When responding to a fire, the experience and skills learned during training can save lives. High-quality training is critically important today as fires are hotter and burn faster than ever before.

The Dräger line of Fire Training Systems starts with a fire extinguisher trainer all the way to a custom multi-story, multi-fire building. Whether it's a Class B system with a few interchangeable props or a Class A Swede System, you can be confident that proper engineering went into every choice to give your Fire Department years of education.

And speaking of education, every Dräger system includes a curriculum and training in the proper, safe operation to your trainers.

When arriving to fight fires, Command Officers normally arrange elements of a response. The operational areas of a Fire Ground include a perimeter around the incident; staging areas for support vehicles and personnel; command post; rehabilitation area; etc.

Over the course of the past few years as concern and awareness regarding occupational cancer has escalated, most Fire Departments acknowledge Fire Ground where a majority of the dangers that can adversely impact the health and safety of today’s Firefighters. 

Dräger offers a variety of products that address health and safety during all phases of a fire — throughout the Fire Ground, and training. Every Fire Department and each jurisdiction varies. Chiefs and Command Officers may consider how to optimize the use of Dräger resources on the Fire Ground.

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), firefighters have a 29% higher risk of contracting various types of cancer than the rest of the U.S. population. They are 1.39 times more likely to develop skin cancer and 1.31 times more likely to be diagnosed with brain cancer. 

What needs to change? Raising awareness about this critical issue and increasing protective measures can help protect the health of firefighters.

Toxic gases like carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) are often found on the Fire Ground. While either by itself is dangerous or even deadly, the combination of the two are exponentially worse, earning them the distinctive name, the Toxic Twins. Visible smoke is a good guideline, however the Toxic Twins are both colorless. CO is odorless and HCN has the odor of almonds, although it could be masked by the smoke and other Fire Ground smells.

Outfitted with the powerful Toxic Twins Sensor as a configuration option, the Dräger X-am 5800 runs a tight defense, simultaneously detecting both hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide. By providing real-time monitoring of gas levels and sounding the alarm at the first sign of danger, this multi-gas detector is an invaluable asset in maintaining the safety of firefighters and those they serve.

The best and safest option for breathing protection is an SCBA. However, not all Fire Departments can afford SCBAs for all Firefighters. Further, during different stages of a fire, portions of the Fire Ground may be deemed breathable with the primary risk factor being particulates found in smoke and soot.

In these cases, some alternative forms of airway protection may be appropriate and cost effective. This is especially true during Overhaul and Investigations phases.

Any alternatives to an SCBA should always be paired with some form of gas detection to assure that no toxic gases that could affect firefighters at the scene.