Fire Chief

When five firefighters from one Chicago fire station were diagnosed in 2000 with similar types of cancer, people became concerned that something within the old fire station itself was causing the illnesses. Eventually the fire department tore down the building and replaced it.

Exhaust fumes and air quality frequently are sited as a cause or contributing factor in firefighter cancers, and the list of possible carcinogens gets longer all the time, but a recent outbreak of skin disorders in one California fire station has raised another concern about how firefighters can get sick inside fire stations.

The first California firefighter was told by a doctor that the red, swollen spot on his skin looked like a spider bite. But then another firefighter found a spot, and then so did another. And the spots became worse and more serious. Nine firefighters now are infected with varying severity, including one firefighter who almost lost his leg and another who has an eye swollen beyond recognition.

Two firefighters tested positive for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococus aureus, or MRSA, an infection caused by staph bacteria. The fire chief told us that the department doctor had never seen this type of infection outside of hospitals. An industrial hygienist explained that the outbreak was a “self-induced problem” and would require cleaning up the fire station and carefully reviewing procedures.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, MRSA is a type of staph infection that occurs most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities and is resistant to certain antibiotics. The infection usually manifests as a skin disorder, such as a pimple and boil, and can occur in otherwise-healthy people.

“Repeated contact with the healthcare system,” is one of several risk factors that increase the potential for exposure and infection. While emergency medical technicians and paramedics are trained in precautions, MRSA is a particularly virulent bacterium. One emergency room nurse said that MRSA is contracted from bodily fluids, and treatment for the infection requires isolation procedures [gloves, masks, gowns] and intravenous antibiotics for eight to 10 weeks.

If these types of infections or other airborne diseases are present in fire stations, then housekeeping needs to be kicked up several notches. Some recommendations to prevent the spread of staph infections are simple; they include the use of gloves and immediate washing of hands after gloves are removed.

The transmission of diseases raises many questions for a fire chief and demands a review of procedures. Consider procedures for cleaning stationwear used by EMTs, paramedics and firefighters. Do firefighters take their uniforms home and throw them in with the kids’ jeans and socks? Volunteer departments need to be aware of cleaning turnout gear, as well as their personal clothing, to prevent exposing their families to infection.

Everyone goes home, but be careful of what you might be taking there with you.