would still be present at every fire and so would PAHs. These chemicals would still adhere to PPE and potentially contaminate a firefighter’s skin. Likewise, while manufacturers and standards agencies are looking into

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Women firefighters study A pioneering study in San Francisco is seeking to understand breast cancer risk factors among women firefighters. The Women Firefighters Biomonitoring Study aims to improve the health and safety of firefighters by identifying potential chemicals linked to breast cancer and using the science to help reduce risk through education and prevention.

For Heather Buren, lieutenant and paramedic with the San Francisco Fire Department who was involved in getting the study off the ground, taking action was imperative. She didn’t need studies to tell her there was a problem.

The evidence was right in front of her. San Francisco has the highest number of female firefighters in the US – approximately 225. And too many of those women were being diagnosed with the same disease.

‘Eight years ago I lost a friend in the service to breast cancer. Alison was the first, but she was just the beginning.‘ Within in a two-year period from 2012, Buren saw five female colleagues diagnosed with aggressive pre-menopausal breast cancer. And all across the nation active and retired firefighters were being diagnosed with, or dying from, cancer. ‘It made us ask some important questions. Why were we getting cancer at such astounding rates?’

In San Francisco, awareness of firefighters' cancer risk had been on the increase thanks to Tony Stefani, a retired captain in the San Francisco Fire Department and a cancer survivor. In 2006, he set up the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation and started a conversation about firefighters and cancer. But although studies were being done, none of these looked specifically at women. In many cases, there simply weren’t enough female firefighters to generate meaningful data. Which made San Francisco the ideal place to conduct a women-specific study.

‘I have been in the SFFD for 21 years, so clearly women are in our department, but because it is a man’s world, we try not to stand out and we don’t get talked about much – usually we are ok with that. But to see so many women in their early forties with breast cancer raised a red flag. It terrified me.’

Heather and her colleagues approached the SFFCPF for help. An open forum discussion was organised, which ultimately led to the formation of the study.

They reviewed the available literature. Only three out of 20 studies talked about women and cancer. ‘This is interesting, because it is important to say that I can see an elevated risk of breast cancer in my department. Just because there is an absence of data, doesn’t mean there is an absence of risk. But science is important because it can lend evidence to build strong presumptive laws in every state. These laws make it easier for firefighters to prove their cancers were caused by work, and to claim medical and benefits.’

The study is looking at potential chemicals linked to breast cancer, specifically PAHs, PFAS, and flame retardants. Blood and urine samples from 80 female firefighters were compared with samples from 80 female office workers in San Francisco. Participants also filled out a behavioural questionnaire.

Buren is not expecting the results to show anything that other studies haven’t already shown, but a study that focuses only on women firefighters will help departments fight to have breast cancer added to the list of occupational firefighter cancers. ‘When we are fighting for our lives, we don’t want to be fighting for our benefits and the ability to support our families.

Science from studies like this can help first responders nationally.’

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changes to PPE design to reduce chemical exposure, and though these changes might offer some benefits, the PPE would still get dirty and it would still need cleaning.

At the end of the day, firefighting is a risky business. ‘We can’t control what happens in the fire,’ says Lt Buren. ‘As firefighters, we are not going to refuse to go into a fire because it looks toxic. But what we do before and after a fire is within our control, and there are things we can do to prevent us from becoming cancer statistics.’

In San Francisco, cleansing wipes are starting to appear on fire trucks. These can be used by firefighters to wipe down key areas such as the neck, hands, and groin after a fire. The 2017 Fent et al study found that use of cleansing wipes can reduce skin contamination by PAHs on the neck by a median of 54%. The same study looked at three methods of field decontamination and concluded that wet soap decon was the most effective.

‘Wearing SCBA from start to finish is the best way to protect against exposure,’ says Buren. ‘From before you go into a fire until after you have completed overhaul, keep your SCBA on. Yes, it is difficult – the equipment is heavy and overhaul is tough, and there will be times when it is just not practical – but this is best practice, and it is a step that we can take to protect ourselves.’

Then there’s proper decontamination and PPE cleaning procedures. In San Francisco, special washing machines called extractors were installed in stations several years ago and are now in almost half of the city’s firehouses – although it took a while to persuade firefighters to use them. ‘Even before that we began an effort to get turnout gear out of sleeping dorms and common rooms because people were just wearing their dirty gear all over the station,’ says Buren.

‘It’s about individual responsibility,’ she adds. ‘I can sit back and say my department should do this and that to protect me, and that’s certainly true, but it has to start at an individual level.’

Technology can build on mitigation efforts through behaviour change. There’s a project underway at the Catholic University Leuven in Belgium to create a healthmonitoring patch for firefighters that detects when it has become saturated with harmful chemicals, triggering further tests and the potential for firefighters to be taken out of active service for a period to control exposure and risk levels. The project, which is still very much in development, could also include an app that could enable firefighters to monitor their own health, including activity, temperature and chemical exposures, which could encourage individuals to take greater responsibility for their own health.

And when there are so many layers of responsibility involved, from government to manufacturers to fire services, Buren is right: firefighters cannot afford to wait on others to change things. Which does not mean that change shouldn’t also come from other directions and for Stec, Verminck and Buren and everyone else involved in this fight, the growing awareness and increasing number of conversations about firefighters and cancer are crucial steps in the right direction. From internal departmental procedure changes to international conferences focused on finding solutions, the profession is waking up and taking this seriously. But it is going to take everyone working together to turn it around.

1 Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and elevated cancer incidence in firefighters. Anna A Stec et al. http://rdcu.be/GnmR 2 Contamination of firefighter personal protective equipment and skin and the effectiveness of decontamination procedures Kenneth W. Fent et al https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15459624.2017.1334904

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ppe

Double risk of cancer fatality for firefighters A Canadian University has released a study that strongly recommends the creation of a firefighter wellness surveillance system to help address soaring cancer rates and other key firefighter health risks.

F

Firefighters are two to three times more likely to die from cancer compared to the rest of the population, a Canadian study has found.

The University of the Fraser Valley’s study, carried out with the British Columbia Injury Research and Prevention Unit, reviewed ten years of firefighter health and injury data. It found that cancer was the cause of death in more than 86% of firefighter fatalities, overtaking cardiovascular disease as the top killer of Canadian firefighters.

When compared with the 2013 Statistics Canada data on all causes of death in the general population, the data also revealed the increased risk to firefighters – approximately 50 deaths per 100,000 firefighters every year – even when their generally healthier lifestyles are taken into account.

The study's co-author Len Garis, adjunct professor at UVF and fire chief for Surrey Fire Service in British Columbia, highlights the importance of implementing a firefighter health surveillance model to monitor health trends and patterns, so that timely and responsive interventions can be created. Under his guidance, Surrey Fire Service has increased its focus on firefighter wellness in recent years, and is developing its own health-monitoring program.

‘As with all prevention activities, it will be many years before we realize the fruits of our work,’ Garis said. ‘However, the work we do now will mean that after a long career of serving the public, more firefighters will live longer and healthier lives.’

Key findimgs from the study, titled Determinants of Injury and Death in Canadian Firefighters: A Case for a National Firefighter Wellness Surveillance System, include: • Cancer represented more than 86% of all fatality claims, with an annual rate of 50 fatalities per 100,000 firefighters.

• Traumatic injuries accounted for 90% of all time-loss claims, affecting approximately one in 50 firefighters each year.

• Mental health was the third leading cause of time-loss claims, affecting an average of one in 5,000 firefighters per year.

• Cardiovascular disease accounted for five% of fatality claims.

• Respiratory disease accounted for just under two per cent of all fatality claims.

Firefighters are regularly exposed to concentrated carcinogens in the air, soot and tar at a fire ground, and the cumulative effect is demonstrated by the fact that the highest number of time-loss claims for cancer were at ages 55 to 59, and most cancer deaths occurred over the age of 65.

When responding to emergencies, firefighters may be exposed to extreme temperatures, strenuous physical labour, falling objects, diseases, toxic substances, and violence or other traumatic events.

Through an extensive review of research from 2000 to 2017 and claims data for 2006 to 2015 (provided by the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada and WorkSafeBC), the study identified the top five health concerns facing Canadian firefighters as: cancer, traumatic injury, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and mental health problems.

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‘Taking a fresh look at the data helps to ensure that the measures taken to improve health and prevent injuries among firefighters are relevant and effective,’ said Rachel Ramsden, the lead author of the study and member of BCIRPU. ‘Through this study we see that firefighter health risks evolve over time. This points to the need for a method of continually collecting and analysing firefighter health data, so that the interventions can remain in sync.’

The study has implications for the 100,000-plus volunteer and career firefighters across Canada, as well as those in other countries, including the 1.2 million firefighters in the US. ‘We see this study as part of the ongoing effort to make firefighting a safer profession,’ said Mike Hurley, vice president of the International Association of Firefighters’ 6th District, representing BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon. ‘We welcome any effort that helps us to better understand the risks to firefighters, and to identify what can be done to reduce them.’

Ramsden added: ‘This important, potentially life-saving work would not have been possible without the support of the Motorola Solutions Foundation.'

Funded by the 2017 Motorola Solutions Foundation grant programme, the study represents more than a year of work by a team of Canadian health professionals, researchers, academics and fire service leaders.

These include Rachel Ramsden, Jennifer Smith and Kate Turcotte from the BCIRPU; Len Garis, Fire Chief for the City of Surrey and adjunct professor at UFV; Dr Kenneth Kunz, a medical oncologist; Dr Paul Maxim, a researcher and Wilfrid Laurier University and Professor; Larry Thomas, Deputy Fire Chief for the City of Surrey; and Dr Ian Pike, director of the BCIRPU and a University of British Columbia professor.

The Motorola Solutions Foundation grant program supports and advances public safety programs and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiatives.

The study can be downloaded for free at https://cjr.ufv.ca/

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training

Flash forward When a tragic accident forced Montreal firefighter Steve Brisebois to reassess his approach to fire combat, he became an advocate for improving firefighting tactics around the world.

Here, he argues for the principle of transitory attack.

M

y career as a firefighter started when I was still in the fire academy. I was going through training in a fire station when we were called out to a fire in a shop.

Upon arrival, smoke was coming out of the building but there were no flames visible from the outside. We proceeded with a forced entry to get inside the building, however, the open door meant a constant flow of air, permitting a faster evolution of the fire. Rollovers appeared over our heads and the heat suddenly became unbearable. The outside temperature was around -35°C (-31°F), which caused the fire hose to freeze up.

Unable to hose down the fire, there was a flashover, which forced us to quickly withdraw.

Fortunately, my colleagues and I were lucky enough to get out of that ordeal with only light burn injuries. However, the incident left me baffled by the tactics that were used to fight the fire, even though we had done exactly as we had been taught to do at the academy.

The incident inspired me to increase my knowledge of thermally-induced reaction and I took advanced courses on the subject throughout Canada, the United States, and even in Europe. In the meantime, I became a fire simulator instructor for my own fire service and at the fire academy, where I met

With the help of the Mirabel Fire Department, a city located just north of Montreal, Flash Formation carried out a full week of training on scientific acquired-structure burns.

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< FIRE & RESCUE < second QUARTER 2018

other firefighters who shared my doubts about our fire tactics.

Most sadly, in 2006, our knowledge was tested further when we lost one of our colleagues, Captain Marleau, who died in a fire after there was a fire gas ignition, a phenomenon that was unknown to us at the time.

It was with the aim of sharing our knowledge that, in 2011, my long-time partner and I founded the company Flash Formation. Our first book, Thermally-induced reaction during a structural fire, sold more than 6,700 copies in Quebec and France, which demonstrates that there is a real desire among our fellow firefighters to learn more about this subject.

A dramatic accident On the night of 21 May 2012, my colleagues and I were called to a house fire near our station. Initially the situation seemed fairly secure, but it quickly became very dangerous.

While we were looking for the point of origin of the fire, the room I was in was set ablaze after a flashfire. My two colleagues succeeded in getting out of the room by a nearby door. Since I was a little deeper inside the room, I immediately grabbed the fire hose to protect myself, and called for help on my radio. Intending to come to my rescue, one of my colleagues pulled the fire hose, disconnecting the pressure-reducing valve from my face mask. I then inhaled hot gases, burning my airways. I managed to successfully reinstall my pressure-reducing valve but, as I was trying to get out of that room, I fell into a stairwell hidden behind the door.

This proved to be the point of origin of the fire.

As a result of this incident, I suffered first and second degree burns to 67% of my body and 16% of my airways. I was put in a chemically-induced coma for several days because of the risk of complications to my lungs. Fortunately, after a year of treatment and operations, I was able to return to service.

After that accident, I knew that we had to step up our efforts at Flash Formation to share the knowledge we had gained throughout the years so that my experience could serve

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training

Firefighter Steve Brisebois suffered first and second degree burns to 67% of his body and 16% of his airways after an accident in a structural fire.

others. To this end, we developed a 45-hour training programme for optimising firefighting tactics. However, to successfully convince other firefighters to change their tactics, we knew we would need solid proof that the procedures we proposed were not only effective but essential.

With the help of the Mirabel Fire Department, a city located just north of Montreal, we carried out a full week of training on scientific acquired-structure burns, which helped us to measure the appearances of the fire. These acquiredstructure burns were fully analysed with the help of thermocouple sensors, thermal cameras, a film crew, drones, and detailed radio communication recordings.

The experiments included the practice of transitory attack, which in Quebec at the time was an unknown firefighting procedure. A transitory attack involves putting water onto the

The accident prompted Brisebois and his partner to found Flash Formation, a training company that focuses on teaching the latest fire dynamics science as well as the transitory attack principle.

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fire as quickly as possible from the outside of the building prior to entry. For many firefighters, this technique was in complete opposition to what they had been taught and how they had been fighting fires for their entire careers. The results of these experiments – one of which is outlined below – were a revelation.

Acquired-structure burn project, scenario 2, Unimin Mirabel 2014.

• • • •

3m x 3m room Normal combustible charge present in the room 30-second water application with a 473lpm (125 gpm) nozzle with a cylindrical pattern Thermocouple sensors at three feet and seven feet above ground

This experiment was carried out to determine reignition times after a transitory attack. The temperature inside the room was over 925°C (1,697°F) before water application from the outside of the building. In this scenario, we used a 30-second water application with a 473lpm (125 gpm) nozzle, for a total of 234 litres (62 gallons). Following the transitory attack, we observed that the temperature in the room at seven feet above the ground had gone from 920°C (1,688°F) to 60°C (140°F), and from 850°C (1,562°F) to 45°C (113°F) at three feet above the floor.

After four minutes, the temperature at seven feet above the floor had increased again to 700°C (1,292°F) and at three feet above the ground to 170°C (338°F). From these results, it can be argued that this technique could allow a rescue operation to gain precious time under less dangerous conditions.

It is important to note that the thermal cameras placed in the hall showed no signs of fire propagation. The firefighters who stood in the hall felt no increase in temperature and observed a neutral plane from the smoke, which eased their movements.

The same results were observed during an acquiredstructure burn led by UL. Measures of carbon monoxide and oxygen taken during a transitory attack demonstrate that the

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training

application of water from the outside of the building can successfully reduce the concentration of carbon monoxide at ground level, and help increase the level of oxygen available to possible victims.

In conclusion, transitory attack should definitely be a recommended tactic for firefighting. However, in North America, control of ventilation is still advocated. By contrast, in most European countries, transitory attack has become not only an established tradition but an essential tactic.

Continual evolution At Flash Formation our aim is a constant improvement of firefighting tactics, and to this end we have worked with many different organisations around the world. We are always on the lookout for new firefighting techniques and we learn about them during training sessions and seminars.

Since 2012, Flash Formation has spent a total of 37 days practising acquired-structure burns according to the NFPA 1403 standard, and 131 educational acquired-structure burns scenarios have been carried out in 17 fired buildings. We were selected by IFSTA to write the manuals Strategies and tactics and Company officers, and were a part of the validation expert commitee during the project Study of the impact of fire attack utilising interior and exterior streams on firefighter safety and occupant survival in the UL laboratories near Chicago, US. Fire has evolved. It does not have the same propagation speed as it did 30 or 40 years ago. Nevertheless, our firefighting tactics have not changed. They have not followed the evolution of modern fires. Our mission is to convince firefighters and officers of the need to improve fire tactics and firefighting. I don’t want any other firefighter to suffer as I did, ESS18adsHPmay.qxp_Layout 1 09/05/2018 19:08 Page 1 especially when this kind of accident can be avoided.

About the Author: Steve Brisebois is an acting captain with the Montreal Fire Department. Since 2002, he has been an instructor on the flashover simulator for the Montreal Fire Department, IPIQ (Quebec’s public fire academy), and the Blainville Fire Department training centre.

Brisebois wrote the training manuals on fire behaviour and thermal phenomenon for the Montreal Fire Department and two of Quebec’s fire academies, IPIQ and Académie Des Pompiers, and served as a consultant for the Blainville Fire Department on the purchase of a flashover simulator.

In 2011 Brisebois wrote the book Le phénomènes thermiques de l’incendie de bâtiment and co-founded the company Flash Formation. He did an internship in Bordeaux, France, and Borden, Canada on how to interpret fire behaviour and the use of flashover simulators.

In 2014, he was selected for the committee of IFSTA's initial response strategy and tactics book. In 2015, he was selected for the fire attack UL FSRI technical panel.

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hazmat detection

Personal detection and response

As incidents involving chemical weapons increase, personal detection equipment should become part of a firefighter’s standard response kit, argues Michael Schunck.

T

Above: Dräger now offers a new series of personal single-gas monitors called Pac 6000, 6500, 8000 and 8500.

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he increase and expansion of modern terrorist activities and the development of new chemical agents mean that the role of gas detection in incident response needs to change.

Gas detection within modern fire service operations is usually reserved as a tactic for specific circumstances only.

These include hazardous material scenes and natural gas leakage with some confined space operations. Nevertheless, as technologies for detection have improved and become smaller and easier to use, the role of gas detection within a department’s tactical procedures needs to re-evaluated.

Currently, the most common use of gas detection tactics by firefighters is for natural gas leaks when utility lines become damaged during construction or remodelling. Other than the flammability issue, asphyxiation can occur if the leak is inside a structure. If this structure is occupied, evacuation concerns are at the forefront of life safety operations. Similarly, when an unknown vapour presents itself on a hazardous materials incident, gas detection is an initial and highlighted tactic. It is used for the definitive identification of vapours for proper prioritisation and future decision-making to ensure a safe resolution.

However, in other situations, gas detection is frequently placed on the backburner. But with hazard conditions

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changing, and detection technology becoming more accessible, this profile should change for responder as well as affected-person safety.

For most incidents, the equipment commonly carried by firefighters and sometimes included in departmental standard operating procedures includes hand tools or EMS gear and the PREP or portable radio for communication. However, there is a third category of item that should now be carried for every incident, and that is portable gas detection equipment.

Gas detection units have seen numerous technological advances. Most relevant in this instance is a reduction in size.

Modern units have transformed into portable, clip-on devices that make them functional for use at every incident. A small unit can be permanently attached to a belt or PREP radio shoulder harness, for example.

In addition to portability, an important functionality for gas detection is the ability to update the device as additional factual hazard data becomes available. Manufacturers making such devices include Scott Safety, MSA Gas Detection, and RAE Systems.

Once a device has been selected that fits these requirements and a fire department’s needs, it should be added to the ‘must have’ list of equipment that is taken on every incident response.

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hazmat detection

This is especially important in light of emerging chemical threats of which we currently know very little (until data is confirmed by reliable sources, suppliers may be unable to update sensors for their portable units). One such is the Novichok class of agents. According to the Science Direct online portal, these are reported to have been developed as a way of circumventing chemical weapons treaties as new chemical agents are not covered by existing agreements.

As these are illegal military agents, information about them is currently unconfirmed, but Science Direct provides an outline of what can be surmised based on current evidence, including the fact that they have reportedly been engineered to be undetectable by standard equipment and may even be able to penetrate standard chemical protective gear.

Novichok agents work by inhibiting the enzyme cholinesterase, and it is surmised that they consist of two non-toxic components that are mixed together to create the nerve agent. They may come in ultra-fine powder form and exposure is believed to come via inhalation of this powder, although it is also possible that the agents are absorbed through the skin or via the mucous membranes.

Science Direct also reports that Novichok agents are thought to be significantly more deadly than the VX nerve agent and effective within 30 seconds to two minutes.

Antidotes must be given immediately. The website goes on to note that some of this class of agent may have been formulated to be resistant to standard antidote therapies such as Atropine, Diazepam and combi-pens. They also have a higher density than air and tend to collect in low-lying areas.

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The binary nature of this hazard â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the mixing of two benign materials together at or near the time of use â&#x20AC;&#x201C; means it is easier to transport into a country than pre-made nerve agents. If these materials fall into the hands of terrorists, they could become more frequently seen within our borders.

As terrorism becomes more and more of a threat to fire services, gas and vapour detection will

An increase in terrorism incidents means that gas and vapour protection should become part of the SOPs for first response. Š Shutterstock

need to become common practice for first responders.

Bio-hazards, nerve agents and dirty bomb hazards all have, at present, compact monitoring techniques that can easily be implemented by first responders. These terrorist

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hazmat detection

DRAGER LAUNCHES PERSONAL SINGLE-GAS MONITORS A series of personal, single-gas monitors is now available from Dräger for quick and reliable gas measurement in an industrial environment.

The Pac 6000 and 6500 detect carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide, sulphur dioxide and oxygen, while the Pac 8000 and 8500 monitors also detect special gases such as ozone, phosgene and nitrogen dioxide. The Pac 8500 is available with a dual sensor for H2S/CO or O2/CO, and a hydrogen-compensated CO sensor reduces the influence of hydrogen on the indication of carbon monoxide.

The monitors are designed to provide the user with quick and precise results and offer a choice of 18 sensors for up to 33 gases.

They display the respective highest concentration measured and alarms are audible and visual and accompanied by vibration.

Each sensor is identified by a colour code to avoid mix ups and sensors are protected from contamination by a replacement membrane filter and housed in an impact- and chemical-resistant casing.

The monitors are designed to withstand harsh operating conditions and function within a temperature range of -40 to +55 °C. A D-Light indicates when the monitor is functioning and an industrial battery offers up to two years of service life without a battery change.

threats all exhibit portable detection commonalities.

Viral or bio-hazards can be detected by simple single-use bio-assays or ‘smart-tickets’, which can be stored in portable form for easy access. These incidents will frequently be accompanied by reports of large numbers of patients falling ill or showing symptoms of nausea. Since large groups of people do not tend to become ill at the same time, such an occurrence can be a possible clue for identification.

Upon release, nerve agents also result in large numbers of casualties, frequently unconscious or even dead. It is not uncommon for first responders attending such incidents to be greeted on arrival by multiple unconscious patients. If persistent symptoms progress, this could suggest multiple sources, a larger volume of contamination, or inadequate decontamination procedures. Insufficient absorption of antidote therapy can mirror this condition. While there are a handful of symptomatic approaches toward identification, muscle twitching and excess secretions remain the consistent identifier for the nerve agent family.

In the case of dirty bombs, nuclear materials can be detected with small detection devices that can be attached to a PREP radio harness for easy access by the first response group. Detection devices for radioactive materials have become much smaller and user-friendly over the years.

If this seems like a lot of equipment to add to every incident response, in reality we are only talking about the attachment of two devices onto the shoulder harness strap that combined are smaller than a modern PREP radio. The bio-assay tickets

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and nerve agent paper can fit into an EMS belt glove pouch.

And carrying them could save lives as early identification limits both contamination and patient deaths while improving responder protection and future prioritisation decisions.

All these hazards require proper decontamination, which ranges from clothing removal to bleach and water combinations. The quicker the first responder can identify these hazards, the sooner the proper chemical protective clothing can be selected and worn.

As fire services continue to modernise, new threats can be addressed by new technologies that are easy to operate and maintain. Modern detection tools and practices are an efficient, safer, and compact way of identifying many unknown hazards. It is up to company commanders to implement these technologies in a manner that will ensure that they become second nature to his/her responders by embedding their use into the operational response profile for day-to-day deployment.

Departments should also consider updating gas detection SOPs to include the variants required to handle these new and emerging hazards so that both department personnel and the local community will be better prepared in the event of a gas or vapour incident.

The more a tool is used, the more proficient a user becomes in its use, and this should be the cornerstone of fire service training. By placing detection within the everyday response profile, fire departments will be better placed to identify threats before they contaminate personnel and inflict further casualties on citizens in the response area.

About the Author: Michael F Schunck or Hazmat Mike serves as an adjunct in higher education facilities throughout Michigan, including Oakland Community College, Oakland University, Michigan State University, and Madonna University. Schunck was a presenter at the First State Hazardous Materials Convention at Crystal Mountain, which covered dry contamination, LEPC planning and methamphetamine clandestine drug lab response. He has authored various articles on topics such as philosophy, environmental technology, hazmat, bio-weapons and terrorist response. You can follow Mike’s blog at: www. hazmatmike.com/about/-mike.

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A matter of when, not if Actions taken in the early stages of a CBRN incident can contain its effects. Airport fire services can play a leading role in the initial management of a CBRN incident at an airport, writes Simon Churchill of the Resilience Advisors Network.

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he events in Salisbury, UK, have brought into sharp focus the potential effects of a CBRN incident, and that the threat of such incidents is still high. The risk to first responders is extreme – witness the contamination of Police Sergeant Nick Bailey at the Salisbury incident. The damage to the economy of an airport closed because of contamination is possibly irreversible.

An airport fire service – likely to be one of the first agencies on the scene if a CBRN incident occurs in an airport – can play a crucial role in mitigating the effects of such an incident, providing support to casualties and minimising disruption.

However, to do so it is vital that responders are appropriately trained and informed of the circumstances of an event so they can respond accordingly.

Rather than provide an overview of the complete management of a CBRN incident, this article instead aims to provoke reflection on the current position in airport fire services in key areas during the initial stages of an incident, including information sharing, interoperability, responder safety and initial action. It is understood that these areas are inextricably linked and can lead to a satisfactory resolution of any incident if properly managed.

Airport fire services vary in size and management globally, but the same principles will apply. Awareness starts with intelligence sharing for fast-time operations and pre-planning.

It is important to foster links with national counter-terrorism and police agencies that can provide relevant information, and to nominate and train suitable personnel to receive this information, disseminate it as necessary, and conduct appropriate planning.

Up-to-date information on the current terrorism picture is imperative for airport fire services in developing appropriate strategies for a CBRN event. Building relationships with the relevant agencies helps to build trust, which in turn builds confidence in the capability of the responding organisations.

This is linked to an understanding of the capability of other

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responding agencies and how they interact with yours.

Pre-planning and exercising for CBRN events is also critical to understanding the capabilities of other responding organisations and creating these links.

This approach will ensure that the correct level of response capability is available, including initial responder training and awareness of the threat. The terrorism threat level should be reviewed periodically, and capability and training should be reassessed accordingly. Moreover, gaps identified in training can then be resolved.

The airport fire service and those agencies directly responding from the airport should consider a range of command principles for initial response to a CBRN event.

The co-location of responding agencies at the incident is fundamental for effective incident management. The airport fire service, as one of the first to arrive, may be required to identify a suitable rendezvous point (RVP) and location to facilitate management of the incident. Pre-planning may have already identified these, and they may need to be different to your usual RVPs in order to prevent possible secondary attacks on responders. Co-locating at the scene will allow an effective decision-making process to develop through an established interagency command structure. It is generally acknowledged that no single agency will satisfactorily resolve a CBRN event on its own.

Effective methods of communication should be developed to include the information flow between agencies, between responders at the incident, and between the incident and the various mobilising controls. All should adopt common and robust communications systems and protocols. The development of coordination between the layers of command and between separate agencies is critical to ensuring the provision of a cohesive and structured response to the incident.

To facilitate a successful response, it is vital to form a clear intelligence picture that identifies the risks and provides a

Personnel in hazmat suits attend the incident where former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were the victims of a nerve agent attack in Salisbury. Traces of military-grade Novichok were found at nine locations. © Shutterstock

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hazmat detection

In 2014, members of the Emporia Kansas Fire Department, USA, change into level A protection suits as part of a CBRN drill. © Shutterstock

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clear and unified awareness of the situation. This starts from the moment of the first call to the mobilising centre. Common language and structures for information gathering should be used, which should be universal and embedded within multiagency command. These are fundamental principles of interoperability for any event. For a CBRN event, specific areas should be considered within this framework.

Airport fire services responding to an incident can assist in supporting the principles mentioned above, however, skills are required in identifying suitable rendezvous points related to a CBRN event. Also necessary are training and awareness of the hazards created by CBRN materials, the requirements of specialist responding agencies, and the security and management of the site including cordoning and secondary threats. As evidenced by the events in Salisbury, the incident will attract many response and other specialist agencies, which will all need to be accommodated.

Call handlers should be tasked with ensuring that appropriate information is obtained about the event.

Information gathering is central to their role, but it is important to make sure they are suitably well versed in extracting the kind of information that can identify a CBRN incident before mobilisation is underway. This could include: details of what can be seen by callers, including symptoms shown by casualties; casualty numbers; changes to the environment including vapours clouds, liquids or dust; activities prior to the incident such as individuals behaving strangely; and the specific actions of individuals. This information should influence how responders are dispatched and how they approach the incident, considering topography and weather, and particularly wind movement.

Initial responders should also receive guidance on identifying the nature of the incident they are attending. The UK principles of Steps 1, 2, 3 provide a foundation for early information gathering supporting responder safety.

• Step 1 – one casualty: no obvious reason. Proceed normally.

• Step 2 – two casualties; no obvious reason. Approach with caution • Step 3 – three or more casualties in close proximity with no obvious reason. Use caution.

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Additional action is necessary to supplement this process, starting with the identification of visual indicators. This should include awareness of the symptomology displayed by those suffering the effects of CBRN material, such as unexplained signs of skin, eye, or airway irritation; nausea; vomiting; twitching; sweating; pinpoint pupils; a runny nose; and disorientation.

Are there physical signs of contaminants such as pools of liquid or vapour clouds? Does the local vegetation show signs of unusual decay? Is there evidence of dispersal, including the remnants of explosive devices or sprayers?

Clearly, it is not enough to leave it there. Action must and will be taken by responders, but support can only be provided by first responders with the right personal protective equipment and resources at their disposal. Therefore this initial information gathering is critical in deciding how to approach an incident and manage it safely.

Initial responders can reassure casualties by providing continual updates on the situation and the help provided. In many cases, first responders can provide life-saving interventions by evacuating contaminated areas, arranging the removal of outer clothing, or providing early basic decontamination. Training to achieve this is imperative in order to ensure responders can provide the best support to casualties as well as preventing them from becoming victims themselves.

How best to provide casualty support at the incident? Start by immediately moving casualties from the area of gross contamination – upwind and uphill where possible. Also, ensure that a medical response is quickly mobilised. Blot exposed skin with any available absorbent and dry material including paper tissue, towels, medical dressings, or clean rags.

First responders could also be equipped with clinical wipes or sponges to distribute to casualties to start to remove further contamination from exposed areas. Another step is the provision of disrobing suits to casualties so they can remove an additional layer of clothing and contamination. Responders must also consider the effects of cross contamination to prevent spreading the incident to a wider footprint.

Actions taken in the early stages of an incident can contain the effects and airport fire services can play an important role in mitigating and resolving an incident at an airport, which in turn can reduce the suffering of casualties and the impact on the airport.

About the Author: Simon Churchill is a former senior fire service officer. He has helped to develop UK multi-agency guidance for CBRN events, developed and delivered CBRN command training with multi-agency colleagues, and has delivered assurance of UK planning for CBRN events. Simon now works with the Resilience Advisors Network, which provides fire, police, health, defence and security expertise from the UK, European Union, USA and Canada.

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THE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON COMPRESSED AIR FOAM

19 & 20 september 2018 Novotel Amsterdam Schiphol Airport The two-day symposium with speakers like: Gary Baum Deputy Chief, New Milford Fire Protection District (US) Dr. George Cajaty Barbosa Braga Colonel, Federal District Fire Department Brasília (BR) Leon (Alfy) Smith Australian Fire and Emergency Services (AU) Dr.-Ing. Stefanie Schubert Otto-von-Güricke University Magdeburg and many others.

more info & registration: icafs.com

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English spoken

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hazmat detection

Simulating gas and v Hazmat training in confined spaces is about to go to the next level of realism thanks to technology making its way from the chemical warfare training sector, writes Jose Sanchez de Muniain.

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n September this year, a new device will be unveiled that can simulate specific levels of different gasesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; concentrations and interact accordingly with handheld gas detection simulators to provide better training realism in confined-space scenarios.

There may be a plethora of regulations governing the operation of hazardous industrial and process facilities, which range from Seveso III and COMAH to DSEAR and Atex Directives, but with so much emphasis on prevention, how can operators prepare for the possibility of a hazmat release such as a gas plume?

Such training aids are on offer and under constant development by Argon Electronics, a hazmat/CBRNE specialist that provides simulator training technology for military and emergency response sectors worldwide.

Argon Electronics first became involved in hazmat simulators in the late 80s, when the UK fire service was looking for ways of moving away from radiation training involving live sources. The use of real radioactive materials was not only becoming regulatorily burdensome but, in addition, it was found that their use also distracted students from additional aims set out in the exercises.

The company subsequently developed training simulators that helped students focus on their own radiation exposure without taking attention away from the other aims of the exercise, such as victim rescue.

Steven Pike, founder and managing director of Argon, explains: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;With radiation simulators they were able to go into an area and their meters would alarm; if the victim was trapped in a vehicle with a radioactive source, it could be that the rescuer could not walk directly to the vehicle 30m away and keep below safe levels of exposure. However, a survey might reveal that walking around the back would expose

them to a tenth of the radiation that they would receive otherwise, and they could translate that to spending ten times longer time with the victim to try to get them out. This aspect was always difficult to exercise without using some form of radioactivity simulation.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

A field or table-top exercise can be planned easily using a map or images of an incident site.

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hazmat detection

d vapour detection The simulation technology was further developed in the context of chemical warfare and toxic materials, which led in 2008 to Plume Sim, a simulator package that works with either replica gas or radiation monitoring equipment for field and table-top exercises.

In summary, the system enables the instructor to plan a field or table-top exercise on a laptop by using a map or images of an industrial installation. Parameters are selected for the activation of the simulation instruments in the field. These include: the type of substance; whether it is from single or multiple sources; and a range of environmental conditions such as variation of wind direction and speed.

If students are deployed in the field with GPS-enabled simulation detector units, the instructor can monitor their locations and the levels of agent being displayed on their handheld simulators in real time. The entire exercise is recorded for assessment and validation of contingency plans.

Since the release of Plume Sim, the equipment has been enthusiastically taken up by military forces around the world.

The latest contract is with the US Marine Corp, which took delivery of Plume Sim in early 2018.

In 2016, the company developed a new version of Plume Sim that was more targeted at the training budgets of high-hazard industrial organisations and municipal responders: Plume Sim Smart.

Plume Sim Smart offers similar capabilities to Plume Sim but replaces simulator devices in the field with mobile phones. Plume Sim Smart’s app turns a mobile phone into a lookalike gas detector for the duration of an exercise. In table-top mode, the top half of the screen is the simulated detector, while the bottom half is the game pack controller.

‘The instructor has a laptop that is typically hooked to a projector so the students can see a map of the area,’ explains Pike. ‘The instructor can disable the view of the plumes, and can just reveal the wind direction and pattern. The students then manoeuver themselves around the area, or the commander instructs them where or how to deploy. If they happen to be in the area with a release, they will get the appropriate readings on their phones, which is just what half the population are doing.’

Following the exercise, the instructor can show the nature of the plume, its direction, and any sensitive buildings in its path such as hospitals. ‘You can save the exercise so that if any questions arose about training for this type of event, it is just a question of getting the file out.’

The use of mobile phones has some unexpected benefits in that it enables field exercises to take place truly offsite, in the middle of a city, without causing alarm. ‘If you are looking to practice reporting back and checking readings in towns, it would not go down well to have people walking down the street in PPE carrying a meter of some description. With Plume Sim Smart, it’s just people walking down the street looking at their mobile phones.’

The natural progression in this type of training is to transition from table-top mode, which allows people to experience how the system functions, to field exercise mode with full PPE. ‘If there is a training environment it is logical to dress up people in PPE, when all the stresses associated with PPE can

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come into play, such as using the actual radio comms system.

In many countries, bands have been squeezed to fit more radio traffic, which has led to less bandwidth available for speech. If you are in PPE and stressed, with ambient noise, there is more scope for unclear communications. People come under psychological stress and they may misinterpret or forget processes,' says Pike.

'This type of exercising is valuable because it allows people to fail, and then hopefully there is more chance of everything working out when the real incident happens.'

A new multi-gas simulator that works with Plume Sim Smart is currently in development for use in confined spaces and multi-level buildings. The threat could be a gas escape or a number of dangerous devices secreted somewhere in a building. The hardware is the same as that which is currently available both for chemical warfare training and the toxic industrial response training.

‘The instruments can be set to emit a signal that represents either a specific substance or set to present a low level of oxygen or an explosive atmosphere in a confined space. As responders enter into that environment, the readings on the display will vary accordingly. For example, if limits are breached, alarms are activated in their PID detectors.’

The new multi-gas simulator is designed to overcome the constraints posed by interference to communications inside a building, where GPS technology is limited, explains Pike. The new technology will also be highly configurable so that instructors can decide whether single or multi-gas sensors are used.

The multi-gas simulator is expected to be on the market later this year.

The use of real radioactive materials was not only becoming regulatorily burdensome but their use also distracted students from additional aims set out in the exercises.

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A clean solution A biomaterial that transforms PFAS-contaminated water into discharge-grade water up to ten times faster than current technology is being developed at breakneck speed in London.

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Customem CEO Henrik Hageman (centre) with members of his team at the Translation and Innovation Hub of Imperial College London.

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he solution is being developed in the basement of the Translation and Innovation Hub building of Imperial College London by Customem, a company that was initially established to tackle challenging pollutants using bio-based solutions, and which is currently staffed by a group of eight young scientists and engineers. The majority happen to have PhDs. Standing in the small lab that Customem shares with a number of other science-based organisations, CEO Henrik Hagemann explains how the company is using its few metres of allotted space to develop and test its innovative solution against existing technologies. The company is working with two European airports that are currently undertaking or initiating on-site remediation work on firefighting foam-contaminated water.

‘We have here 20 different variations of our product, which have all been optimised. We do comparative studies to show how they perform against whatever technology is being used at the airports, using the same water and under the same conditions,’ says Hagemann.

Some of these contaminated water samples have been taken at different stages of their plant treatment. ‘Some competing solutions right now are good for C8s, but not very good for C4s, which are very volatile. In those cases, we recommend that the airports keep their kit, but we take some samples and report on how many C4s and C6s we can capture. In other cases, it is a matter of a company being interested in seeing our performance against other products.’

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The test rig used by Customen consists of small columns with glass beads, glass wool and the Customem granules, through which water is pumped at low pressure. A sample of the resulting filtered water, which amounts to around five litres per day, is then sent for analysis at an independent laboratory.

‘Data from testing with the new granules has been highly encouraging,’ says Hagemann, especially considering that the types of contaminants being taken out of the water include PFOA, PFHS, PFBS, with different carbon chain lengths ranging from eight to four. ‘Due to the optimisation element of the capture technique, we are looking at up to 98% removal even at parts per billion. Compared to the current solutions, we also see much faster capture – which makes sense from a scientific perspective. More than 10 times faster, in fact, than activated carbon.’

He adds that the resulting water is clean enough to fulfil the water discharge regulations of any country around the world – even Germany, where the PFOS limit is 20 parts per trillion and the total PFAS limit is 230 parts per trillion.

The secret of the granules lies not in the biomaterial they are made from, which is a mixture of non-food constituents that includes cellulose, but in the chemistry involved in optimising their performance. It is around this chemistry that the company’s two patents are based.

Hagemann explains that one of the benefits of the technology is that the granules can be customised not only based on the carbon chain length of the contaminant, but also on what he calls ‘competing species'. 'Let’s say an airport or fire training centre has a lot of iron [in the water]. They can buy a good resin, but it may become equally spoiled by the iron as it will be by capturing PFAS. We can optimise the granules to capture PFAS and not bind the iron, so the adsorbent material is not wasted.’

Another unique aspect of the technology is that at the end of the process, the chemicals adsorbed by the granules can be selectively ‘unclicked’, leading to a solution of concentrated PFOA, for example.

‘The waste is actually quite important and many solutions fall short in the destruction part,' says Hagemann. 'Mainly for PFAS, it’s a full supply chain of capture, concentrate and destroy. What we do is design the concentrate element of this to be compatible with different destruction platforms. We can tailor the concentrate step to the destruction step. In the first case, we do the simplest thing possible, which is taking the chemicals, unclicking them, and getting a volume of concentrated PFAS. In some cases, this is 100 times smaller than normal volume, and this can be taken away for liquid

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foAm

incineration. The benefit is that if you have a concentrate. In a second phase, you can destroy it by oxidisation or, eventually, other methods such as enzymatic digestion, which is very low energy in terms of sustainable supply chains.’

The resulting concentrate could also be reused, and indeed chemical refining companies have already been in touch with Customem, interested in collecting the concentrate for further use.

Hagemann explains that Customem decided to concentrate on fluorochemicals because it was looking for a suitable focal point for its desire to remove micro-pollutants using its specialist knowledge. A year and a half into the company's development, Customem began noticing a trend. Companies from the textiles sector had been in touch regarding PFAS. Then the team noticed that PFAS was being mentioned in different settings and that its presence was being identified in the furthest reaches of the earth. ‘We then saw the Dupont lawsuit with its US$670 million settlement, and that people were being exposed to these chemicals. Therefore, we decided to take on the challenge of binding the most non-stick chemicals you can find. It is a big scientific challenge that is highly invigorating when you see the impact it could have.'

The company has since received enquiries from the US, Germany, UK, Singapore, India and Scandinavia, mostly involving airports, military air bases and fire training centres concerned with historical contamination as a result of training with firefighting foam.

With interest in the company growing, Customem is looking forward to moving to bigger premises where larger-scale testing can be undertaken with volumes of water ranging

from 500-1,000 litres per day. In April, the technology travelled to a water engineering company in Germany that is interested in validating Customem’s data in their facilities. The company specialises in the design and construction of waste treatment kits and has done so across five continents.

‘After external validation, we would like to run a field trial, whether at an airport or a fire training college, where we can put our kit alongside whatever technology is there and then we can get a report on its continuous comparative performance,’ says Hagemann.

As for its first full-scale deployment, the company is confident enough in its technology that it is prepared to risk a deliverable-based payment system. ‘We want to have a system where payment is received when it fulfils the success criteria. We are taking a bet on our performance.'

In terms of cost, Hagemann estimates the Customem technology to be 37% less expensive than existing technology, when considering the total cost of ownership, which includes the tanks, the media, regeneration and disposal. The system can be run on active-carbon tanks or using standard steel tanks; it can also be installed on a mobile unit with an electrical pump and hoses.

Having recently secured €1.4 million (US$1.7 million) from the EU’s Horizon 2020 SME Instrument, Hagemann believes that the company is in a good position to move to the next phase of an ambitious journey that seeks to make a significant difference. ‘PFAS are among the world’s hardest-to-capture industrial chemicals and they are now found in the blood of 98% of EU and US citizens. This technology means we are creating a smarter future where our kids will not grow up and live with hazardous PFAS in their blood.'

SMART FOAMS SOLVENT FREE FLUORO FREE A BRITISH COMPANY MANUFACTURING FOR THE WORLD. +44 (0)1536 202919 Visit us at: Hall 13 Stand C40 8 - 13 June 2015 • Hannover • Germany

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nozzles

When is a nozzle not a When is a nozzle not a nozzle? When it is a branch, of course. What about automatic, low pressure and conventional? Ball valve or slide valve? If these are just some of the terms that a person who specifies the equipment has to contend with, how can an operational firefighter know which nozzle is best to use? Leader’s Alan Tranter sets the record straight.

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o understand why the nozzle market is where it is today we need to look back some fifty years. Back then, nozzles were simple conical cylinders made from an aluminium alloy and based, no doubt, on a pattern that pre-dated the Second World War. The nozzle operator was unable to control the flow or pattern of the jet, and according to the relevant Manual of Firemanship of the era, a good jet should do three things: it should deliver the amount of water required; give the throw necessary to strike the materials that were burning, and reach the fire without the jet breaking up.

If the nozzle/branch operator could not reach the object on fire, the only option was to increase the pump pressure in an attempt to increase the flow. Most simple nozzles of this type could have the nozzle/tip removed to increase the bore size of the branch, but this involved shutting down the water flow at the pump to enable the nozzle operator to remove the tip manually using a spanner. This was not a particularly safe manoeuvre when faced with a raging conflagration. However, it was all part of the training and competencies of the individual firefighters at that time.

Moving forward, the 1980s saw the introduction of a lever-operated ball-valve type nozzle – real progress, or so we thought. This innovation enabled the nozzle operator to open and shut the flow of water without reference to the pump operator.

At around the same time in the UK, a number of factors came together and acted rather like a ‘technical tsunami’ in relation to the future development of firefighting nozzles. Firstly, the UK Government privatised the water authorities.

Secondly, new home construction and home improvements included the introduction of double-glazed uPVC windows.

Once the private water companies were established, the Government imposed substantial fines for water leakage through the mains pipework. Considering that even today much of the UK’s pipework infrastructure is Victorian, it is not surprising that it leaked like a sieve. The water companies responded to the threat of fines by turning down the mains pressure, resulting in poor water supply for firefighting. At major incidents, a request can be made to the relevant water company to increase pressure but this

Firefighters training at the CNNP facility at Vernon France. © CNNP

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nozzles

t a nozzle?

can take several hours to achieve.

The introduction of double-glazed windows meant that firefighters were facing a new challenge. With domestic property fires, instead of the fire being ‘through the window’ on arrival, it was invariably contained within the room of origin, waiting to be released by the first person that ventilated that room.

Science and engineering came together to help resolve this problem, and the industry began to talk about things such as water droplet size, maintaining a flow at low pressure, and the ability to ‘pulse’ the nozzle, hence the introduction of slide valves.

However, nozzles don’t operate in isolation. The means of delivery of the extinguishing medium to the nozzle is an essential part of the equation. As this is usually water – because it is generally in plentiful supply and because of its known performance with regards to the latent heat of vaporisation – it is usual to have some form of hose to transport the water to the nozzle.

Hose reels and hose-reel nozzles were considered to be the primary source of an initial attack on a property fire. However, a number of tragedies have occurred over the years when the hose-reel tubing has become affected by some mechanical means on entering a building, and the flow of water has been restricted or cut off, exposing the nozzle operator to serious injury or even death.

Various changes were made to the hose-reel tubing as a result. It has been further reinforced to avoid collapse under the mechanical strain and the bore size has been increased.

Pumping vehicles have also been updated to provide higher water pressures and to handle the hydraulic shock caused by the action of the nozzle operators when ‘pulsing’ a hose-reel nozzle.

There have also been significant developments of hose-reel nozzles to include automatic capability, such as the ability to provide a stable flow of water and to enable the nozzle operator to switch quickly between the main jet and spray patterns. Invariably, however, the nozzle operator now requires two hands to operate a modern nozzle, be it a hose-reel or main-line variety.

French supplier Leader has recognised that nozzle operators need to be able to operate hose-reel nozzles with one hand, and has invested heavily into research and development of a new type of nozzle that has the potential to revolutionise operational firefighting. This is set to be launched onto the market later in 2018.

Thanks to colleagues in Northern Europe, we now also better understand how to fight fires in properties with minimum quantities of water. Using less water to fight the fire means less damage to the property and earlier restitution.

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The knock-on effects of this approach on both the economy and the environment are significant. Fighting fires with less water is now the norm, and the nozzles available today must be fit for this purpose.

This is where designers and manufacturers of firefighting nozzles are investing heavily. The ultimate goal is to develop a cost-effective nozzle that has multiple applications, but it may not be the answer, simply because nozzles are sometimes poorly maintained and used for a variety of functions other than their intended use.

Nozzles are ideal for ‘opening’ windows, for example, but in order for the nozzle to function effectively, it should be treated with respect. It should be classed as a piece of life-saving equipment and as a consequence should be tested and serviced accordingly.

Leader has produced a new range of nozzles and offers the user a choice of materials. There will always be a market for the aluminium alloy body, but now the customer has a choice and can consider the benefits of Fibretech. This material has revolutionised the weight and handling characteristics of the nozzle and offers a long-term engineering solution to servicing costs.

‘What goes around, comes around’ is an old adage. It is unlikely that the market will return to anything like it used to be in terms of firefighting nozzles, but incremental changes in design and capability as major step-changes have already been achieved. And there will always be a requirement for specialist nozzles such as those used for high-rise or marine purposes.

Collaborative procurement will impact on product cost, driving down prices to achieve the goal of ever-diminishing fire and rescue service budgets. But this could well result in a reduction in the amount of money that manufacturers are willing to invest in new product design and could ultimately prove a false economy.

Firefighters are resilient creatures by nature and they will continue to fight fires with whatever equipment they have available. However, we have a duty as a society to ensure they continue to have access to the best equipment available, and responsible manufacturers will continue to work with the market and ensure that all their experience goes into the next generation of firefighting nozzles.

From left to right: The Leader Multiflow nozzle and the Flowmatic nozzle.

About the Author: Alan Tranter retired as a group manager for West Midlands Fire Service in 2011 as the lead for client services under the auspices of the Technical and Operational Support Directorate. He now operates a successful consultancy practice advising on procurement issues, in particular. Tranter has been retained by Leader and Bio-ex for seven years and assists the companies in various areas of their respective businesses. second QUARTER 2018 < FIRE & RESCUE <

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rescue

The basics of vehicle rescue

Vehicles have evolved, rescue tools have improved, but what about rescue concepts and methodologies? F&R columnist David Dalrymple argues that it is time for a refresh if responders are to meet the challenges of modern vehicle rescue.

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A new methodology for vehicle rescue is required to keep pace with modern car construction and on-scene hazards, argues David Dalrymple.

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any of the ideals and methodologies of vehicle extrication have been handed down over the last 50 years. But what about new ideas, concepts, methodologies and techniques? It is true that we have taken tool evolutions and improved them to make them faster, smoother, and safer. We have created new ones to make old ones work again, and new evolutions in their own right. But what about methodologies? What about the bigger picture?

The two most important things at a motor vehicle crash are patient care and safety. In terms of safety, there are fantastic gear options available to us today. We have traffic incident management training and we are better able to protect scenes today with safety apparatus. We even have on-scene hazard information via smartphones or tablet apps.

However, while patient care is mentioned in every training class, when it comes to practical skill sessions, how often do we see a patient representation in our training vehicles? How can we expect our students to interact with a patient on a variety of levels when there isn’t one there? The lack of a patient representation in training can lead to the use of ‘junkyard’ tool evolutions like a 42” dash lift with the tool sitting where the driver’s legs would be.

Why is patient management so important? It is essential for your patient that you can see visual clues from both the inside and outside of the vehicle and carry out a fast assessment to determine whether you have time for a proper extrication. If

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you don’t have those patient management skills, your patient’s status might change rapidly while they are in the vehicle. If the emergency medical service providers arrive before or at the same time as you, that’s great, but often you will arrive first and there may be multiple patients.

All forms of rescue are patient-care driven. And extrication is a medical intervention. Yes, really. Now think about this.

Trauma is a disease of time. Put those two statements together. It’s a very powerful message that dovetails nicely with the aim of ensuring a better patient outcome.

To help develop this mindset into a practical skill set, there is a concept called Rescue Real Estate. This was developed in an effort to find a way for everyone arriving on a scene to be able to get to work without getting in each other’s way. It all comes down to who does what job and where.

Hazard control, including power isolation, is usually handled by the engine crew. Since in 97% of vehicles the 12V battery is either in the front or rear of the vehicle, the engine crew own those areas. Emergency medical personnel need to access the interior of the vehicle, so the EMS owns that space.

Finally, the rescue team owns the exterior of the vehicle, specifically the sides between the front and rear wheels. It really does work surprisingly well.

Now, let’s move from the medical to the technical. While our focus must be on our patient, realistically we cannot bring the vehicle to the emergency department with the patient still in

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off the vehicle and cuts the battery cables, and EMS takes charge of patient management and advises what is needed both in terms of resource and space.

Lastly, let’s talk about the basics of vehicle rescue today. No two instructors will give the same answer about what these are, but my basics of modern vehicle rescue are a combination of mindset, methodology, operational tasks, technical gear, and tempo that need to occur at every injuryproducing motor vehicle crash. While you may not need to check every box on every incident, the mental methodology needs to be applied every time. Otherwise the operation could soon become frantic, and we all know what that is like.

Trauma is a disease of time, therefore getting the patient from the vehicle and handing them over to EMS for pre-hospital care needs to happen as quickly and safely as possible.

Battery gone, ignition off, keys out Alterative mindset and methodology Stabilisation of the incident and the vehicle Information of hazards on scene Creation of a patient pathway Strategic cutting/severing

it. We need to disentangle our patient and hand them over to EMS to continue pre-hospital care.

It is vital we create a pathway for removing our patient from the vehicle and this is called ‘space making’. We might need space initially to access the patient, then different space to disentangle the patient. A door pop or displacement is no longer an option, and as today’s vehicle may be smaller and absorb more energy, making it smaller still, space creation has become more difficult. Vehicle structures are also tougher to cut so we need to think outside the box to get time back on our side.

The equipment available today has improved to keep pace with vehicle construction, but what’s needed is a new mindset and methodology for its use. I have broken down some of the various facets of modern vehicle rescue, and together these form what I believe to be the foundation of that new mindset.

It is based on coordinated stages of vehicle rescue. While it is vital that patient management is a focus of our vehicle rescue evolutions, those evolutions must be well practised and carried out by skilled tool operators. It means correct tool choices, focused evolutions, and timely space making so we can provide a better patient outcome each and every time.

Remember, trauma is a disease of time. We can achieve a 10 to 15-minute on-scene time from arrival to the patient moving to definitive care on a regular basis if we train that way, work that way, and think that way.

Let’s call this concept the pillars of vehicle rescue. Each of these pillars is a cornerstone of your operational practices and educational directions for vehicle rescue. They are: mindset and methodology; stages of coordinated vehicle rescue; rescue real estate; and the occupant’s circle of life from occupant to casualty to patient to survivor or fatality.

These principles might seem simple, but it’s another thing to apply them operationally 24/7. Move with purpose, and care for the patient while the rescue team goes to work prepping the vehicle, the engine crew secures the keys, shuts

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< FIRE & RESCUE < second QUARTER 2018

The B in my basics is all about power isolation. Take the SRS system offline and it also takes alternative drivetrains, hybrids and electrics offline as well. Moreover, as alternatively-fuelled vehicles increase in numbers, identification becomes more difficult, which is why 12V power isolation becomes critical.

The A stands for alternative mindset and methodology, which is exactly what I have been talking about. As already noted, some of our existing methodologies date back a decade or more, and they need to be updated to meet the needs of current rescue scenarios. The technology used in the vehicles of today – and tomorrow – demands that rescue professionals adopt a proactive approach.

The S represents stabilisation of both the hazards on scene and within the vehicle. While hazards on scene have not changed much, hazards with and in vehicles have. But this also includes the actual stabilisation of the vehicle. Unwanted vehicle movement is a real hazard.

The I is all about information regarding those on-scene hazards, and this is a new area for many rescuers. Vehicle hazards are increasing in number and ever-changing, and to manage these today’s rescuer needs ready access to a database.

Thanks to modern technology, this information is now accessible wherever we might be in the world in the form of smartphone or tablet apps. There are a number available, some of which are free. For alternatively-fuelled vehicles, take a look at apps such as QRG, Extricate and the NFPA’s first responder app, which has additional information. However, I believe that the best app for vehicle rescue is CRS or iCRS from Moditech.com because the database goes back to 1989 and includes trucks and buses. Type in the license plate number and the app will display the correct vehicle in a glass cutaway view with all hazards shown in a colour-coded format. If the vehicle is alternatively-fuelled or has special properties, the app will list primary, secondary and tertiary ways to make the system safe.

The C stands for the creation of the patient pathway, something we have already discussed. Finally, S is for strategic cutting or severing. Most modern vehicles are constructed so that each piece of structure relies on the others for total structural integrity, rather like a bowstring truss roof. If we understand how the vehicle was assembled, we should be able to weaken it to facilitate our space-making operations. I believe this will be a key for future tool evolutions as vehicles become ever stronger around the occupant cell.

And those are my BASICS of vehicle rescue.

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the future is cordless

Second quarter 2018 issue 110

I n t e r n a t i o n a l

I n d e p e n d e n t

I n t e l l i g e n c e

Creature comfort Essential techniques for pre-veterinary care

Get your kit off Waking up to cancer prevention

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