Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Magazine

Draeger, a leading international safety company, will sponsor a webinar June 8 for first responders on the dangers and long-term effects of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and carbon monoxide (CO).

Scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. EDT, the hour-long program will feature Capt. Rick Rochford, a 26-year veteran of the Jacksonville (Fla.) Fire Rescue Department.

The presentation — Unmasking the Threat of HCN and CO Poisoning, A Firefighter's Perspective — is designed to improve awareness of the hazards posed by the gases known as the "twin toxins." Rochford has been conducting documented research for the past three years on the toxic properties of both HCN and CO at structural fires.

Participants can sign up for the webinar at www.draeger.com/HCNCO. The program will include a question and answer session.

"There is a lot of complacency about the effect of cyanide poisoning," Rochford said. "Everyone knew the gases were present, but they didn't know how bad it was. When we monitored fires for HCN, the alarm sounded at almost every fire."

He will be joined in the webinar by Anthony Toro, a firefighter from Providence, R.I., who was a victim of HCN exposure. Rochford said his goal is to educate and to encourage the use of respiratory equipment and monitoring devices.

Draeger provides a full range of respiratory and monitoring devices. For information, go to www.draeger.com.