Officials Examine Pandemic Precautions for First Responders
First responders, and all Americans, are being urged to prepare for the possibility of a pandemic.
The White House on Wednesday outlined a strategic plan that addresses limiting travel, calling out the National Guard to maintain order, and in worst case scenarios, ordering mandatory quarantines.
Businesses, schools and governmental agencies are being encouraged to develop contingency plans in the event of widespread illness. Families also should be prepared to take care of themselves.
The International Association of Fire Firefighters (IAFF) says first responders must have the best equipment available to protect them.
Believing that there will possibly be a shortage of masks, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services asked the Institute of Medicine to take a look at re-using disposable face pieces. Authorities are predicting there will be a shortage of the protective devices.
After conducting tests and reviewing data, IOM researchers determined that disposable masks should be discarded after use because there is no guarantee they would be efficient again, said Christine Stencel, media relations officer.
"We didn't review everything out there or draw conclusions about which ones would be best," she said, adding that the scientists questioned whether a mask would still offer a level of protection after it's washed.
"Disposable masks and respirators do not lend themselves to reuse because they work by trapping harmful particles inside the mesh of fibers of which they are made. This hazardous buildup cannot be cleaned out or disinfected without damaging the fibers or other components of the device such as the straps or nose clip, the committee found. Moreover, the committee could not identify any simple modifications to the manufacturing of the devices that would permit reuse, or any changes that would dispense with the need to test the fit of respirators to ensure a wearer is fully protected," the IOM said in a prepared statement.
The IOM also examined the N95 respirators, and said while the face pieces probably could be decontaminated, they don't recommend it.
To prevent the spread of the disease, no unnecessary risks should be taken, Stencel said.
"To help develop more effective materials and devices to protect against flu transmission, researchers need to determine more precisely how flu viruses spread from person to person. It is not known whether they disperse as aerosolized particles released in the breath of infected people, spread on larger droplets projected through coughing and sneezing, or are contracted through physical contact with contaminated people and surfaces. Different types of face coverings offer different levels of protection against various forms of harmful agents; for example, masks are fluid-resistant and generally protect better against contaminants dispersed through coughs and sneezes, while respirators protect better against aerosolized contaminants. Research should be done to test how well masks, respirators, and other new filtering materials specifically protect against the spread of flu viruses. In addition, new methods should be developed to decontaminate masks and respirators without damaging them," IOM researchers concluded.
It's imperative that first responders get as much information as possible as soon as it becomes available, said Charlie Dickinson, acting director of the U.S. Fire Administration.
"I believe it's our responsibility to provide our people with the links to the experts. This is something everyone should be paying attention to."
The USFA is working closely with OSHA and the CDC to keep abreast of flu data. The dilemma, Dickinson said, is the unknown. Right now, there's a myriad of uncertainties.
But, those most vulnerable will be similar to those who often fall victim to fires -- children and the elderly. "Awareness is very important. We have to get people away from the mind-set that it won't happen to them," Dickenson said.
If a vaccine is developed, International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) officials say it's vital that firefighters be included in the first group to get inoculations.
They take exception to a national report that listed firefighters a lower priority than emergency medical personnel. "That's just not acceptable, especially in light of the responsibility that the fire service plays in providing EMS care," said Rich Duffy, assistant to the general president.
Duffy said the IAFF has been assured, however, that firefighters will get equal recognition as EMS providers when it comes to vaccines, if and when they are developed and are made available. He said every precaution needs to be taken to ensure that all responders are protected.
The IAFF also said they are concerned that the nation's fire service does not have a seat at the table where planning and important decisions are being made.
"The U.S. National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza also puts much of the responsibility for planning for a pandemic response on state and local agencies. In Canada, provincial and city governments will also have significant responsibility. While several stakeholder groups are included in the Strategy, the fire service is not. Both federal governments must require fire service involvement in all pandemic planning that occurs under the auspices of a national strategy," the IAFF said in a prepared statement.
Both the USFA and the IAFF believe it's important that responders have the best protective equipment.
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