Bernalillo County Fire & Rescue Standard Operating Guidelines PDF

Brian Rose, Deputy Chief Greg Perez, Fire Chief Purpose: This procedure identifies operational strategies/tactics for safe handling of non-flammable inert gases emergencies. Scope: This SOP will cover the policies and procedures for dealing with emergencies that involve compressed, non-flammable...

Brian Rose, Deputy Chief Greg Perez, Fire Chief Purpose: This procedure identifies operational strategies/tactics for safe handling of non-flammable inert gases emergencies. Scope: This SOP will cover the policies and procedures for dealing with emergencies that involve compressed, non-flammable, physiologically inert gases that pose no other major HAZMAT threat other than asphyxiation. Definitions: [Physiologically inert]: Gas which has no toxic or anesthetic properties and does not act upon the heart or hemoglobin. Instead, the gas acts as a simple diluent that displaces the oxygen concentration in the occupied space or area. General Information:   - - - - **Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Physical Properties **   - Non-flammable, inert gas  - Colorless, tasteless, odorless  - Molecular weight 44 (air is 28.97) CO2 is heavier than air and it will pool in the lower portions of interior and exterior spaces  - Natural state on the planet earth is in a gas form. Must be compressed and cooled to liquefy or freeze    **Carbon Dioxide physical and health effect on humans **   - IDLH: 40,000 ppm  - High concentrations may cause dizziness or asphyxiation without warning  - - Dry ice is frozen CO2 that will cause frostbite type burns with direct contact to the skin    **Carbon Dioxide greatest threat to public/responders **   - Death due to asphyxiation    **[Nitrogen -- NFPA 704]**    - Health -- 3  - Flammability -- 0  - Instability -- 0 - **Nitrogen Physical Properties **   - Non-flammable, inert gas  - Colorless, tasteless, odorless  - Molecular weight 28 (air is 28.97) Nitrogen is slightly lighter than air but will mix throughout the space and not collect only at the ceiling  - Used in food processing, refrigeration systems, purging air conditioning and refrigeration systems, and in pressurizing tires    **Nitrogen physical and health effect on humans **   - IDLH: air is made of 78% nitrogen. IDLH comes in the form of displacing oxygen  - High concentrations may cause dizziness or asphyxiation without warning  - Vapors from liquefied gas are initially heavier than air and spread along ground  - Contact with escaping gas or liquefied gas may cause burns, severe injury and/or frostbite    **Nitrogen greatest threats to public/responders **   - Death due to asphyxiation    **[Helium 704]**   - Health -- 1  - Flammability -- 0  - Instability -- 0 - Special -- None   Helium's molecular weight is 4 (air is 28.97) making it much lighter than air. Helium will dissipate very rapidly into the atmosphere causing little to no threat to the public or responders. Over 98% of the injuries/deaths caused by helium are intentional (suicide) or are an accidental result of misuse/playing with helium.  Specific procedures: Most inert compressed gas incidents are reported as EMS incidents as ill or unconscious patients who are unaware their symptoms are being caused by an inert gas. Most residential alarm systems don't monitor for CO2 or Nitrogen. CO2 and Nitrogen monitors are usually found at commercial facilities that use these gases in their manufacturing process. Occupancies that use large amounts of CO2 and Nitrogen in their processes usually have O2 alarms that monitor the O2 levels present, not the amount of CO2 and Nitrogen that is present. **PPE and allied equipment required** - - - - **Responding to inert compressed gas incidents** - **Size-up** First responders must be aware of the occupancy types that commonly contain inert compressed gas systems. These occupancy types include: - - - - - - - General size-up items for an ill-person EMS call, as well as any low oxygen or CO2/Nitrogen alarm HAZMAT dispatch: - - - **2020 ERG Guide -Carbon Dioxide ** - Guide 120  - ID Number 1013/2187  Because Carbon Dioxide is much heavier than air, it makes it the most threatening inert gas (\#1 cause of inert gas fatalities) because of its tendency to pool and remain in non-ventilated and below grade areas for longer periods of time.  **2020 ERG Guide -- Nitrogen & Helium ** - Guide 120 - ID Number 1046 /1066 The major differences between the ERG response guides for CO2 vs. Nitrogen are the higher potential freezing hazards of CO2. Evacuation distances and control measures are the same for all three (3) products.      - As an immediate precautionary measure, evacuate and isolate the spill or leak area for at least 100 meters (330 feet) in all directions  - Keep unauthorized personnel away  - Stay upwind, uphill and/or upstream  - CO2 gases are heavier than air and will spread along the ground and collect in low or confined areas (non-ventilated interior areas, sewers, basements, etc.)      - The meter operators must have an understanding that **the meter will not read carbon dioxide or nitrogen without a specific sensor for that gas** (our 4 gas meters DO NOT have CO2 or Nitrogen sensors)  - The MicroRae and AutoRae 4/5 gas meters will show a level of Oxygen  - A drop in Oxygen is usually the only indicator of the presence of an inert gas  - When low O2 levels are encountered, meter in low O2 areas working your way away from the low O2 level readings until all metered areas show normal levels. This will define the Hot Zone  - O2 levels under 19.5% will require the use of an SCBA while metering with two out in the Warm Zone  **Control methods **   - Mitigation starts with locating and shutting off (or eliminating) the source. Use caution when cryogenic issues are present (frost or ice forming on valves and leaking plumbing)  - Ice or frost on inert gas systems (valves and piping) may indicate the equipment is leaking somewhere causing the icing/frost issue  - When the source is not obvious and cannot quickly be secured, monitor from cold to hot areas to help isolate the source of the leak  - Ventilation of the space should not occur until the source can be identified and controlled (unless life safety issues are present, and ventilation must occur to facilitate a safer evacuation)  - Once the source has been identified and controlled, ventilation should be started. Once started, over ventilation is recommended    Ventilation to move the CO2 will potentially move the cloud to low lying areas, such as exit stairways, where the Oxygen can drop to fatal levels a long way away from the original, contaminated area. Because it is odorless and colorless, other FD members located in stairwells, hallways, or near the ventilation exit points may not realize they are in an oxygen deficient area until they are overcome.  Limit the number of personnel located in the hot and Warm Zones. SCBA's shall be worn in any atmosphere with less than 19.5% Oxygen (or any atmosphere that has the potential to suddenly become Oxygen deficient).    All areas of the structure must be re-monitored after ventilation is completed to confirm all product has been removed from the structure.  **Organization used for the compressed inert gas incident types **   Unless the hazards are wide-spread or are affecting multiple people, these types of incidents will not require large HAZMAT organizations. If low levels of Oxygen are encountered, the standard OSHA groups will be required to conduct IDLH operations. Most notably:    - Research/Recon  - Entry  - Back-up  - No Decon is required for inert gas only issues     Inert gas incidents exposing large numbers of people may require the IC to expand the command structure to include EMS and/or a HAZMAT branches.    **Suicide using inert gases ** Helium suicides also known as an "exit bag suicide" is a device consisting of a large, plastic bag with a bottom tying cord. The user places the bag over their head. A tube connected to a compressed gas cylinder is inserted inside of the bag. The bottom cord of the bag is tightened, and the gas cylinder is turned on. It is usually used in conjunction with an inert gas like helium (preferred) or nitrogen, which prevents the panic, sense of suffocation and struggling even when unconscious (the hypercapnic alarm response) caused by the deprivation of oxygen in the presence of carbon dioxide. Unconsciousness occurs in 2-3 breaths with death occurring 6-10 minutes later.    The above method poses little to no threat to response personnel.    Even though unpractical, some people have taken this method to the extreme by using the interior of car or a bedroom to perform the same act on a larger scale. Entering a confine area with no Oxygen is very lethal. Personnel must us extreme caution when any suicidal behaviors are suspected.  **Decontamination** Decon is not required for inert gas only issues.  References: B Shifter Blue Card Hazardous Non-Flammable Inert Gas SOG.