Firefighting Safety Solutions from Dräger

The rise of occupational cancer among Firefighters in recent years prompted several changes. Some behaviors — like letting soot and smoky grime stain gear — have started to fade. This evolution of the Fire Service is just beginning as we learn how to best protect the men and women on the fire ground.

Part of this evolution must include providing today’s Command Staff and Incident Commanders with more information on what’s happening on the Fire Ground.

Traditionally, industry has focused on individual products that provide some singular solution.

Dräger recognizes the complexities of today’s Fire Ground and the multitude of incidents that require Firefighters to step into areas of increased risk both short- and long-term. Several Dräger products, when used in combination with one another, provide an unequaled level of safety and protection.

Dräger encompasses the collection of solutions that mitigate some of the dangers confronting Firefighters. Some dangers are immediate — fire, smoke, toxic gas, etc. Others cause a long-term harmful effect on First Responders — carcinogen particulates, chemicals, cardiovascular insult and damage, etc.

Fire department safety - Fire training by draeger event documentation container smoke

Fire Training by Dräger

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.

Learn more

Firefighter scbas by Draeger man and smoke

Firefighter SCBAs by Dräger

The self-contained breathing apparatus, or SCBA, is the foundational tool that provides the greatest amount of airway protection from toxic gas and harmful particulates resulting from the fire. It’s essential for modern Firefighting.

Dräger is the inventor of the modern-day SCBAs specifically for Firefighters. In 2021, Dräger celebrates 80 years of the Firefighter SCBA.

In those eight decades, Dräger made some substantial improvements, but the most notable in recent years is comfort. Our SCBAs provide the wearer with a comfortable fit, allowing a Firefighter to twist and reach as required by the situation at hand. The PSS® 7000 adds a height adjustment for extra ergonomic fit. An our masks come in nine sizes to fit any face.

All Dräger SCBAs that meets the 2019 Edition of NFPA 1981 and 1982.

Learn more

The Fire Ground

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.

Learn more

Gas detection by Draeger emt worker with bag and Pac

Gas Detection by Dräger

Toxic gases like carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) are be present 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.

Dräger is the exclusive provider of a Toxic Twins detector that alerts when the two in combination are at dangerous levels. Another gas detection system wouldn't alert until CO or HCN reached toxic concentration.

Dräger offers a comprehensive range of portable gas detection systems for Firefighters — from single gas to multi-gas to HazMat kits to area monitoring.

Learn more

The Healthy Firefighter

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.

Learn more

Special operations by Draeger liftt thunder bay UCF 7000

Special Operations by Dräger

Each Fire Department — depending on the size — can consider any specially trained group as a Special Operations Team. Special Ops will vary significantly from department to department. Many common teams might include HazMat Response, EMS, Dive, and USAR.

Dräger offers several products that fit for use by Special Ops.

Learn more

Air purifying respirators by Draeger fireman water training simulation

Air-Purifying Respirators by Dräger

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.

Learn more

Contact Us

Improving firefighting safety in potentially dangerous environments

Dräger offers an assortment of solutions that, in combination with each other, could improve safety and health of Firefighters while also providing the following benefits:

Reduce the introduction of particulates to the soft tissue in airways and on the face.
Provides warning to operators and command of potentially deadly gas and heat rises allowing for retreat or increased operational efforts.
Provide vital training in a controlled environment to prepare Responders for the multitude of circumstances that could occur.
Assist Special Operations Teams while conducting high-risk, high-impact, low-frequency evolutions.
Substantially improve the safety and health of Firefighters and other First Responders.

Dräger PSS^® 7000 NFPA-Certiﬁed SCBA

Before you can protect the lives of others, you have to protect yourself. The Dräger PSS^® 7000 self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) provides unmatched comfort, durability, and safety in the harshest environments. With unparalleled ergonomic performance, the PSS^® 7000 combines trusted pneumatics, flexible fit, and cylinder Quick Connection, ...

Product details