THE BREATH FROM HELL

摘要

Most firefighters know that the modern smoke environment is unforgiving and deadly. Tactics classes across the nation are rarely complete without some mention of the expanding toxicity of smoke and the rapid development of "zero visibility" at working fires. We are aware of the highly flammable nature of carbon monoxide (CO) and its ability to cause rapid asphyxiation. There is the growing understanding that hydrogen cyanide serves as the culprit in many of the fireground deaths currently attributed to CO. This invaluable knowl- edge can have a dramatic impact while working in the modern fire environment and operating in a safe and effective manner that accounts for the many dangers of smoke that is "The Breath from Hell."