News

Portable Gross Decontamination System to Help Mitigate Firefighter Cancer Risk

Task Force Tips have introduced the DECON/pak, a self-contained agent proportioning and rinse application system developed specifically for gross decontamination of firefighting personnel donned with gear and their equipment. Throughout 2017, TFT field-tested the DECON/Pak at fire stations and training academies across the nation. The feedback received helped to refine the final version into an easy to deploy the system to perform gross decon operations at the fire scene.

The DECON/pak uses a simple 3 step process:

1) Add Cleaning Agent

2) Connect to Hoseline

3) Wash/Scrub/Rinse.

Studies show that field decon using soap, water and brush can reduce cancer-causing contamination on turnout gear by 85%*. The system includes a 2.5-gallon container for detergent, 12’ hose with fan spray nozzle, and a simple built-in eductor that allows water from the truck to be used in a mix or rinse application.

According to Phil Gerace, TFT’s VP of Marketing, “The new DECON/pak is an additional tool in a multi-faceted effort to reduce firefighters’ exposures to cancer-causing contaminants. Our goals were to make it easy to deploy, simple to use, and effective in getting contaminants off the firefighter before they get into the apparatus or their POV.”

TFT has released the DECON/pak through its New Force distribution network (www.newforce.tft.com) at a price of $775.00 with free shipping within the US.

Additional information including literature and a video can be found at newforce.tft

*Source: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2017.13349