Firefighters – Chemical Exposure

Are you an EMS Professional
Exposed to Chemicals?

Firefighters are exposed to airborne chemicals and particles, which can linger on their suits and equipment. The health and overall well-being of firefighters, police officers, and other emergency personnel have been affected by exposure to toxic substances.

The toxic dust, fumes and vapour that arises from a fire contain hundreds of different toxic chemicals, including dioxins, PCBs, asbestos, silica, benzene, manganese, chromium, lead, mercury, nickel, oxides of nitrogen, sulphur, etc.

Perhaps the greatest hazard posed by many of the toxic chemicals, which firefighters face is that the toxins accumulate in the body. Exposures resulting from the job can be detrimental to your health if not removed.

A major storage location in the body are the fat cells, a component of most body organs and systems, including the brain and nervous system. This storage is caused by the body’s inability to process these chemicals to a point where it can excrete them. Scientists term this bio-accumulation.

However, whenever any stress is applied to the body, these chemicals are released into the bloodstream and can circulate to virtually any organ, only to return later to the fat. The stresses that induce this on-going circulation of toxins are common, everyday occurrences. Stresses mobilize these toxins. Thus, it is at those times on the job when you want the least toxic chemicals impairing performance that they are most likely to be in circulation.

Why Should You Detoxify?

The detoxification technique was adopted in 1982 by physicians at the HealthMed Clinic, a medical facility with clinics in Los Angeles and Sacramento, CA, which has treated over 1,200 persons using the regimen, including a number of emergency personnel.

Detoxification is a process through which the level of toxic chemicals in the body are reduced.  A detoxification program is an individual as you.  It may include a combination of diet, health supplements, colon therapy, body therapy, a portable infrared sauna for home treatments and exercise to neutralize and eliminate toxins.

Detoxification is helpful for those patients suffering from many chronic diseases and conditions, including, psoriasis, allergies, anxiety, arthritis, asthma, fibromyalgia, chronic infections, depression, diabetes, headaches, heart disease, high cholesterol, low blood sugar levels, digestive disorders, mental illness, and obesity.

Reduce Disease Risk

A significant body of literature suggests an association between the ability of the body to efficiently detoxify and etiology of various puzzling chronic diseases such as fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivities, and chronic fatigue syndrome.  Furthermore, recent research supports the link between chronic neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s, as well as certain types of cancer, with your ability to adequately detoxify.

Live Blood Cell Analysis

High Powered microscopes can be used to visualize the unique characteristics of blood cells and to screen for disease.  A live blood cell analysis can indicate immune dysfunction, toxicity, pH imbalance, and the presence of yeast, parasites, and heavy metal toxins.

Colon Hydrotherapy

When the bowel becomes toxic, it contaminates the blood, which in turn, spreads the toxins to other organs as it delivers nutrients through the body.  Colon Hydrotherapy or Colonic Irrigation provides the opportunity to flush out materials that have built up in the large intestine, waste matter, toxins and trapped gases.

Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs

There are a wide variety of supplements, vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts, and homeopathic remedies to increase your body’s ability to cleanse, protect your from disease, and increase energy.

Improve Your Diet

Remove the foods that increase the toxicity in the body is the most important thing.  At the same time nourish your body with foods that promote the cleansing process are of equal importance.

Where to Start?

Captain Howard, has been a firefighter for over 30 years, said he didn’t experience any acute exposure during chemical emergencies.  “There was never any one incident in which exposure on the job left me debilitated.”

However, Captain Howard suffered from chronic low-level toxic exposure.  He experience blinding headaches for no reason at all; he would even wake from a deep sleep with them.  He had terrible skin rashes on his legs, and would feel extreme fatigue in the early morning.  “I became concerned that I would not be healthy for my retirement years.”

Another firefighter, David Werner, experienced five years of suffering and frustration.  He left the hospital feeling only slightly ill; throat irritation, a mild cough, fatigue, and some lack of coordination and concentration.

As time went on, however, these symptoms began to get worse.  His cough become much more severe.  He would have coughing fits to the point of straining chest muscles.  His head constantly pounded, and his ears buzzed for over four years.  And he got sick.  Further, when he would cut or bruise, he would not heal as quickly.  The rashes he got appeared more frequently and would scar as they healed.

Werner also suffered through many cognitive problems.  He would forget integral pieces of information like hydraulic pressures and street locations that are critical to know during an emergency.  My concentration was crippled.  My mind would wander aimlessly between spurts of attention.”
Werner also suffered periods of extreme irritability.  Although he describes himself as a “kickback kind of guy.”  “There was a tremendous amount of stress to the job.”
Werner went from specialist to specialist but received no relief.