P.Y.F.M.O.!!!

Over the years, I have taught a number of continuing education classes on respiratory and airway problems to fire departments in the area.  One of the objectives I like to cover during these classes is prevention of smoke inhalation during structural firefighting.  I am most successful in conveying some medical knowledge to firefighters during this portion, since everyone actually becomes interested.


Understanding the chemical composition of smoke in modern fires is vitally important.  Nasty, deadly chemicals are ubiquitous in all structure fires.  Just understanding how carbon monoxide (CO) and cyanide will sicken a human body is often enough to get the recruits and especially the “old timers” to put their S.C.B.A. masks on - and keeps them on - all the way through the overhaul phase of the operation.


Carbon monoxide will displace oxygen in the blood because it has a high affinity for heme-containing proteins such as hemoglobin, myoglobin and cytochromes. Its affinity for hemoglobin is actually more than 200 times that of oxygen. And then, hydrogen cyanide directly impacts the cells by disabling their ability to convert oxygen into usable energy. Carbon monoxide and cyanide combined are referred to as the “toxic twins.”   That should be enough to make you stay clear from smelling the smoke of a burning building, not to mention the hundreds of other chemicals found in the fine particles that rise up from the incomplete combustion of a home on fire. 

"Putt-Your-*Freaking-Mask-On!!!"

But why are homes today so toxic?  Well, I am happy you ask!


One of the funny side effects of fire prevention efforts of the 1970s are laws that require the utilization of chemicals to prevent fires in homes.  As an example, if you ever look at your furniture, you may find a tag that states:

“This article meets the flammability requirements of the California Bureau of Home Furnishings Technical Bulletin 117."

This should indicate to you that it is the most chemically treated piece of wood and fabric you can find - to protect your family, of course.  You can rest assured; the foam inside your upholstered furniture will be able to resist a flame from a cigarette lighter for 12 seconds without catching fire. However, the fabric it is covered in … not so. WTF!  Once the fabric catches on fire, the flame that the foam is exposed to is much larger than the flame requirement in TB 117.  And now we have all the flame retardant chemicals off gassing during that residential structure fire.


How about that!