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Over 50,000 people have died in fire related deaths over the past ten years. Approximately 80% of these victims died from inhaling toxic smoke.
DROWING IN A SEA OF SMOKE
Most of us understand the concept of drowning in water. When our nose, mouth and lungs are plugged we asphyxiate. The same principle applies when we are in a high toxic smoke environment, smoke particles plug our nose, mouth and fill our lungs with particle matter that causes asphyxiation thus you drown in the "Sea of smoke"
 

Here are some disturbing facts:

  • In November of 1980, 84 people died at the MGM Grand hotel fire in Las Vegas, Nevada, mainly from smoke inhalation. Within two weeks the same number of people died in individual residential fires across the United States.
  • February 1st 1995, a U.S. Air and Sky West aircraft crashed at the LAX international airport. Out of the 33 victims, 22 died of asphyxiation. Many of the US Air victims were found in the aisle waiting to evacuate the aircraft.
  • March 1995, a fire started in Hamlet, North Carolina at a food plant which killed 25 people. Most of the these victims died from smoke inhalation.
  • May of 1983, 28 prisoners died in a jail fire in Biloxi, Mississippi. These fatalities died from smoke inhalation locked behind bars.
  • August 1992, a family of 4 perished in a house fire in southern California. The family had a working smoke detector that sounded but there wasn't enough time to evacuate safely. This is not the norm with working smoke detectors. However the more plastics and synthetics that are use in our homes the chances of asphyxiation are greater and greater.

Survivability in a smoke environment is an individual responsibility. Whether you travel on land, by air or at sea; live or work in highrise building, survivability from toxic smoke is your responsibility. The fire Service can't help you until they arrive on the scene.

Reference from:
Institute for Fire and Burn Education
165 South West Temple Suite 301
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
(801) 521-6411


Our Peace of Mind Hood could have helped all the rescue team members...

Inhaling the smoke, dirt, sand,and other challenged atmosphere may harm your health, if not your life.

So what is the solution?

According to the Institute for Fire and Burn Education smoke filters for civilians use can be used to provide a level of protection from a toxic environment. "The technology has been available for years but used primarly for industrial applications. These safety products are as important as smoke detectors", said Fred Jameson founder of the Institute. The problem has been that we educate the public that we have the finest Fire Departments in the world, (which is true) but they can't help until they are called and arrive. 96% of fire victims die before the fire fighters arrive on the scene.

Recently the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) passed a resolution to support the need for civilian respiratory protection. The IAFC further resolved that the Older Consumer, the physically challenged and children are at high risk.

For years, Fire Fighters wore smoke filters called type N masks or were not provided anything at all for respiratory protection. Because they were required to stay in a challenged atmosphere for longer periods of time they started using a Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCAB).