Comments on: Cincinnati firefighters battling bed bugs in one firehouse after another

By: Jody GK

Jody GK — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:27:14 +0000

And, no, firefighters cannot wear TYVEK suits in fire situations. They’re flammable and they shouldn’t spend the time to don a TYVEK suit in addition to turnout gear (tyvek over or under turnout gear…hmmm?) when response times are critical.

By: Jody GK

Jody GK — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:23:04 +0000

The firefighter issue is one worth considering because there are lots and lots of volunteer firefighters and EMS who don’t live and work in a firehouse, but come and go from their homes. I’m one, I never considered the risks of bringing bed bugs to my own home this way. Of course, city FF/EMT face greater BB risks in urban housing.

By: nobugsonme

nobugsonme — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:24:23 +0000

bedbugfinders,

It doesn’t seem to be unusual for people to not get the importance of the bed bug issue until they actually get bed bugs.

By: bedbugfinders

bedbugfinders — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:10:59 +0000

Here is a good one for this topic, I offered my Bed Bug Detection dog services to our local firehouses on the Space Coast of Florida for free on a regular basis. I did this to show my respect for the great role that the fireman and EMTs play in our society. I gave it to them in writing and explained that it would cost the taxpayers nothing for my services. I never even got a returned phone call.

By: parakeets

parakeets — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:17:24 +0000

In my town our firemen also do a lot of EMT work and go into houses where there are no fires for emergency medical reasons so I agree with Doug.

I’m sorry firemen have to deal with bedbugs, but if they can fight fires, they can fight bedbugs and they will become our respected allies in this cause. People will believe firefighters when they present with bedbug bites. If the patient is a firefighter, medical personnel will hopefully not assume they are neurotic, over-reacting, or tell them that they have a rash….which is the way a lot of us have been treated.

By: Doug Summers MS

Doug Summers MS — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:04:19 +0000

Tyvek suits are flammable.

The DuPont website states that Tyvek should not be used around flames, sparks, heat or potentially flammable environments.

I suspect that they are thinking about their paramedics & rescue personnel when they are talking about the use of Tyvek suits on calls.