Spotlights the Health Consequences of Unsuspected Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning During Fire Operations and Urges Fire Fighter/First Responder Protection and Safety
Irvine, California – Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI), the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and the Internatonal Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), jointly announced today the launch of “The Silent Killer” educational campaign aimed at raising awareness of the duty-related dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and reducing the known risk factors that unnecessarily kill or injure fire fighters each year. This important new health and safety campaign includes a dramatic six-minute video that highlights the immediate and long-term health risks associated with CO exposure, the emotional impact these risks can have on fire fighters and their families and advocates proper prevention strategies. The video can be viewed online at www.thesilentkiller.net and DVDs will be widely distributed to fire departments throughout the world.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is a danger at every fire, but this “Silent Killer” is often present without symptoms, making awareness, proper diagnosis and treatment difficult.1 This puts fire fighters on the scene of a fire at significant risk because even mild CO poisoning can rob the brain of oxygen,2 which can lead to poor decision making.3 It can also rob the heart, brain, and vital organs of oxygen, causing life-threatening complications — with half of on-duty fire fighter deaths being attributed to heart attacks or stroke.4 Just one severe CO poisoning almost doubles the long-term risk of death.5
This new education campaign urges fire fighters to take personal responsibility for their health and safety by recognizing the occupational hazards of CO exposure and wearing protective masks during both active fire and overhaul operations to prevent unnecessary risks. It also encourages fire fighters to get their CO levels tested on the fire scene with an approved noninvasive portable device and, if elevated, to seek immediate treatment, even if they are feeling well.
The video was produced and narrated by Randolph Mantooth, widely recognized for his portrayal of Los Angeles County Fire fighter/Paramedic “Johnny Gage” in the popular 1970s NBC Universal television series “Emergency!” “Too many of our fire rescuers and first responders do not believe they too are in danger and, consequently, do not adequately protect themselves from becoming unknowing victims of CO poisoning,” said Mantooth, a vocal advocate for CO awareness and prevention since his own near-death CO experience 20 years ago, “That’s why it has become my mission to ensure that each and every fire fighter and emergency first responder knows and understands these significant occupational hazards, how to properly protect themselves, and how to prevent unnecessary health risks to improve the odds that they will be around tomorrow to do what they were born to do,” Mantooth said. “CO is a significant and deadly occupational risk factor for fire fighters,” said Harold A. Schaitberger, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters. “We know that carbon monoxide (CO) is present in every fire and symptoms of CO poisoning are nonspecific and easy to miss. Any fire fighter potentially exposed to CO and presenting with headache, nausea, shortness of breath or gastrointestinal symptoms should be assessed.”
IAFC President and Chairman of the Board, Chief Jack Parow, stated: “We are pleased to be a part of this important educational campaign. Carbon monoxide is a real risk that fire fighters and first responders face every day. With the proper awareness, precautions, and testing, we can prevent firefighter deaths and extend lives.” The IAFC will be assisting with distribution of the video, including sending complimentary copies of the video to its membership. “As with many issues, education is the key to success,” continued Parow.
Masimo Founder and CEO, Joe Kiani, stated, “We are proud to have supported the development and dissemination of this educational material for fire fighters and first responders. The ‘Silent Killer’ campaign is our opportunity to help save the lives of the men and women who put their lives on the line everyday for each of us. We know that the more successful this campaign is in reaching and educating them about the hidden dangers and risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, the fewer of our heroes will become victims and have their lives shortened by carbon monoxide poisoning.”
The new website, www.thesilentkiller.net was specifically developed to help raise awareness among fire fighters, first responders, emergency medical service (EMS) personnel, and their friends and families about the unsuspected occupational dangers of CO poisoning and how best to protect themselves. Designed as a destination site for all emergency first responders, the “Silent Killer” website features the new video along with a host of other important health and safety resources, including:
- CO Fact Sheets with medical/scientific information about the health and safety risks of CO poisoning
- Special CO supplement published in the Journal of Emergency Medical Services titled “The Silent Killer: CO Monitoring Adds a New Dimension to Firefighter Rehab & Emergency Care”
- CO screening and medical monitoring outlined in NFPA 1584: National Standard on the Rehabilitation Process for Members During Emergency Operations and Training Exercises
- Links to other fire fighter, first responder, and EMS industry websites and resources
- Free online ordering of “The Silent Killer” DVD, as well as other available resources
1 Hampson, NB, et al: “Carboxyhemoglobin levels in carbon monoxide poisoning: do they correlate with the clinical picture?” American Journal of
Emergency Medicine. 26:665-669, 2008.
2 Bledsoe, BE: “The Perils of CO” FireRescue Magazine. September 2005.
3 Jakubowski, G. The Invisible Incidents: How to respond to CO alarms. FireRescue Magazine. 22(11):52–55, 2004.
4 Bledsoe, BE. “The Dangers of CO: Understanding Cardiovascular Risks to Responders from CO Exposure.” Journal of Emergency Medical Service. br /> 32:54-59, 2007.
5 Hampson, NB et al. “Increased long term mortality among survivors of acute carbon monoxide poisoning.” Crit Care Med. 2009; 37(6): 1941-47.
6 NFPA 1584: Standards on the Rehabilitation Process for Members During Emergency Operations and Training Exercise. Annex A section A.6.2.6.4(1)<