2023-08-11 05:08:29
Watery eyes, irritated throat and nose, headaches or dizziness: firefighters are familiar with these first signs of poisoning from fumes produced during a fire. Carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, acrolein, benzene carbon dioxide , hydrogen sulfide: “Forest fires are a major source of air pollution“, confirms for its part the AtmoSud air quality monitoring body. Inhaled, ingested, but also absorbed by the pores of the skin and even the mucous membrane of the eyes – even in the clearing phase, by contact with clothing, soiled vehicles – particles also have long-term health effects that are now better documented.
Where are the balaclavas?
If they wear the self-contained breathing apparatus (Ara) protective during disasters of structures or vehicles, this one, heavy from 14 to 16 kg, proves impracticable when one has to trudge in the forest. It is therefore most often the face masked with a simple fabric hood that the firefighters attack the blaze: however, in 2018, researchers from the Valabre Test and Research Center, in Gardanne, demonstrated that that “does not filter chemical compounds” Released by the combustion of plants. An awareness that would lead to the development of a prototype hood that filters more than 90% of toxic substances. “A major step forward“, then greeted the working group brought together by the National Pension Fund for Local Government Agents (CNRACL) and the Directorate General for Civil Security and Crisis Management (DGSCGC). In 2020, the deployment of new equipment was even announced as imminent, especially in the departments of southern France.
But where are the famous balaclavas? Not on the heads of our firefighters, anyway. Three years later, and despite the knowledge of the health risk incurred, they still shine… by their absence.”The guys are still wearing the old and in the cut phase, an FFP3 maskobserves Laurent Guilloteau, at the CGT Sdis 13. The project seems to be on hold.”“We are really late. regrets Sébastien Bouvier, in charge of Sdis mission, delegate of the CFDT Interco federation, very invested in this file. Industrialists were first mobilized by the Covid, and the manufacture of masks, then it was necessary to obtain European-level certification. In June, accreditation was finally obtained.“The Ministry of the Interior, in charge of the file, also had to establish the specifications for the manufacture of the balaclavas.To our knowledge, that would be it.“
“C’est aberrant”
These will in any case have a price: 60 euros each against 7 euros today. “It’s normal, you go from something that doesn’t filter anything to protective equipment.“While jackets and pants are also the subject of a new technical reference, Departments, financiers of the Sdis, are alarmed at the additional cost generated. For the Ministry of the Interior, approached in the Senate on the question, “these acquisitions remain to be planned over several years according to replacement needs“.
An answer that does not satisfy Warrant Officer André Goretti, firefighter in the Alpes-Maritimes, honorary president and spokesperson for the Autonomous Federation of Firefighters. “The protection of men is still not a priority. We lack equipment but also education on protection.” “The subject depends on the supervisory authority of the fire services, the Ministry of the Interior“, eludes the Departmental Council of Bouches-du-Rhône, which we wanted to question about its knowledge of the file. “The device is not yet stabilized“, we admit to the DGSCGC. “When the national rules are enacted, the new doctrine will be applied“, ensures for its part the communication of Sdis 13. “It’s not enough, points out André Goretti. This must be mandatory and legislated, otherwise everyone will do it their way.“According to the CFDT, another piece of equipment is missing: the carbon monoxide detector.”In 2022, in Gironde, the German reinforcements had this device and they withdrew when the concentrations were too dangerous. With us, we don’t have any. And 800 firefighters were poisoned during these megafires.” “Would you imagine a nuclear worker not having his radioactivity detector? It is absurd! It is absolutely necessary to change our practices. Americans, Canadians, Belgians or Swedes are much better than us“, judge André Goretti.
At a blood level above 15%, carbon monoxide poisoning results in nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fainting or coma; at 66%, death occurs within moments.
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