Fire Sprinklers are Good for Firefighters
Fire sprinklers play a crucial role in protecting both property and lives during a fire emergency. They not only prevent the spread of fire, but they also assist firefighters in their operations. In this paper, we will explore how fire sprinklers help firefighters, reduce the risk of cancer, create a safer environment for firefighting operations, and the number of firefighters who die of cancer or in a fire every year.
How do fire sprinklers help firefighters?
Fire sprinklers help firefighters in several ways. Firstly, they control the fire and prevent it from spreading, which reduces the amount of heat, smoke, and toxic gases produced. This makes it easier for firefighters to navigate the building and locate any remaining fires. Secondly, fire sprinklers can also cool down the environment and reduce the risk of flashover, which is when all the combustible materials in a room ignite at once. This gives firefighters more time to extinguish the fire and perform rescue operations. Finally, the use of fire sprinklers can also reduce the amount of water needed to extinguish the fire, which can help to prevent water damage to the property.
How do fire sprinklers reduce the risk of cancer?
Firefighters are exposed to numerous carcinogens during fire emergencies, such as benzene, formaldehyde, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which can increase the risk of developing cancer. Fire sprinklers reduce the amount of smoke and toxic gases produced during a fire, which in turn reduces the number of carcinogens in the air. This reduces the risk of firefighters developing cancer because of exposure to these carcinogens.
How do fire sprinklers create a safer environment for firefighting operations?
Fire sprinklers create a safer environment for firefighters by reducing the amount of heat, smoke, and toxic gases produced during a fire emergency. This allows firefighters to navigate the building more easily and safely, as well as perform rescue operations more effectively. The use of fire sprinklers also reduces the risk of flashover, which can cause serious injury or death to firefighters. Responses in sprinklered buildings reduce injuries by 79% and carcinogens and other pollutants are decreased by at least 90% in sprinklered buildings.
How many firefighters die of cancer or in a fire every year?
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), an average of 54 firefighters die each year in the United States as a result of on-duty injuries. Of these, approximately 29% are due to sudden cardiac events, 22% are due to trauma, and 18% are due to asphyxia or burns. In addition, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) estimates that approximately 60% of firefighter deaths in the line of duty are caused by cancer. In 2019, there were 60,825 firefighter injuries in the United States. Cancer caused 66% of the career firefighter line-of-duty deaths from 2002-2019.
In conclusion, fire sprinklers play a crucial role in protecting both property and lives during a fire emergency. They help firefighters by suppressing the fire, reducing the risk of flashover, and reducing the amount of water needed to extinguish the fire. Fire sprinklers also reduce the risk of firefighters developing cancer due to exposure to carcinogens during fire emergencies. By creating a safer environment for fire fighting operations, fire sprinklers can help to reduce the number of firefighter deaths each year, both from cancer and in the line of duty.