NVFC and Masimo Partner to Offer Resources, Discount

October 7, 2013

In today’s economy, fire departments and EMS agencies are faced with limited budgets that can make it challenging to purchase equipment necessary to help keep their members and their communities safe. One significant danger facing our communities and our emergency responders is carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. That’s why Masimo has launched Masimo On Call, a program intended to give departments fundraising resources they need, when they need them, to help highlight the need for the Rad-57™ Pulse CO-Oximeter, which helps quickly and noninvasively assess CO levels in the blood. 
 
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and poisonous gas that unnecessarily kills and permanently harms thousands of people each year. It is the leading cause of poisoning deaths in industrialized countries, accounting for more than half of all fatal poisonings in virtually every country throughout the world,1 making CO poisoning a major public health concern. In the United States alone, it is estimated that 50,000 emergency department visits each year are a direct result of CO poisoning.1 The true incidence of CO poisoning is unknown, because of its frequent misdiagnosis as the flu, food poisoning, or other illness due to the vague, non-specific symptoms that CO poisoning presents with.2
 
Carbon monoxide poisoning puts firefighters at significant risk at the scene of a fire. Even mild CO poisoning causes mental confusion which can lead to poor decision making, putting both the exposed firefighter and other on the fire scene at risk.3 Mild CO poisoning can also rob the heart and brain of oxygen – nearly 50% of line of duty firefighter deaths are attributed to heart disease or stroke.4 In addition to the immediate dangers, CO poisoning significantly increases long-term health risks. Just one severe CO poisoning almost doubles the risk of premature death, and consistent exposure to CO may cause long-term heart and brain damage.5,6
 
In addition to CO on the fire ground, fire department responses to CO alarms are increasing each year,7 and while ambient air monitoring may be performed upon arrival of fire department or EMS personnel, it is critical for responders to be equipped with tools to monitor occupants at the scene for CO exposure. Even if firefighters test the air and don’t find CO, the potential still exists for CO or CO sources to be present because of improper use of gas meters, malfunctioning meters, or the elimination of CO through a recently opened door or window. During responses to CO alarms, testing both the air and the occupants is important for determining whether an actual exposure has occurred. 
 
The Masimo On Call program includes tools to help volunteer fire departments reach out to their community to demonstrate the dangers of CO and their need to be equipped with the Rad-57. These tools include a customizable brochure and flyer that can be personalized to each department, a sample fundraising letter and media alert, and facts about CO. All of these tools and resources are free, including free grant assistance, and can be found on www.MasimoOnCall.com.
 
In addition to the Masimo On Call fundraising resources, to help make it possible for volunteer fire departments and EMS agencies to acquire on-scene CO testing technology, Masimo is offering NVFC members special pricing and volume discounts on the Rad-57 for a limited time. For more information about the discount, click here or contact your Masimo representative.
 
For pricing information and additional information click here: http://masimo.custhelp.com/ci/documents/detail/2/NVFC
  1. McEvoy, M.Sneak Attack: What makes carbon monoxide so insidious? The Silent Killer. J Emerg Med Svcs. October 2010: 4-9.
  2. Havel C et al. Accuracy of noninvasive multiwave pulse oximetry compared with carboxyhemoglobin from blood gas analysis in unselected emergency department patients. Ann Emerg Med.2011;58(1): 74-79.
  3. Jakubowski G. FireRescue Magazine. 2004; 22(11):52-55.
  4. Bledsoe BE, FireRescue Magazine. September 2005.
  5. Hampson NB et al. Crit Care Med. 2009; 37(6):1941-47.
  6. Bledsoe BE. J Emerg Med Svcs. 2007l 32:54-59.
  7. Flynn, JD.Non-fire carbon monoxide incidents reported in 2005.National Fire Protection Association. June 2007. Revised 2008.