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PPE 101

Answering the most common questions, including how well Li-ion battery fire contaminants can be removed through PPE cleaning
Detailing emerging issues of concern with respect to PPE programs, gear selection, cleaning and decontamination, verification for ISPs, and PPE retirement
The Greensburg VFD has improved its approach to gross decon and PPE laundering to help minimize firefighters’ cancer risks
How to use an ISP to navigate the implementation of your NFPA 1851 PPE program
Is it time to reconsider the levels of risk in light of everything we now know about the exposure risks we face on the fireground?
Significant questions arise as turnout-focused standards are consolidated
Fire service researchers evaluate impact of laundering on tear and seam strength, THL and TPP, flammability, and liquid and viral penetration
A simple checklist helps fire service leaders evaluate PPE technology and cleaning claims
To reduce an individual firefighter’s relative risk of contracting cancer, they must limit risk factors on and off the fireground
Follow NFPA standards and check the overlap of PPE ensemble interfaces to ensure you are protected from contamination and thermal injury
What you need to know about the differences between cleaning soiled gear and decontaminating firefighter turnout gear
Firefighter PPE must in be a serviceable condition in order for these items to provide the needed protection
Modern station wear has come a long way in both firefighter safety standards and professional appearance
Learn about common cancer-causing agents firefighters face and the importance of wearing proper PPE
Chemical exposure, repeated cleaning and overall wear to firefighter turnout gear needs to be measured and tracked to know when it’s time to retire PPE
Understand your specific needs and how they align with existing requirements and vendor claims to identify the right solution to remove contaminants from turnout gear
Balancing different committee recommendations, integrated equipment and technological advances in personal protective equipment
Further study may be needed, but turnout gear claims ignore common carcinogen exposure sources
Here’s the firefighting equipment and PPE you need to be safer, more effective and more efficient when combating wildland fires
Proper PPE and cleaning measures are necessary to protect firefighters wading through chemicals, biological biohazards and disease-causing microorganisms
With no conclusive data on if firefighter cancer prevention measures work, it begs the question if the steps are worth the effort
Dirty turnout gear is dangerous - refer to this infographic to make sure yours is clean
Given the street-level dangers and improved technology, ballistic vests should be an option to all firefighters and medics
How firefighters can mitigate carcinogen exposure through sound practices like wearing SCBA, cleaning PPE after incidents, and more.
The fire chief was responding to a fire in some woods when a shed with flammable liquid inside caught fire and exploded
Since November, cars have been stolen from the station and firefighting gear has been intentionally burned
For the first time, prevention micro grants are open to small fire departments minus some prohibitive restrictions
SCBA’s ability to ward off external chemicals was greatly enhanced in 2007; now they’ll be tested to find out just how good they are