Protective Equipment and

Medical Monitoring
Protective Equipment Types
 Level A
 Level B
 Level C
 Level D
Level A
 Highest level of respiratory/skin protection
 Suit fully encapsulates rescuer, SCBA
 Used in hot zone with:
 Unknown substances
 Substances with potential for respiratory and
skin absorption hazards
Level A
Level B
 Full respiratory protection
 Lower skin protection
level
 Suit non-encapsulating,
but chemically resistant
 SCBA worn outside of
suit
 Typically worn in warm
zone by decon team
Level C
 Non-permeable suit,
boots, hand, eye
protection
 Air-purifying
respirator with
cartridges for specific
substances
 Worn during transport
of patients with 2o
contamination risk
Level D
 Firefighter turnout gear
 NOT suitable for HAZMAT incidents
Selection of PPE
 Based on chemical involved
 NO single suit material is appropriate for
all chemicals
 Permeability charts should be consulted to
determine breakthrough times for suit
material
Selection of PPE
 Latex gloves are NOT chemically resistant
 Nitrile gloves hive high resistance to most
chemicals
 Leather boots will absorb chemicals
permanently
Medical Monitoring & Rehab
 A primary role of EMS
 Entry team personnel should have annual
physicals with baseline vitals on file
Entry Readiness
 Monitor  Abnormal findings
 BP prohibit entry
 Pulse  Pre-hydrate with 8 to
 Respiratory rate 16 oz of water or
 Temperature diluted sports drink
 Body weight
 ECG
 Mental/neurological
status
After-Exit Rehab
 Monitor  Use weight loss to
estimate hydration status
 BP
 Rehydrate
 Pulse
 Do NOT permit reentry
 Respiratory rate unless:
 Temperature  Alert
 Non-tachycardic
 Body weight
 Normotensive
 ECG  Normothermic
 Mental/neurological  Within reasonable
status percentage of normal body
weight