Essentials of Fire Fighting (4th Edition-FF1 ...



ToxicAtmospheres

AMMONIA

|Characteristics |Colorless gas with penetrating, highly pungent, suffocating odor; can be a liquid when under pressure.|

|Danger Level |IDLH 300ppm |

|Source |Refrigerants, fertilizers. |

|Probable Locations |Facilities using or selling cold storage; fertilizer chemical plant or storage facilities. |

|Physical Reaction |Tearing eyes, burning throat and eyes, coughing, chest pain, pink frothy sputum, skin burns, nausea, |

| |vomiting, dizziness, fainting. |

|Action On Body |Attacks the respiratory system and eyes; can cause pulmonary edema. |

CARBON MONOXIDE (CO)

▪ More fire deaths occur from carbon monoxide (CO) than any other toxic product  of combustion.

▪ Odorless, colorless gas present in every fire.

▪ Combines with hemoglobin 200x more readily than does oxygen.(Carboxyhemoglobin, the result, causes oxygen starvation)

▪ Firefighters can suffer from the effects CO exposure even though they are asymptomatic.

▪ A 1% concentration of CO will cause a 50% level of carboxyhemoglobin in 2 1/2 to 7 minutes. A 5% concentration can elevate carboxyhemoglobin to the 50% level in 30-90 seconds.

▪ Administering pure oxygen is the most important element in first aid care.

|CO (ppm) |CO (% in air) |Symptoms |

|100 |0.01 |No symptoms, No damage |

|200 |0.02 |Mild headache; few other symptoms |

|400 |0.04 |Headache after 1-2 hours |

|800 |0.08 |Headache after 45 minutes: nausea, collapse, and unconsciousness after 2 hours |

|1,000 |0.10 |Dangerous-unconsciousness after 1 hour |

|1,600 |0.16 |Headache, dizziness, nausea after 20 minutes |

|3,200 |0.32 |Headache, dizziness, nausea after 5-10 minutes; unconsciousness after 30 minutes |

|6,400 |0.64 |Headache, dizziness, nausea after 1-2 minutes; unconsciousness after 15-20 minutes |

|12,800 |1.28 |Immediate unconsciousness, danger of death in 1-3 minutes |

|Headache, dizziness, nausea occur at 1,000-6,400ppm. |

|Characteristics |Colorless, Odorless gas usually indicated by black smoke. |

|Danger Level |IDLH 1,200ppm |

| |Concentrations above 0.05 percent (500ppm) can cause unconsciousness and death without any |

| |physiological signs. |

|Source |Present with every fire. |

|Probable Locations |All Fires. |

|Physical Reaction |Headaches, dizziness, weakness, confusion, nausea, vomiting, cherry-red skin. |

|Action On Body |Causes hypoxia (oxygen starvation) by combining with blood's hemoglobin and changing the loose |

| |combination of oxyhemoglobin to a stronger combination called |

| |carboxyhemoglobin; combines with hemoglobin about 200 times more readily than does oxygen. |

CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)

▪ Common gas given off by fire.

▪ End product of complete combustion of carboniferous materials.

▪ Non-flammable, colorless, odorless.

▪ Free-burning fires form more CO2 than smoldering fires.

▪ High CO2 levels are found in CO2 total flooding systems.

▪ Levels higher than 15,000ppm should be avoided.

▪ Because the gas is colorless and odorless, meters should be used in any suspected atmospheres.

|CO2 ppm |CO2 % in air |Symptoms |

|300 |0.03 |Normal concentration in air |

|50,000 |5.00 |Marked increase in respiration, along with headache, dizziness, sweating, and mental |

| | |excitement |

|100,000 |10.00 |Death within a few minutes due to paralysis of the brain's respiratory center |

|  |

|Characteristics |Non-flammable, colorless, odorless gas; Can be a liquid or solid. |

|Danger Level |IDLH 40,000ppm |

| |Concentrations of 10-12 percent are fatal within a few minutes. |

|Source |Extinguishing agent; common end product of complete combustion. |

|Probable Locations |Facilities with carbon dioxide total flooding systems; facilities that manufacture wood alcohol, |

| |ethylene, dry ice, or carbonated beverages. |

|Physical Reaction |Increased respiration, headache, dizziness, sweating, restlessness, and frostbite. |

|Action On Body |Paralyzes the brain's respiratory center. |

HYDROGEN CHLORIDE (HCl)

▪ Colorless gas easily detected by its pungent odor and intense irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract.

▪ Causes swelling and obstruction of the upper respiratory tract.

▪ Breathing is labored and suffocation can result.

▪ Contained in plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

▪ Encountered in drug, toy, and general merchandise stores.

▪ Heated concrete can remain hot enough to decompose plastics in telephone or electrical cables.

▪ In the overhaul stage, toxic fumes such as HCI often linger in the structure.

|Characteristics |Colorless to slightly yellow gas with irritating, pungent odor. |

|Danger Level |IDLH 50ppm |

|Source |Heated plastics, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Containing chlorine. |

|Probable Locations |Drug, toy, and general merchandise stores; telephone and electrical cables; plastics in the home. |

| |(telephone and electrical cables can remain heated enough after a fire to give off HCl) |

|Physical Reaction |Choking, labored breathing, tearing eyes; burning nose, throat, and skin. |

|Action On Body |Intensely irritates the eyes and respiratory tract; causes swelling and obstruction of the upper |

| |respiratory tract; can result in suffocation. |

CHLORINE

|Characteristics |Amber liquid or greenish-yellow gas about 2 1/2 times as heavy as air. |

|Danger Level |IDLH 10ppm |

|Source |Heated plastics, foam, rubber, synthetic textiles. |

|Probable Locations |Bleach manufacturing plants, water and sewage treatment plants, metal foundries, swimming pools, |

| |pool supply buildings. |

|Physical Reaction |Tearing eyes, nose, mouth; weeping eyes, cough, choking, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, |

| |fainting. |

|Action On Body |Irritates respiratory tract and eyes; reacts with moisture in the lungs to form sulfuric acid; can |

| |cause pulmonary edema and pneumonia. |

HYDROGEN CYANIDE (HCN)

▪ Interferes with respiration at the cellular and tissue level.

▪ Classified as a chemical asphyxiant.

▪ Materials that give off HCN are wool, nylon, polyurethane foam, rubber, and paper.

▪ High concentrations of HCN are found at fires in clothing stores, rug shops, or in fires involving aircraft cabins.

▪ Colorless gas, which has a noticeable almond odor.

▪ Causes gasping respirations, muscle spasms, and increase heart rate up to 100 bpm.

|HCN ppm |HCN % in air |Symptoms |

|135 |0.0135 |Fatal within 30 minutes |

|270 |0.0270 |Fatal almost immediately |

|  |

|Characteristics |Colorless or pale blue liquid or gas with a bitter almond odor; may be absorbed through the skin. |

|Danger Level |IDLH 50ppm |

| |Concentration of 0.0135 percent (135ppm) fatal within 30 minutes; concentration of 270ppm is fatal|

| |almost immediately. |

|Source |Heated wool, nylon, polyurethane foam, rubber, and paper. |

|Probable Locations |Clothing stores, rug shops, aircraft cabins. |

|Physical Reaction |Weakness, headache, confusion, nausea, vomiting, gasping respirations, muscle spasms, increased |

| |heart rate, sudden collapse. |

|Action On Body |Interferes with respiration at the cellular level by hampering the proper exchange of oxygen and |

| |carbon dioxide; inhibits enzymes by which tissues take up oxygen, affecting the liver and kidneys.|

NITROGEN DIOXIDE (NO2)

 

▪ Nitrogen Oxide ( NO ) readily converts to NO2 in the presence of oxygen and moisture.

▪ NO2 is a pulmonary irritant that has a reddish brown color.

▪ Commonly called silo gas. (grain bins and silos)

▪ NO2 is also released when pyroxylin plastics decompose.

▪ Common in office supply stores because of drafting tools such as triangles, t-squares, etc. which are made of pyroxylin plastics.

▪ When inhaled in sufficient concentrations, it causes pulmonary edema that blocks the body’s natural respiration process and leads to death by suffocation.

▪ All oxides of nitrogen are soluble in water and react with oxygen to form nitric and nitrous acids.

▪ Acids neutralized by the alkalis in the body form nitrites and nitrates which chemically attach to the blood and can lead to arterial dilation, variation in blood pressure, headaches, dizziness, and delayed physical reaction.

▪ NO2 is and insidious gas because the irritating effects in the nose and throat can be tolerated even though a lethal dose is being inhaled.

▪ Symptoms may not appear for several hours.

 

|Characteristics |Dark brown fuming liquid or reddish-brown gas with a pungent, acrid odor. |

|Danger Level |IDLH 20ppm |

| |Can be tolerated even though a lethal dose is being inhaled. |

|Source |Fermenting grains, decomposing pyroxylin plastics. |

|Probable Locations |Grain bins, silos, office supply stores. |

|Physical Reaction |Cough, frothy sputum, chest pain, variation in blood pressure, headaches, dizziness, collapse, coma; |

| |physical reaction may not be apparent for several hours after exposure. |

|Action On Body |Irritates respiratory tract, nose, and throat; arterial dilation; causes pulmonary edema that blocks|

| |the body's natural respiration processes and leads to death by suffocation; reacts with the moisture |

| |in the lungs to form nitrous acids, which in turn form nitrites and nitrates that attach to the |

| |blood and can cause coma. |

 

PHOSGENE (COCl2)

▪ Colorless, tasteless gas with a disagreeable odor.

▪ Produced when refrigerants, such as freon, contact flame.

▪ Strong lung irritant in which the full poisonous effect is not evident for several hours after exposure.

▪ The musty hay odor of phosgene is evident at 6ppm, although lesser amounts cause coughing and eye irritation.

▪ Twenty-five (25)ppm is deadly.

▪ When phosgene contacts water it decomposes into hydrochloric acid.

▪ Phosgene and the moisture in the lungs also causes it to decompose into hydrochloric acid.

▪ Commonly produced during refrigeration system fires such as air conditioning units, refrigerators, and freezers.

 

|Characteristics |Colorless, tasteless liquid or gas with a sweet, musty hay odor at low concentrations; sharp, pungent|

| |odor at higher concentrations. |

|Danger Level |IDLH 2ppm |

| |Odor perceptible at 6ppm; 25ppm is deadly. |

|Source |Flame contact with refrigerants such as freon; used in some industrial processes. |

|Probable Locations |Appliance stores, supermarkets, meat markets; other facilities containing cold storage. |

|Physical Reaction |Dry, burning throat; tearing, burning eyes; coughing, foamy sputum, chest pain, skin burns. |

|Action On Body |Irritates the respiratory tract, skin, and eyes; reacts with the moisture in the lungs to form |

| |hydrochloric acid. |

Toxic Atmospheres by IDLH

|Carbon Monoxide |1,200 ppm |

|Hydrogen Chloride |50 ppm |

|Hydrogen Cyanide |50 ppm |

|Carbon Dioxide |40,000 ppm |

|Nitrogen Dioxide |20 ppm |

|Phosgene |2 ppm |

|Ammonia |300 ppm |

|Chlorine |10 ppm |

 

 Toxic Atmospheres By Characteristics

|Toxic Atmosphere |Color |Odor |Solid, Gas, Liquid |

|Carbon Monoxide |Colorless |Odorless |Gas |

|Hydrogen Chloride |Colorless to slightly yellow |Pungent odor |Gas |

|Hydrogen Cyanide |Colorless or pale blue |Almond odor |Gas or Liquid |

|Carbon Dioxide |Colorless |Odorless |Liquid or Solid |

|Nitrogen Dioxide |Dark brown or reddish-brown |Pungent acrid odor |Gas or Liquid |

|Phosgene |Colorless |Tasteless, sweet musty hay odor |Gas or Liquid |

|Ammonia |Colorless |Highly pungent, suffocating odor|Gas or Liquid under pressure |

|Chlorine |Amber (liquid) or greenish-yellow (gas) |Pungent odor |Gas or Liquid |

TOXIC ATMOSPHERES W/O FIRE 

▪ Sulphur dioxide is a dangerous refrigerant which forms sulphuric acid when it contacts water or moisture as in the lungs.

▪ Ammonia is a dangerous refrigerant which irritates the respiratory tract and the eyes.

▪ Carbon dioxide (CO2) would be stored at facilities where wood alcohol, ethylene, dry ice, or carbonated drinks are manufactured.

▪ Chlorine can be found at swimming facilities, in the manufacture of plastics, foam, rubber, and synthetic textiles, and is commonly found at water and sewage treatment plants.

▪ Rescues in sewers, caves, trenches, storage tanks, tank cars, bins, silos, manholes, pits, and other confined spaces require the use of SCBA.

▪ USDOT defines a hazardous material as “any substance which may pose an unreasonable risk to health and safety of operating or emergency personnel, the public, and/or the environment if it is not properly controlled during handling, storage, manufacture, processing, packaging, use, disposal, or transportation.”

▪ Hazardous materials range from chemicals in liquid or gas form to radioactive materials to etiological (disease-causing) agents.

▪ Placards should be viewed from a distance when responding to a vehicle or industrial fire.

ToxicAtmospheres ByPhysicalReaction

|Toxic Atmosphere |Headache |Dizziness |Nausea |Vomiting |Coughing |

|Carbon Monoxide |X |X |X |X |  |

|Hydrogen Chloride |  |  |  |  |  |

|Hydrogen Cyanide |X |  |X |X |  |

|Carbon Dioxide |X |X |  |  |  |

|Nitrogen Dioxide |X |X |  |  |X |

|Phosgene |  |  |  |  |X |

|Ammonia |  |X |X |X |X |

|Chlorine |X |X |X |X |X |

 

|Toxic Atmosphere |Confusion |Weakness |Tearing burning eyes |Chest pain |

|Carbon Monoxide |X |X |  |  |

|Hydrogen Chloride |  |  |X |  |

|Hydrogen Cyanide |X |X |  |  |

|Carbon Dioxide |  |  |  |  |

|Nitrogen Dioxide |  |  |  |X |

|Phosgene |  |  |X |X |

|Ammonia |  |  |  |X |

|Chlorine |  |  |X |  |

Toxic Atmospheres by Specific Reaction

|Toxic Atmosphere |Common Reactions |Specific Reactions |

|Carbon Monoxide |Headaches, Dizziness, Weakness, Nausea, |Cherry-red Skin, confusion |

| |Vomiting | |

|Hydrogen Chloride |Labored breathing, Tearing eyes |Choking, Burning nose, throat, and skin |

|Hydrogen Cyanide |Headache, Nausea, Vomiting |Gasping respirations, Muscle spasms, Sudden collapse, Increased heart|

| | |rate, Confusion |

|Carbon Dioxide |Headache, Dizziness |Frostbite, Increased respirations, Sweating, restlessness |

|Nitrogen Dioxide |Headaches, Dizziness, Cough, Chest Pain |Frothy sputum, Collapse, Coma, Variation in blood pressure |

|Phosgene |Coughing, Chest pain |Dry burning throat, tearing burning eyes, Foamy sputum, Skin burns |

|Ammonia |Coughing, Chest Pain, Nausea, Vomiting, |Tearing eyes, burning throat and eyes, Pink frothy sputum, Skin |

| |Headache, Dizziness |burns, Fainting |

|Chlorine |Coughing, Nausea, Vomiting, Headache, |Tearing eyes, nose, mouth; Weeping eyes, Choking, Fainting |

| |Dizziness. | |

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