Firefighters form an essential part of our society for the services they offer. For emergency services, however, they require proper protective gear for their safety. This particular group of people responds to emergencies whenever they are called, thereby providing rapid responses. However, in their line of duty, firefighters get exposed to risky conditions that pose threats to their lives. Their protective gear, particularly their breathing apparatuses, previously lasted for about 30 minutes. However, after an upgrade, the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) last for up to sixty minutes. Therefore, this group of people can stay for more extended periods at elevated temperatures.
In my opinion, I do not think it is safe for them due to the impending health risks to which they are exposed. The fact that they are exposed to burns, toxic gases, and other risks shows the need for better protection measures. With the emergency response, there are physical risks, mental, and even post-traumatic effects that result from this exposure (McQuerrey, 2018) . Since they are the first to respond, and with increased time after the upgrade of SCBA, they face more risks of burns, smoke inhalation, and increased chances of injuries from collapsing structures.
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They are also exposed to mental agony. This issue may develop from exposure to areas that may have a massive number of casualties and, as such, may get exposed to elevated levels of stress, which does not dissipate quickly. However, the number of risks associated with more extended exposure periods are far more detrimental to the firefighters (Hemmatjo, Motamedzade, Aliabadi, Kalatpour, & Farhadian, 2017) . Therefore, firefighters should continue using the 30-minutes SCBA, with additional shifts and a post-medical checkup for the potential health hazards that may arise from such exposure. More so, they should undergo counseling sessions in the event of potentially traumatic and mental issues.
References
Hemmatjo, R., Motamedzade, M., Aliabadi, M., Kalatpour, O., & Farhadian, M. (2017, February 27). The effect of various hot environments on physiological responses and information processing performance following firefighting activities in a smoke-diving room. Elsevier, 8 (4), 386-392. doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.shaw.2017.02.003
McQuerrey, L. (2018, July 1). The risks of being a fireman . Retrieved April 3, 2020, from Chron: https://work.chron.com/risks-being-fireman-8600.html
