We are all shocked to see a building up in smoke and thankful when fire fighters arrive and have the area and flames under control. After the blaze is extinguished there is a lot of focus on any hazardous materials and keeping people away from any dangers of the site. However, during the fire fight there can be times when firefighters are exposed to dangerous toxins in the air, in the smoke and on the surfaces of the structure. They can even be unwittingly ingested. How to deal with these dangers is taught to personnel during their extensive training in order to reduce risks where possible.
Asbestos was used for many years as a construction material as it’s properties are fire retardant and the carcinogenic properties were undiscovered – it seemed like the perfect way to keep people safe and was used extensively in roofing, wiring, drywall, sealants, cement powder, siding and even paint. Asbestos was added to firefighters clothing and in some fire trucks to reduce overheating.
We now know that once asbestos is damaged it can release toxins. Once on fire, broken or torn asbestos releases fragments in to the surrounding atmosphere where they can land on people and property.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer caused by asbestos getting lodged in lungs making firefighters at a much higher risk of getting it than anyone else. It can also result in pleural complications. Some of the symptoms are like the flu so can be over looked at the start but the symptoms worsen over time unless they are treated. Diagnosis should be done by a specialist which is where the organisation Mesothelioma Hope can help.
Mesothelioma Hope have been around for 20 years and have helped thousands of people. They have a website with lots of information and an on line chat function. They aim to help people connect with specialists and assist with health care information.
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