When presented with a challenge that forces change, we should examine how the issue can be both transactional and transformational. This applies to research and the many technological processes and choices that directly or indirectly affect first responder health, safety and cancer.
At the Fire Fighter Cancer Foundation (FFCF), cancer is viewed with a different set of lenses. The literal diagnosis that one faces brings with it a pre-determined set of processes and protocols for removal of the diseased cells followed by a treatment plan to kill and reduce the presence of as much of the detectable cancer as possible.
The goal is functional survival and life adjustment to what becomes the new normal. As a part of the reckoning process, we often examine and ask, ourselves, “What could I have done differently?”
As the fire service is forced to answer operational challenges that affect personnel health and safety, we must look to technology and research-based advancements as a means to achieving improvements in both how we operate and the long-term impacts of how fire service members and their communities are affected.
Each individual action in daily life on or off duty is a choice. Each choice can be considered a transactional movement with a reaction.
Cindy Ell
Let’s apply this to the role of technology, research and life of a fire service member on and off duty.
Many firefighters choose to don a wearable watch or other device that can streamline access to a variety of information including the ability to communicate, track real-time state of health and body response trending. Silicon wearables are being featured in a role of health status tracking, cancer exposure tracking and research.
As wearables transition to multifunction devices, the application of them to on-duty time is becoming one that has merged with off-duty life. This new level of personal awareness has afforded many transformational changes to improve one’s overall health.
The firefighter health and safety influences of the design of a fire station continue to evolve and have been recognized as a chronic exposure risk location to the products of cancer. Over ten years ago, the Fire Fighter Cancer Foundation team presented to U.S. architects and fire service leaders the application of the hazardous materials model of hot to cold zoning and movement of potential carcinogens as they relate to fire station design.
The application of the hazmat process to fire or public service facilities has become the standard to which community buildings are adapting and updating. Energy use dashboards, air quality circulation, air quality devices, healthier building material choices and bacteria mitigation surfaces are a few examples that accommodate environmental health recommendations and jurisdiction requirements.
The physical movement of how fire personnel enter and exit a building is changing to reduce potential exposure to workplace toxins. How and where time is spent on duty is also progressing.
While the firehouse coffee table remains a constant as a place of historical and communal gathering, individual dormitory space is becoming an option for personal time. Research is ongoing to determine the effects upon behavioral health, sleep and fire call recovery.
Exercise space, location placement, equipment choice and surface cleaning are viewed as important components of first responder health maintenance. The relevance of adjuncts such as a far-infrared sauna for body detoxification of fireground toxins continues to be debated and researched in the U.S.
We look to our international brethren with more experience with sauna to share their health transformation trends and responses to aid in determining the most appropriate and accessible detoxification methods that are available to our people.
How we respond to emergencies and post event exposure mitigation have morphed into the processes of the “Clean Cab Concept”, “Preliminary Exposure Reduction” and “Post-Fire Cleaning and Decontamination” of the first responder and equipment.
Emergency vehicle design now incorporates a space for the separation of responder from toxin-exposed equipment.
Cindy Ell
The cab of the vehicle is viewed as an extension of the fire scene with consideration for monitoring, cleaning and transportation of the human as a valued resource as well as the physical equipment for carrying out emergency operations.
Based upon scientific study, SOP mandated steps for return to service incorporate fire scene cleaning processes of the responder as well as equipment soiled. PPE handling, cleaning and care differ by jurisdiction; however, fire departments are addressing these concerns with a higher priority in the physical process as well as financially.
Cleaning adjuncts for exposure mitigation feature a bucket with specialty cleaners and designated equipment. These may include skin wipes, PPE, pre-soak solution, brushes, water appliances and cleaners.
New technology integration is changing how we do business. Drone use is adapting to serve as a toxin exposure reduction device via enhanced monitoring and transfer of scene safety information to emergency command and responders. Gas and toxin meter data is more heavily relied upon for operation determination than in previous years.
Communication, electronic reporting, and tracking capabilities are becoming the next generation of fire data systems in the U.S. called NERIS (National Emergency Response Information System).
The interoperable and analytical platform is being delivered to answer the need for improved analytics, fire and emergency service decision-making, enhance preparedness, address all-hazard and wildland urban interface events, community risk reduction and more.
The potential is great for the variety of applications of the platform to better serve all levels of rank within emergency services. As occupational disease and injury numbers grow, response data is sought for determination for supporting staffing, safety equipment acquisition and the receipt of potential medical coverage and benefits.
Medical monitoring of the first responder is transitioning to address the fire service impacts of duty and exposures upon mental and physical status of survivability of the occupation. Illness and injury prevention is higher in priority and features a comprehensive fire service-related physical.
Blood bio monitoring, use of ultrasound, sleep monitoring, nutrition and exercise physiology study are offering improved data for improving one’s health status prior to a disease diagnosis.
The idea of change remains to be a source of adrenaline rush for the fire service.
Cindy Ell
We should view change objectively via the integration of new or improved technology and processes that are research and data driven. Edward Teller said, “The science of today is the technology of tomorrow.” Fire and emergency services possess the ability to convert the use of transactional technology and research into transformative growth.
