Our Turnout Gear - Safe or Sorry

It’s there, hanging on the rack, next to our bunk, in the backseat or trunk of our car. What is it? Our bunker or turnout gear; part of our entire PPE ensemble. It is designed to protect us from sharp or pointy edges, to prevent the heat from reaching our “civilian” bodies and to not allow wetness to pervade into the inner layers which might cause us suffering steam burns. Besides our boots, coat and pants, it includes our hoods and gloves – all playing a critical role in protecting us from environmental toxins and carcinogens so often found in what is burning today.
However, what if this PPE is doing its job at a higher risk than we had ever known or suspected? It is here that the “waters get muddied.” We know for a fact that certain chemicals used to waterproof not only our PPE, but carpets, upholstery and almost anything else that is made where we do not want any liquid incursion, when joined together and over a period of time, can develop into carcinogenic compounds. What do we do about this and why did we not know about it?
My guest on this podcast, knows a great deal about this topic. Diane Cotter is the wife of Lt. (ret) Paul Cotter of the Worcester MA Fire Dept. A month after Paul’s promotion he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Yet, before that, he had been at the peak of health and fitness-for-duty. So, they began looking into this issue, certainly not by themselves, but along with scientists, researchers, and many more.
You will be surprised my any number of the facts that Diane shares with us on this podcast. If you did not know about this side of the firefighter cancer battle, you just might be amazed at what you hear. One thing is for sure – you will never look at your bunker gear the same way again.