Spring Fire Department Chemical Decontamination Unit PDF

Manual Name: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures Document Title: Chemical Decontamination Unit Chief’s Signature: Document Number: SFD.060 Date: 02/11/2020 Revision Number: 01 PURPOSE The Chemical Decontamination Unit is an infra-red, medical grade sauna for the purposes of complementing...

Manual Name: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures Document Title: Chemical Decontamination Unit Chief’s Signature: Document Number: SFD.060 Date: 02/11/2020 Revision Number: 01 PURPOSE The Chemical Decontamination Unit is an infra-red, medical grade sauna for the purposes of complementing our cancer reduction initiative and assisting in the elimination of toxins from our bodies that may have been absorbed during firefighting activities. The chamber contains infrared medical grade heaters which, when combined with mild exercise, will coax a quick and profuse sweat without raising the core body temperature. SCOPE All Spring Fire Department Personnel are responsible for knowing and complying with this guideline. REVIEW The Fire Chief or designee is responsible for reviewing this guideline annually and assuring its accuracy. DEVICE USE On duty firefighters may rotate through the closest fire station with a Chemical Decontamination Unit as necessary to take advantage of this device. Before using the device, coordinate with your on-duty officer or District Chief. While this device is recommended for all members, priority will be given to on duty, operations personnel involved in recent firefighting activities. Only members of the Spring Fire Department are permitted to use the Chemical Decontamination Unit. All members are encouraged to frequently use the Chemical Decontamination Unit to help decontaminate from acute and chronic/repeated exposures from smoke. The objective of the infra-red unit is to remove the harmful chemicals (pyrolyzed plastics, metals and brominated fire retardants) from the body via sweat and in turn, help mitigate the disease process that firefighters are prone to, due to on the job exposure. PROCEDURE 1. It is recommended that firefighters involved in a fire incident (structure, vehicle, garbage, grass, etc.) utilize the Chemical Decontamination Unit to help remove any absorbed toxins as soon as practical after the firefighter has returned to the station and has fully recovered from the physiological stresses of the event. 2. It is mandatory that personnel shower prior to using the Chemical Decontamination Unit. Page 1 of 3 Manual Name: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures Document Title: Chemical Decontamination Unit Document Number: SFD.060 Date: 02/11/2020 Revision Number: 01 3. It is recommended that you bring loose fitting fitness gear, clean sports shoes to wear in the Chemical Decontamination Unit, shower toiletries, and a towel. Work boots and on duty uniform clothing are not to be worn in the Chemical Decontamination Unit. 4. DO NOT use if you have cardiac or medical issues without getting medical clearance (i.e. chronic, untreated high blood pressure, angina, SOB, etc.). DO NOT use the unit if you are pregnant. Overheating the core body temperature at any time during the first trimester of pregnancy can severely harm an unborn child. DO NOT use the unit if you are breast-feeding an infant. Detoxification during this period can increase the infants` toxic load. 5. Exit immediately if you feel uncomfortable, dizzy, develop a headache, and/or become fatigued. Staying too long in a heated area is capable of causing overheating. Open the unit windows regularly to allow fresh cooler air inside. 6. Read and understand warning labels and the user manual prior to exercise. 7. All personnel must sign in to document their use. 8. For fire department purposes, the maximum setting to be used is 100-104° Fahrenheit maximum with the user being exposed to between 80-99° Fahrenheit on average. The goal is to provoke sweat at low temperature and very low movement to ensure core temperature does not increase. 9. Set timer to approximately 25 minutes allowing for a 10 min unit warm up period. Leaving a 12-15 minute personal decontamination time in unit. 10. Wait the 10 minutes until the Chemical Decontamination Unit is warm enough to be comfortable inside. Enter unit while the temperature is still rising to benefit from a range of infra-red rays. The temperature setting will act as a ceiling for the heat. After a few sessions you will know your own comfort level. 11. The Chemical Decontamination Unit needs only to be warm enough for you to be comfortable inside, usually about 80-82° Fahrenheit. Going into the unit as it warms up or staying in as it cools down provides a wide range of infrared in the healing spectrum. The lower the temperature you can sweat well at, the better. The objective is to use the bikes for a very low level of movement and exercise as more of a metabolic cool down activity. It cannot be stressed enough that after an exposure to smoke at a fire fight that the objective is to simply sweat at a low temperature and relax the body without increasing the core temperature. This is not intended as a work-out protocol. 12. Only the cycle bikes that came with the unit are to be used inside. They are specially designed and modified so they will not off gas. Other exercise equipment, and personal equipment may off gas in the heated environment. Page 2 of 3 Manual Name: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures Document Title: Chemical Decontamination Unit Document Number: SFD.060 Date: 02/11/2020 Revision Number: 01 13. Cycle at your own pace for 12-15 minutes to produce a detoxifying sweat. If you do not easily sweat, do not exceed 12 minutes on your first session. Do not exceed 12 minutes on subsequent sessions until you break a sweat. 14. DO NOT EXCEED 15 MINUTES. This will ensure your core body temperature does not elevate, so as to remain “call ready” during your decontamination session. The objective is to create a quick profuse sweat then rinse in the shower, not to increase the core body temperature. 15. Always use towels inside the unit. Sweat has contaminants in it and will stain the wood. Once you break a sweat, wipe it off with a small hand towel. Continue to wipe away sweat regularly with a fresh small hand towel. 16. Open window to your comfort level to allow fresh air to enter your lungs, this will keep core body temperature normal, while you continue sweating. 17. Turn off unit when finished. Open all windows to allow release of excess moisture in the unit. 18. When finished, leave the unit cleaner than you found it. Clean and sanitize all equipment using a damp towel with a very mild soap solution. 19. Always shower immediately afterward so you don’t reabsorb the sweat into your skin. 20. REHYDRATE: Drink plenty of water before, during and after use. Always drink water from glass, not plastic. Place your glass on the floor or in the bottle holder of the bike, not on the cage above the elements. Page 3 of 3