Firefighters breathe in contaminants training

Photo By Samuel King Jr. | An Eglin Air Force Base firefighter waits to begin a live burn exercise during a “Know Your Smoke” training course held May 12 in Niceville Fla. More than 10 local fire and rescue agencies attended the lecture and hands-on training including Airmen from Hurlburt Field, Eglin and Tyndall Air Force Bases. The goal of the course was to highlight the dangers associated with the types of chemicals emitted within smoke during residential and commercial facility fires and how that toxicity has increased over the years. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)  

NICEVILLE, FL, UNITED STATES

05.15.2017

Story by Samuel King Jr.              

96th Test Wing

Firefighters from across the Emerald Coast region descended here May 12 for the “Know your Smoke” program to learn about the toxic contaminants emitted within smoke during residential and commercial facility fires.

More than 50 people from 11 local fire and rescue agencies attended the lecture and hands-on training including 11 Airmen from Hurlburt Field, Eglin and Tyndall Air Force Bases. The goal of the unique full-day training course was to highlight the dangers associated with the types of chemicals emitted from common household building materials and how the toxicity level has worsened within the last 20 years.

“This is life-saving training for our firefighters,” said Joseph Suddarth, Eglin Assistant Fire Chief. “Cancer, illness, and disease are critical issues in the fire service and this program will certainly bring to light how we can better protect ourselves and the communities we serve.”

This training event provided tools to insure departments understand how to best prevent the exposure, and educated firefighters about hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide, the most lethal threats from a fire, as well other toxicants that can introduce cancer, illness, and death to firefighters at an early age if not protected.

The session also focused on how to prevent smoke exposure, and most importantly to the communities involved, how pre-hospital treatment of smoke inhalation need take those toxicants into consideration.

“In today’s smoke filled environments, it’s not about how much you can stand, it’s about how little will kill you.” said Cameron Bucek, Fire/EMS clinical educator for the Fire Smoke Coalition and the lead instructor for the training.

The free training was a joint community effort between Okaloosa County Public Safety, Niceville and North Bay fire departments and Eglin Air Force Base fire and emergency services.

• Date Taken: 05.15.2017
• Date Posted: 05.16.2017 14:12
• Story ID: 234040
• Location: NICEVILLE, FL, US