Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107887

Michael Ripoll, BA, National Labor College, 10000 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20903, 301-571-4226, rruttenberg@nationallaborcollege.edu

This paper evaluates use of structural firefighting gear in a chemical nerve agent terrorist environment. As a result of Army testing of U.S. firefighting gear against a Sarin chemical nerve agent stimulant, the Army established the “3/30 Rule” that states, firefighters can operate in a nerve agent environment with firefighting gear for three minutes with no live victims or operate for thirty minutes in rescue operations of live victims. Selecting firefighting gear as personal protective equipment in a known chemical nerve agent environment, places firefighters in extreme danger. Firefighting gear does not pass NFPA 1994, its standard for an ensemble to be classified as level “A” and used in a chemical nerve agent environment. Firefighting gear is not vapor tight and its material is not resistant to chemical nerve agents. Knowing the signs and symptoms of chemical nerve agents on people is critical information to assist firefighters in initial scene survey for selecting the proper gear to wear. My survey showed 50% of firefighters did not know the signs and symptoms of nerve agents and 81% did not know of the “3/30 Rule”. Firefighting gear is inadequate for use in a nerve agent environment, yet the FDNY is considering implementing the “3/30 Rule”. Training in the selection of proper personal protective equipment and awareness training on the effects of nerve agents are ways to prepare firefighters. The fire service must be thoroughly prepared and equipped with the proper gear to operate safely in the event of a WMD incident.

Learning Objectives:

• See panel ID 105524

Keywords: Occupational Health, Occupational Safety

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.