NCJ Number
192759
Date Published
2001
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the ability of personal protective equipment (PPE), including the self-contained breathing apparatus (SBCA), to protect firefighters in the event of an incident using chemical weapons. There is also discussion of a report entitled, Guidelines Incident Commander’s Use of Firefighter Ensemble (FFPE) with Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for Rescue Operations During a Terrorist Chemical Agent Incident.
Abstract
At the request of the Montgomery County Fire Department and Rescue Service (MCFRS) the United States Soldier and Biological Chemical Command (SBCCOM) performed tests to determine how protective firefighters’ PPE would be against a chemical agent (stimulant) vapor challenge. The tests took place over an 8 month period with initial vapor testing undertaken in Aberdeen, Maryland and the verification tests conducted at a research facility in Canada. Two firefighters were used during these tests. Passive sampling devices (PSD) were located on different areas of each firefighter to measure the skins response to a harmless chemical agent stimulant. The PSDs were removed after each test and their content analyzed. Employing the Body Region Hazard Analysis algorithm created by scientists from SBCCOM, the Army’s Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, the average percutaneous (skin) protection factor was calculated. Firefighters wore new, “off-the-shelf,” personal protective coats, pants, boots, gloves, and protective hoods. Each of the tests required the firefighters to perform specific activities. These activities were designed to mirror the activities firefighters would likely engage in, in a rescue operation. The initial tests provided percutaneous protection factors for different arrangements of personal protective ensembles, which are outlined in a table. These protection factors (PF) indicate how a particular ensemble would protect against exposure to a chemical agent vapor. The article includes an explanation of scientific terminology used in analyzing the effectiveness of PPE. In addition, the article reviewed a report by the U.S. Army SBCCOM entitled, Guidelines Incident Commander’s Use of Firefighter Protective Ensemble (FFPE) with Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus(SCBA) for Rescue Operations During a Terrorist Chemical Agent Incident. Some of the key points of the article include information on the steps to help decide whether rescue is feasible (weather condition, scene hazard assessment and reconnaissance), victim information (location, number), rescue and standby teams, chemical agent hazard reduction, review information about warfare agents, SCBA (positive pressure), personnel protective equipment, rescue team exposure time, exercising caution, emergency decontamination, medical monitoring, and rehabilitation.