Fire protection association sets new standard for carbon monoxide screening of firefighters

The new standard, 2008 NFPA 1584, establishes the routine use of Masimo’s Pulse CO-Oximetry to detect potential CO poisoning. It states that “any firefighter exposed to CO or presenting with headache, nausea, shortness of breath or gastrointestinal symptoms” should be measured for CO poisoning by Pulse CO-Oximetry or other approved methods. It also requires that every fire department establish standard operating guidelines that outline uniform rehabilitation procedures for firefighters at incident scenes and training exercises.

Studies have shown that even a single high-level exposure, or prolonged exposure to low levels, of CO has the potential to cause long-term heart, brain and organ damage. Long-term effects of CO include cardiac arrests, Parkinson-like syndromes affecting motor skills, and speech, dementia, cortical blindness, acute renal failure and muscle cell death.

“Often cited by attorneys within the legal system, NFPA standards represent complete industry consensus and are supported by a substantial amount of scientific or medical evidence,” says Mike McEvoy, EMS Director, Board of New York State Association of Fire Chiefs. “This new national standard adds considerable weight to growing industry guidance calling for CO screening by leading EMS, EMT and firefighter associations nationwide, including the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) and the National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE).”

In the past, even the most skilled first responders often missed the chance to treat carbon monoxide poisoning early because, until Irvine, Calif.-based Masimo invented Masimo Rainbow SET Pulse CO-Oximetry in 2005, a noninvasive way to detect elevated levels of CO in the blood did not exist. With the Masimo Rad-57 Pulse CO-Oximeter, fire fighters, EMS professionals and emergency-room clinicians can detect CO poisoning by applying a noninvasive LED-based sensor on the victims or themselves, allowing for lifesaving treatment that also can limit the likelihood of long-term cardiac and neurological damage.

NFPA’s 300 consensus codes and standards have served as the worldwide authoritative source on fire, electrical, building and life safety for the public since 1896.