Solutions for Firefighters, Peace Officers & Prisons
The environment that we are presented with in today’s world brings on many challenges, one of them is the ever increasing spread of Superbugs that seem to be infecting the heroes and protectors of our communities, the police officers and firefighters. Police officers and firefighters have a10 times greater incidence of MRSA infections compared to the rest of the population.
CA-MRSA which is a community acquired Methicillion Resistant Staph aureus is invading our police stations, polices cars, fire stations, and prisons. Our police officers and firefighters are exposed to MRSA because their jobs bring them into frequent physical contact with all of the high-risk groups. They are exposed to contaminated body parts during the provision of medical care, during searches, arresting of suspects, and taking samples. They are regularly exposed to saliva, vomit, feces, urine, and blood (Mayhew, 2001). Since police officers and firefighters frequently encounter the populations who are spreading MRSA, staff screening is recommended (Lettington, 2002).
A study by the University of Washington, the first of its kind on a large scale revealed that MRSA, the drug resistant strain of staph infection is living in fires trucks, aid cars, station houses and in firefighters themselves. The surprise in the study was that the bacteria had found its way from the garage to the living quarters. Tests revealed the station kitchen tables were as bad as any of the aid cars where the patients ride. Things got even more interesting when nose swabs revealed that MRSA levels in firefighters are ten times higher than the general public average.
Fifteen custodial deputies acquired MRSA in Greenville, South Carolina’s jail (IUPA, undated; Greenville News, 2006). Thirteen firefighters in Fresno, California acquired MRSA, as did 20 firefighters working in the “Skid Row” part of Los Angeles County, and dozens of guards at the Folsom, California prison (Colon, 2007).
Peace officers at busy agencies can detain or arrest a dozen or more individuals in a single shift, patting all of them down for weapons, and performing a detailed search on those who are arrested. Peace officers and firefighters go to vehicle accidents and handle injured people. Police lift intoxicated arrestees into their patrol car for transport to a detoxification center or jail. Firefighters lift injured persons onto gurneys, and go “hands-on” in order to insert intravenous catheters, apply pressure to stop bleeding, or extract injured persons from mangled vehicles. Sometimes wanted suspects run away and are pursued on foot by police, and when caught they may put up a fight and have to be physically subdued. Some suspects will fight police every time they are arrested.
Speaking to many Firefighters, one quickly realizes that many have doubts about the cleanliness of the beds they share between shifts and the equipment they share with other firefighters. Well, no more doubts, TOMI Environmental Solutions offers a solution. Our hydrogen peroxide aerosol leaves every surface you point and spray at sterile. Our aerosol should be used to decontaminate squad cars, holding cells, transfer vans, prisons, showers, and mess halls. In firehouses the key areas to focus on are on fire and medic trucks, on the bunker gear, living quarters, computer keyboards, kitchen tables, fire-poles, beds, lounge chairs, showers, kitchen, eating areas, foot pedals of the fire engines, kick boards, all fire equipment, PPE gear, EMS vehicles, and all hand held electronic technology.
TOMI Environmental Solutions also manufactures UV ozone generators, the number one choice to remove smoke and fire related sulfur particles. Our firefighters and police officers can now be secure that the environment they live in while at work will be decontaminated and sterile, along with all their professional equipment.
Establish an effective cleaning method resulting in a zero infection rate for out police, firefighters, EMR, first responders, and ambulance operators. Download the white paper by Dr. Halden here.