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HomeMy WebLinkAboutUOG 204.06A REVISED 7-1999-CO Monitoring Beaumont Fire/Rescue Services CARBON MONOXIDEUniform Operating Guidelines MONITORING U.O.G. 204.06A 7/99 - RPage 1 of 9 Please find attached the Guidelines for Response to Carbon Monoxide Incidents, the Notice of Hazards of Carbon Monoxide Sheet (to be issued to occupants), and the Carbon Monoxide Checklist (to be used when conducting CO Monitoring Operations). When used in combination this procedure will provide a guide to properly respond, provide information to occupants, and document incidents involving Carbon Monoxide. The Carbon Monoxide Checklist is to be used in all cases, and copies issued and routed as indicated on the bottom of the sheet. The copy for Prevention will be picked up by supply and returned to Headquarters each Friday. The Notice of Hazards of Carbon Monoxide is also to be issued to the occupant to provide information on any readings noted during monitoring. Please note below the location and type of Carbon Monoxide monitoring equipment in the Department. Car 51Passport Car 52MSA 360 Car 53BTCGA 401 Eng. 2Mini CO Eng. 3Mini CO Eng. 6Mini CO Eng. 8Mini CO Eng. 9Mini CO Eng.11Mini CO Fire PreventionMini CO Beaumont Fire/Rescue Services CARBON MONOXIDEUniform Operating Guidelines MONITORING U.O.G. 204.06A 7/99 - RPage 2 of 9 NOTICE OF HAZARDS OF CARBON MONOXIDE Carbon Monoxide is a naturally occurring by-product of burning gasoline, diesel, natural gas, wood, charcoal, and other fuels. It is an odorless, tasteless, and colorless gas. CO is lethal in high doses over a short period of time or in small doses over a long period of time. CO poisoning can occur from an inefficient or malfunctioning furnace, space heater or other fuel burning equipment. It is absorbed by the blood over a period of time. Initial signs of CO poisoning include: Dizziness, nausea, irregular breathing, headaches, fatigue, confusion, and disorientation. Special considerations should be given to persons who are at a high risk to CO poisoning. They may be more susceptible to CO poisoning, these include: unborn babies, infants, persons with heart/lung disease, and senior citizens. If readings are: 0 ppm to 9 ppmCO levels are within acceptable levels. 10 ppm to 35 ppm WARNING Levels of CO detected in building. Occupants should leave building until source of CO is determined and repairs are made. 35 ppm is the maximum allowable concentration for an 8-hour continuous exposure. (O.S.H.A.) 36 ppm to 99 ppm DANGEROUS Unsafe levels of CO have been detected. It is recommended that all occupants leave building immediately. Ventilation by either mechanical or natural means should take place until level of CO is below 35 ppm. The building should not be occupied until source of CO is determined and repairs are made. 100 ppm+LETHAL Occupants should leave immediately. Structure is not safe, even for short term exposure. Occupants should not be allowed to return until CO source has been determined and repairs made. LEAVE COPY WITH OCCUPANT Beaumont Fire/Rescue Services CARBON MONOXIDEUniform Operating Guidelines MONITORING U.O.G. 204.06A 7/99 - RPage 3 of 9 BEAUMONT FIRE RESCUE/SERVICE GUIDELINES FOR RESPONSE TO CARBON MONOXIDE INCIDENTS PURPOSE This policy is to provide uniform guidelines for responses to reports of Carbon Monoxide (CO) incidents. POLICY The Beaumont Fire Rescue Department will respond to all incidents or suspected incidents involving Carbon Monoxide and, if possible, identify the source of Carbon Monoxide. GENERAL Carbon Monoxide is a naturally occurring by-product of burning gasoline, diesel, natural gas, wood, charcoal, and other fuels. It is an odorless, tasteless, and colorless gas. CO is lethal in high doses over a short period of time or in small doses over a long period of time. Initial signs or symptoms of CO poisoning include: dizziness, nausea, irregular breathing, headaches, fatigue, confusion and disorientation. Special considerations should be given to persons that are at a high risk to CO poisoning, these include: unborn babies, infants, persons with heart/lung disease, and senior citizens. PROCEDURE Dispatch Procedures for CO Alarms 1.Dispatch the nearest engine or chiefs car equipped with monitors non emergency. If symptoms of CO poisoning are present, EMS and F.D. should respond emergency. 2.Inform the caller not to open any doors or windows or otherwise ventilate the building until F.D. arrives. Beaumont Fire/Rescue Services CARBON MONOXIDEUniform Operating Guidelines MONITORING U.O.G. 204.06A 7/99 - RPage 4 of 9 3.Advise the caller to evacuate the building until F.D. arrives if symptoms of CO poisoning are noted. Procedure for CO check. 1.Interview occupants, fill out top part of checklist. 2.Bump test monitors if first use of the shift, and calibrate in fresh air. 3.If structure has been ventilated or appliances have been shut off prior to F.D. arrival, try to duplicate normal conditions. 4.Take reading upon entry into structure, if the reading is 35 ppm or higher, S.C.B.A. shall be worn. 5.Follow the guide on the lower part of CO checklist. Be sure to fill in ppm for each affected area. 6.If CO is present, use the following guide. 1 to 9 ppmCO levels are within acceptable limits. 10 to 35 ppm WARNING! CO levels are unusually high. 35 ppm is the maximum allowable concentration for an 8- hour continuous exposure. (O.S.H.A.) (Occupant should be advised to leave building until this is corrected). 36 to 99 ppm DANGEROUS! Unsafe levels of CO. It is recommended that all occupants leave the building immediately. Ventilation should take place, either natural or mechanical until level is below 35 ppm. The gas appliance emitting high CO levels should be turned off at main valve. If source is unable to be determined, all gas appliances should be turned off at main valve and gas meter. The building should not be occupied until repairs are made. NOTE: If occupancy is a residential structure, Beaumont Fire/Rescue Services CARBON MONOXIDEUniform Operating Guidelines MONITORING U.O.G. 204.06A 7/99 - RPage 5 of 9 compliance is voluntary. If a commercial or public structure, authority to order evacuation rest with incident commander. If determined necessary to evacuate a commercial structure, Fire Marshal’s office is required to respond. 100 ppm+LETHAL! Occupants should leave immediately. Structure is not safe, even for short term exposure. Occupants should not be allowed to return until CO source has been determined and corrected. 7.Upon completion of CO check, the checklist for CO should be completely filled out and signed by occupant. The white copy is for the occupant. The yellow form is to be kept on file for one year at the fire station of the crew that conducted the test. The pink copy is to be forwarded to fire administration. (Pink copies will be picked up when supplies are delivered). 8.When readings are questionable and at a low level or the source of CO can’t be identified, the monitoring tubes supplied for units with monitors may be utilized to allow occupants to monitor the air for CO for an extended period. If this is done, the occupant should be advised to contact the Fire Department at 880-3901 if an elevated CO level is detected by the indicator tube which would warrant further investigation. 9.Give occupants copy of CO checklist and Notice of Hazards sheet. 10.All readings are to be entered on Texfirs report, under comment section and coded appropriately as indicated below: TYPE OF SITUATION FOUND Detector activates because of an elevated level of carbon monoxide; use TSF = 49, “Hazardous condition, not classified above.” Add comment, “CO detector activated, elevated levels of CO found.” Detector activates and no elevated levels of carbon monoxide are found: use TSF = 69, “Good intent call, not classified above.” Add comment, Beaumont Fire/Rescue Services CARBON MONOXIDEUniform Operating Guidelines MONITORING U.O.G. 204.06A 7/99 - RPage 6 of 9 “CO detector activated, no elevated level of CO found.” TYPE OF ACTION TAKEN Code Type of Action Taken as before - choose the one code which most accurately describes the major or most important action taken. Example one: A faulty furnace leads to elevated CO levels, detector activates, warning occupants in time and no rescue is required; fire department shuts down furnace and ventilates building - use TAT = 4, “remove hazard.” Example two: Detector activates, however, residents of building are overcome by CO and rescue is required - use TAT = 2, “Rescue.” Example three: Detector activates for no apparent reason, no elevated levels of CO are found - use TAT = 3, “Investigation.” Beaumont Fire/Rescue Services CARBON MONOXIDEUniform Operating Guidelines MONITORING U.O.G. 204.06A 7/99 - RPage 7 of 9 NATIONAL FIRE INFORMATION COUNCIL P. O. BOX 23221LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909(517) 655-5355 901 CODE-A-GRAM Number 1995 - 1 Issuance Date: January 1995 Effective Date: Upon Receipt Subject: Single station carbon monoxide detector activations. PURPOSE: Suggest coding that may be used to record incidents resulting from single station carbon monoxide detector activations. BACKGROUND: As carbon monoxide detectors become more prevalent, fire departments across the country are responding to numerous alarms caused by carbon monoxide detector activations. This Code-A-Gram provides guidance to properly code the Type of Situation Found (TSF) and Type of Action Taken (TAT) for these incidents. ACTION: NFIRS Project Managers should distribute copies of this Code-A-Gram to all fire departments within their respective States. When released, the new NFIRS will contain specific coding to handle these types of incidents. In the meantime, the NFIC Systems Committee recommends the following: C Type of Situation Found Detector activates because of an elevated level of carbon monoxide; use TSF = 49, “Hazardous condition, not classified above.” Add comment, ‘CO detector activated, elevated levels of CO found.’ Detector activates and no elevated levels of carbon monoxide are found; use TSF = 69, “Good intent call, not classified above.” Add comment, ‘CO detector activated, no elevated level of CO found.’ Beaumont Fire/Rescue Services CARBON MONOXIDEUniform Operating Guidelines MONITORING U.O.G. 204.06A 7/99 - RPage 8 of 9 C Type of Action Taken Code Type of Action Taken as before - choose the one code which most accurately describes the major or most important action taken. Example one: A faulty furnace leads to elevated CO levels, detector activates, warning occupants in time and no rescue is required; fire department shuts down furnace and ventilates building - use TAT = 4, “Remove hazard.” Example two: Detector activates, however, residents of building are overcome by CO and rescue is required - use TAT = 2, “Rescue.” Example three: Detector activates for no apparent reason, no elevated levels of CO are found - use TAT = 3, “Investigation.” Beaumont Fire/Rescue Services CARBON MONOXIDEUniform Operating Guidelines MONITORING U.O.G. 204.06A 7/99 - RPage 9 of 9 BEAUMONT FIRE/RESCUE SERVICES CARBON MONOXIDE CHECKLIST See Attached Form