CFD first in country to adopt new technology to protect firefighters from lasting health risks

CHICAGO —The Chicago Fire Department became the first to adopt a new technology to protect their health.

We know Chicago firefighters face dangerous situations every day. In fact, they’ve had several just the summer alone.

While they have respirators when they go into many of those hazardous fires, it’s the lingering effect of what’s left on their protective gear that is a liability.

The Chicago Fire Department is the first in the country to use a new carbon dioxide cleaning system for all of its 4,500 firefighters and paramedics PPE.

Before this, it was just a standard water wash. The fire department says having this extra step with the pressurized carbon dioxide, takes more of those hazardous elements out of the gear to make it safe and keep the fireproof protective gear safer long term.

In the United States, firegfighters have a 14% higher death rate from cancer than any other typical American.

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