Barrier Hoods for Better Protection
(Room 3E)
23 Feb 18
9:00 AM
-
10:00 AM
Tracks:
Safety and Health
After opening his presentation with a historical perspective of the dramatic changes and advancements in firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE), the instructor will provide an in-depth look at the results of many studies and analyses of statistics that all come to a similar conclusion—firefighters face cancer rates that are significantly greater than most Americans. The instructor will discuss facts and figures from parallel studies stating that the problem of carcinogen contamination in firefighters is through the hood material. The instructor will identify and discuss a three-prong attack on cancer necessary to save firefighters’ lives: (1) educate firefighters about cancer risks; (2) change the firefighter culture; and (3) embrace technology changes. This third prong — embracing technology changes – will be the focal point of the presentation, with the emphasis on barrier hoods (also known as particulate-blocking hoods).