The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Are you monitoring for Hydrogen Cyanide Exposure post Structure Fire?
The article posted below is straight from the Everyone Goes Home website. Years ago, I wrote a term paper for a degree program but it was on how a firefighter dies (cellular wise) from toxic chemical exposure in modern day smoke. So I am wondering how many people here at FFN are monitoring for Hydrogen Cyanide Exposure post fire knock down of a residential or commercial structure fire? Are you able to wash your gear immediately or are you contaminating the trucks with chemicals or even your POV? I can honestly say we monitor for this on top of using the standard CO sensor from a 3 or 4 gas CGI.
Hydrogen Cyanide - What Every Emergency Responder Needs to Know
By Captain Rick Rochford
Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department
Let me ask you a question. How often after a fire do you hear a firefighter complain of headaches, dizziness, or achiness? How often do you see a fellow firefighter stagger around incoherently after they leave the structure and not think twice about it? These symptoms are typical after a long, strenuous physical activity such as fighting a fire. Recent research indicates, however, that these symptoms could indicate cyanide poisoning which occurs in firefighters more often than previously recognized.
On February 20, 2003, a fire erupted at the Station Night Club in West Warrick, R.I., as the band Great White performed. Pyrotechnics on stage ignited the substandard sound proofing material. A total of 460 patrons were in attendance. One hundred people were killed and an additional 200 were injured. Investigative reports and testing from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) showed that upon ignition of the pyrotechnics the building was uninhabitable within 90 seconds due to the high concentrations of carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide.
In March of 2006, a firefighter in Providence, R.I., was diagnosed with cyanide poisoning after responding to a building fire. Over a period of 16 hours, seven more firefighters were diagnosed with cyanide poisoning, including one who suffered a heart attack while working the pump panel in the front of the residential structure. It was only through a series of coincidences that emergency room physicians checked that last firefighter for cyanide poisoning.
Incidents like the ones mentioned above are happening on a daily basis without any indication that these toxic substances are affecting firefighters. Annually, there are an estimated 20,000 residential structure fires that are caused by mattresses, pillows and bedding materials all of which are likely to contain synthetic materials that release hydrogen cyanide when they burn or smolder. When ignited, these same materials cause a fire to burn two to three times hotter and faster than natural products allowing fires to reach flashover much more quickly.
Cyanide has a half-life of one hour in the body which means that if a firefighter absorbs 100 mg/dl through the body it would take approximately eight hours for the toxic substance to metabolize out of their system. What happens if they respond to more fires during their shift or if the firefighter does not decontaminate after the fire? Where is this substance going to go? Is this substance going to continue to have harmful effects on their body?
The primary concerns regarding cyanide are its ability to cause fatal health issues and the inability or unavailability of assessing the problem. Research has shown that cyanide poisoning may occur up to eight days after exposure. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has recognized that electrocardiogram changes can be observed two to three weeks after a fire-related cyanide exposure. Collectively, this information raises grave concerns in light of the hundreds of firefighters that suffer heart attacks at fire scenes every year.
During a fire, cyanide poisoning affects a victim by cellular asphyxiation. As the victim inhales hydrogen cyanide it creates lactic acid within the tissues and muscles which inhibits the victim's ability to exit the structure on his or her own. As a result, the victim breathes in carbon monoxide and becomes unresponsive. Once found, they may be treated medically for carbon monoxide instead of hydrogen cyanide poisoning. The medical treatment for carbon monoxide inhalation can revive the patient, however, without a cyanide antidote kit, the lasting effects of hydrogen cyanide poisoning can create enduring medical complications.
Cyanide is a toxin with the potential to cause rapid death. It is clear that the number of firefighters and patients affected by cyanide each year has been under-recognized and under-treated in this country. Familiarization with this byproduct of combustion must be addressed by the fire and medical communities, as well as the general public, to prevent unnecessary exposure to this toxic substance. Hospital physicians must be educated on the increased likelihood of firefighters presenting with cyanide induced cardiac events and must be aware that Carboxyhemoglobin and cyanide levels should be drawn as soon as possible given the short half-life of cyanide in the blood.
Present day firefighters are no longer fighting the combustible fires that their forefathers fought. They are fighting highly volatile chemical fires that are burning two to three times hotter due to the introduction of plastic and synthetic furnishings. They are fighting fires that have an increased chance of producing flashovers and extremely toxic levels of poisonous substances such as hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide.
In light of these facts, firefighters at all levels need to be re-educated about fire behavior. They need to learn how to predict and anticipate both the behavior of a fire and the type of smoke that it will generate. Firefighters also need to learn the proper protective equipment to be worn during the fire, after it is extinguished, and during salvage and investigation. Armed with this information, they can reduce job-related injuries and line-of-duty deaths.
Hydrogen Cyanide - What Every Emergency Responder Needs to Know
By Captain Rick Rochford
Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department
Let me ask you a question. How often after a fire do you hear a firefighter complain of headaches, dizziness, or achiness? How often do you see a fellow firefighter stagger around incoherently after they leave the structure and not think twice about it? These symptoms are typical after a long, strenuous physical activity such as fighting a fire. Recent research indicates, however, that these symptoms could indicate cyanide poisoning which occurs in firefighters more often than previously recognized.
On February 20, 2003, a fire erupted at the Station Night Club in West Warrick, R.I., as the band Great White performed. Pyrotechnics on stage ignited the substandard sound proofing material. A total of 460 patrons were in attendance. One hundred people were killed and an additional 200 were injured. Investigative reports and testing from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) showed that upon ignition of the pyrotechnics the building was uninhabitable within 90 seconds due to the high concentrations of carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide.
In March of 2006, a firefighter in Providence, R.I., was diagnosed with cyanide poisoning after responding to a building fire. Over a period of 16 hours, seven more firefighters were diagnosed with cyanide poisoning, including one who suffered a heart attack while working the pump panel in the front of the residential structure. It was only through a series of coincidences that emergency room physicians checked that last firefighter for cyanide poisoning.
Incidents like the ones mentioned above are happening on a daily basis without any indication that these toxic substances are affecting firefighters. Annually, there are an estimated 20,000 residential structure fires that are caused by mattresses, pillows and bedding materials all of which are likely to contain synthetic materials that release hydrogen cyanide when they burn or smolder. When ignited, these same materials cause a fire to burn two to three times hotter and faster than natural products allowing fires to reach flashover much more quickly.
Cyanide has a half-life of one hour in the body which means that if a firefighter absorbs 100 mg/dl through the body it would take approximately eight hours for the toxic substance to metabolize out of their system. What happens if they respond to more fires during their shift or if the firefighter does not decontaminate after the fire? Where is this substance going to go? Is this substance going to continue to have harmful effects on their body?
The primary concerns regarding cyanide are its ability to cause fatal health issues and the inability or unavailability of assessing the problem. Research has shown that cyanide poisoning may occur up to eight days after exposure. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has recognized that electrocardiogram changes can be observed two to three weeks after a fire-related cyanide exposure. Collectively, this information raises grave concerns in light of the hundreds of firefighters that suffer heart attacks at fire scenes every year.
During a fire, cyanide poisoning affects a victim by cellular asphyxiation. As the victim inhales hydrogen cyanide it creates lactic acid within the tissues and muscles which inhibits the victim's ability to exit the structure on his or her own. As a result, the victim breathes in carbon monoxide and becomes unresponsive. Once found, they may be treated medically for carbon monoxide instead of hydrogen cyanide poisoning. The medical treatment for carbon monoxide inhalation can revive the patient, however, without a cyanide antidote kit, the lasting effects of hydrogen cyanide poisoning can create enduring medical complications.
Cyanide is a toxin with the potential to cause rapid death. It is clear that the number of firefighters and patients affected by cyanide each year has been under-recognized and under-treated in this country. Familiarization with this byproduct of combustion must be addressed by the fire and medical communities, as well as the general public, to prevent unnecessary exposure to this toxic substance. Hospital physicians must be educated on the increased likelihood of firefighters presenting with cyanide induced cardiac events and must be aware that Carboxyhemoglobin and cyanide levels should be drawn as soon as possible given the short half-life of cyanide in the blood.
Present day firefighters are no longer fighting the combustible fires that their forefathers fought. They are fighting highly volatile chemical fires that are burning two to three times hotter due to the introduction of plastic and synthetic furnishings. They are fighting fires that have an increased chance of producing flashovers and extremely toxic levels of poisonous substances such as hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide.
In light of these facts, firefighters at all levels need to be re-educated about fire behavior. They need to learn how to predict and anticipate both the behavior of a fire and the type of smoke that it will generate. Firefighters also need to learn the proper protective equipment to be worn during the fire, after it is extinguished, and during salvage and investigation. Armed with this information, they can reduce job-related injuries and line-of-duty deaths.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Moose on
-
Excellent article, thank you for sharing it with us. Its a sad thing to see a bunch of "Trained" firefighters refuse to wear their masks during overhaul because it looks silly, or during a car fire either, thats a major thing but people always refuse to wear masks during car fires because everyone else isnt...Peer Pressure or stupidity?
Thanks for sharing this.
-
Permalink Reply by FETC on
-
You are right Brian. A car fire produces even deadlier gases as there is very little (if any) natural class A type material to begin with.
You keep your mask on for yourself and your family's sake.
-
Permalink Reply by John on
-
We only monitor the CO but sounds like we should be monitoring this as well Thanks for the info.
-
-
While the monitoring of CO is very important, there must be some additional consideration to the "other" hazmat chemicals that remain in the air post fire environment. CO is definately a killer but there are other chemicals that kill quickier especially with the plastics and synthetic furnishings of today.
-
Permalink Reply by T.J. on
-
We do wear full SCBA's in car fires and thats from start to finish, but I wont lie we don't moniter overhaul at a structure fire.
-
Permalink Reply by Jason Brooks on
-
We have not started to monitor for HCN yet, I am still working on that. Does anyone know the life expectancy of a HCN sensor. It would be easy to put one in a 4 gas instead of the H2S sensor. We did just get the CO oximeter sensors to at least check us after a potential exposure though.
-
Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on
-
The Phosgene released by a burning headlight support frame (the plastic) is enough to kill you.
Any Questions?
-
-
Here is the link to the report of findings for the Providence Firefighters who suffered Cyanide Poisoning due to lack of SCBA during overhaul.
http://www.local799.com/docs/pfdcyanidereport.pdf
My department has 3 cyanide sensors. All of our Scott Scouts have them. Our Multi-Raes do not have them because the sensors are more expensive than the ones for the scouts.
-
Permalink Reply by PA Firefighter on
-
yes, we monitor for HCN and CO. Ya gotta take care of the troops.
-
-
I had the luxury of listening to the PFD Chief who was in charge that night in a seminar and the HCN exposure to all of us in the fire service is alarming. We just went to a commerical auto shop fire the other day and our S.O. is very proactive. He purchased and wears a BW 4 gas, 02, CO, H2S, and LEL Microclip CGI and a Single Gas HCN CGI on his radio strap. All very small, compact and cheap money! Both units were all in alarm, with lack of 02, + CO levels, + LEL and high HCN while just standing at the threshold of the entry door.
You guys are all right about how HCN exposure presents with S/S of the standard CO poisioning, this my term papers basis on how we die as a firefighter from smoke exposure. The HCN exposure and diagnosis is missed in hospitals everyday, the treatment plan for HCN is completely different than CO and your life may depend on it! The doctors in R.I. who had the grizzly task of treating the many survivors of the Station Nightclub Fire learned so much that night, this is exactly why the PFD brother survived his HCN induced M.I. while running the pump at another job post SNF tradgey.
FD's all over the country who are stuck in the 60's-70's need to get there heads out of their as*es and open up to being educated on the newer threat to our personnel and what these new furnishings create for hazardous chemical dangers to all of us at EVERY DAMN FIRE!
Not to mention these chemicals all have much lower flashpoints and burn much much hotter, going back to my argument that some have a false sense of security on other FFN posts about water supply, GPM and operating with inefficient fire attack streams.
TCSS
FETC
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
