Hazardous Materials on the Fire

¶ … Hazardous Materials on the Fire Service.

Modes of exposure

Types of Toxic effects

Symptoms of Exposure

Appropriate Scene Management

Effects of Hazardous Materials on the Fire Service.

Bearing the increasing number of incidences of fire service staff suffering at work sites through coming into contact with the hazardous material, it was found necessary to carry out a research on the possibilities of such injuries, deaths or incapacitations.

This research paper aims at finding out the possible hazardous materials that the service staff could be exposed to at different sites. It also aims at identifying the effects that these hazardous materials may have on the staff who get in contact with them and finally find out if there are ways to handle such victims. It further looks at the possibilities of avoiding such incidences from recurring as has been the case there before.

Scope

This paper examines hazardous material in a more inclusive and wider scope as opposed to specifically picking on one hazardous material and subjecting it to lab examination. The paper does not delve into a particular case of hazardous material exposure in any county, state or nation but gives a general coverage that can be adopted by any willing person, institution or state.

2. Literature Review

The Jamaica Fire Brigade training department manual (2009), says "The term hazardous materials cover a broad range of substances with a wide variety of effects. Some materials are highly toxic to humans. Others are dangerous primarily because they are flammable, though many can cause health effects as well. Exposure to various hazardous materials may have immediate effects, delayed effects or no detectable effects at all."

The hazardous substance can be taken for any substance that, because of its quantity, concentration or physical or chemical characteristics, poses a significant present or potential hazard, according to federal, state, and/or local standards and regulations, to human health and safety or to the environment if released from its intended container.

Due to the need to make the understanding of hazardous material more understandable to all fire service staff, the research was therefore conducted and report written since from the literature it is apparent that not all the service staff can come into absolute comprehension of the technical approach that the subject is given

3. Methodology

The method or getting the material used in this report was extensively dependent on already existing material which were dissected to try and make the technical aspects into simpler perspective. Books, journals, manuals, the internet came in handy as sources of the data and information.

4. Findings

4.1 Introduction

Hazardous materials incident is as any incident involving the release, abandonment, discharge, or deposit of any hazardous material from its intended container which has the potential to harm persons, property or the environment.

These materials may be present at non-structural alarms, transportation incidents and residential and commercial occupancies and in all these the fore service will be required to be present in case of emergency. Hazardous materials may include chemicals, infectious agents, and radioactive hazards and chemicals may have more than one hazard associated with them, for example, a flammable liquid may also be toxic in nature. Bearing the different nature that the hazardous material may take, it is important to distinguish between exposure and contamination. An individual is exposed when chemical, infectious materials, radioactive substance, or other agent enters or is in direct contact with the body. Contamination occurs when the hazardous substance remains on the clothing, hair, skin, or other part of that individual. However, exposure can occur without contamination, especially when certain gases or specific forms of radiation are involved. For example, carbon monoxide does not cling to turnout clothing, so contamination will not occur. Contamination usually results in exposure, unless only the outside of protective clothing is contaminated.

4.2 Modes of exposure.

There are three major mode or ways through which hazardous materials can enter the body and these are by absorption via the skin, inhalation the lungs or ingestion through the mouth.

Absorption

Human skin acts as a barrier that varies in its protective effectiveness depending on its condition, the site of contact and the properties of the hazardous materials. However, exposure through the skin is time dependent -- the longer the contact, the greater the amount of chemical absorbed. The rate of absorption is also varies with skin temperature and blood supply at the entry site. For instance areas rich in hair follicles, such as the scalp, forehead, jaw area and underarm, allow much greater absorption than do other parts of the body. Furthermore, higher concentrations of materials in contact with the skin tend to result in greater amounts absorbed. Usually, the more chemical absorbed, the more severe the health effects. Damaged skin is more prone to exposure and allows increased absorption of chemicals than intact skin.

Inhalation

The lungs are the exchange point between the atmosphere and the human body. Oxygen and other substance pass from the atmosphere to the bloodstream, and carbon dioxide passes from the blood stream to the atmosphere. Many chemicals are absorbed through the lungs after they have been inhaled. However, the lungs do have some protective mucous cells within the lining of the nose which trap inhaled particles.

Like the skin, lungs may serve only as a route of entry and may not be affected by the inhaled hazardous material. For instance, carbon monoxide easily enters the blood stream when inhaled. There, it binds with the oxygen carrying part of the blood cell, preventing oxygen from entering the body's tissues.

Ingestion

Although hazardous materials exposure through ingestion is common in cases of suicide and childhood poisoning, it is less common in work and environmental exposures. However, ingestion can occur when hazardous substance or contaminated hands or clothing come into contact with the mouth. In addition, it is possible to consume toxic materials by eating or smoking in an environment where food and cigarettes can become contaminated. In such cases the hazardous material can negatively impact on the service of the fire service.

Generally, to deal with exposure, it is important that you document the amount of exposure, which includes noting the concentration of the chemical in air (if inhaled), the volume (if swallowed), or the amount of body surface area affected. The duration of the exposure must also be noted, since the longer the material is in contact with the body tissues, the greater the amount absorbed (Green & Turk, 1978).

Having noted the various mode or routes that an individual can come into contact with hazardous material, it is critical to know the effects that may be as a resultant of hazardous material exposure or contamination to the fire service staff.

4.3 Types of Toxic effects

Hazardous materials may have varying effects on the staff of the fire service. Some effects are more likely to result from short-term, high level exposures while other effects may result from the long-term exposure. It is worth noting, however, that a single chemical may produce a range of effects.

Asphyxiates

Asphyxiates are gases that deprive the body tissue of oxygen. There are two types of asphyxiates: simple asphyxiates and chemical asphyxiates. Simple asphyxiates displace oxygen. Chemical asphyxiates are gases that prevent oxygen use by the body's tissues, even though enough oxygen is inhaled. Carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide are chemical asphyxiates. These are the common types of toxins that are common in the case of fire service staff daily operations.

Corrosives

These can cause irreversible tissue damage. This tissue damage, if mild, may resemble a burn from heat. Corrosives are like acids and alkalis (bases). Their effects depend on the concentration of the chemical and the strength of the acid or base. The corrosive effect is one of the most adverse effects of exposure over a period of time to hazardous chemicals or gasses. There should be absolute care taken within the working conditions of the brigade not to be subjected to these elements over long period.

Irritants

Irritants cause temporary but sometimes severe inflammation of the eyes, skin, or respiratory tract. To the worst effects on the fire service staff like irritation may result in permanent damage if it is repeated over time. The symptoms of irritation depend on the tissue affected. Some symptoms of irritants are coughing, difficulty in breathing, itching and redness of skin and eyes.

Sensitizers

Sensitizers can cause allergic reactions after repeated exposure. The reaction may appear several hours after exposure to the sensitizing chemical. Repeated exposure can cause a rash on skin or asthma like reaction if the sensitizer is inhaled.

Carcinogens: These are substances that cause cancer. Carcinogens may affect an organ or organs that are quite distant from the route of entry. Examples of carcinogens include benzene, which is associated with leukemia, vinyl chloride, which is associated with specific type of liver cancer, and asbestos, which causes a specific type of lung cancer and increases the risk of all lung cancers among exposed individuals. Unfortunately, the fire brigade is continually exposed to these elements, hence making their working condition unsafe for their health in the long run. Ones a site has been detected or surveyed to contain such carcinogens, proper protection should be availed to the brigade before they are allowed to access the site.

Neurotoxic Chemicals

Neorutoxic chemicals can cause damage (reversible or irreversible) to the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord) or the peripheral nervous system (the nerves responsible for movement and sensation in the arms, hands, legs, and feet). This can be a setback in the fire service if the brigade is not protected from exposure or contamination to these materials.

Radioactive Hazards

Radioactive materials may emit alpha or beta particles or gamma rays. These agents can affect the cells of the body in various ways, but each is capable of destroying cells. In an emergency situation, one may know only that a material is radioactive without knowing which type of radiation is being emitted. The brigade should minimize their experience to any type of radiation by limiting the time that they are near the source of radiation; increasing the distance between the brigade and the source; and shielding themselves with appropriate material. SCBA and bunker gear can shield one from most alpha and beta radiation; several inches of lead is necessary to shield one from gamma radiation. Like other exposures, if ones clothing or skin is contaminated with a radioactive substance, exposure will continue until one is decontaminated (Chris, 2009).

Infectious (Etiologic) Agents

Like chemicals, biological agents can gain access to the human body primarily through inhalation, ingestion and contact with skin. Biological agents can also enter the blood stream directly through breaks in the skin.

Infectious agents include viruses such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the herpes virus. In emergency response, the virus that causes hepatitis and AIDS are most easily transmitted through exposure to blood and other body fluids. Avoid exposures to blood and any other body fluids including urine, feces vomits and any body tissues.

4.4 Symptoms of Exposure

Having seen the types of toxins, it would be prudent to be ware of the symptoms to watch out for in order to detect exposure to the toxins. Internal Exposure can exhibit symptoms as, confusion, light-headedness, anxiety, and dizziness. Blurred vision. Changes in skin color or blushing. Coughing or painful respiration. Tingling or numbness of extremities. Loss of coordination. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and unconsciousness.