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UncategorizedBy: ETD Team How much time truly goes into an NFPA-compliant, end-to-end turnout gear inspection? Behind every coat and pant set is... -
Liquid CO2 vs. Liquid CO2+: What’s the Difference?March 18, 2026Liquid CO2 vs. Liquid CO2+: What’s the Difference?BlogBy: ETD Team For departments exploring advanced decontamination alternatives to water washing, liquid CO2 cleaning is often the first technology that...
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The Hidden Cost of Water Washing Turnout GearMarch 11, 2026The Hidden Cost of Water Washing Turnout GearBlogBy: ETD Team For decades, water-based washing has been the standard method for cleaning firefighter turnout gear. It is familiar, accessible,...
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Liquid CO2 vs. Liquid CO2+: What’s the Difference?
By: ETD Team For departments exploring advanced decontamination alternatives to water washing, liquid CO2 cleaning is often the first technology that surfaces. It is solvent-based, water-free, and capable of penetrating turnout gear more effectively than traditional extraction methods. But not all CO2 systems are created equal. There is a measurable difference between standard liquid CO2 cleaning and Liquid CO2+ technology...
The Hidden Cost of Water Washing Turnout Gear
By: ETD Team For decades, water-based washing has been the standard method for cleaning firefighter turnout gear. It is familiar, accessible, and widely accepted. But as more research emerges around PFAS, PAHs, heavy metals, and other carcinogenic contaminants embedded in PPE, the limitations – and risks – of traditional water washing are becoming impossible to ignore. The reality is clear:...
The Hidden Danger at Home: Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Tips for Families
By: ETD Team From smartphones and tablets to e-bikes, power tools, and children’s toys, lithium-ion batteries have become an essential part of daily life. With their growing presence in homes comes an often-overlooked danger: fire risk. When overheated, overcharged, damaged, or improperly stored, lithium-ion batteries can fail catastrophically, sometimes with explosive consequences. At Emergency Technical Decon (ETD), we’ve seen firsthand...
What Fire Departments Need to Know About Turnout Gear Repairs: Q&A with ETD’s Sewing & Repair Team
By: ETD Sewing & Repair Team At Emergency Technical Decon, repairing firefighter turnout gear isn’t just about sewing; it’s about safety. Our in-house team of technicians is trained to uphold the highest standards of NFPA 1851 compliance, making sure every repaired item is field-ready, reliable, and safe to wear. Here’s what departments often ask about gear repairs, and how our...
Recognizing National Burn Awareness Week
By: ETD Team Each February, the second week marks National Burn Awareness Week, a time to raise awareness around one of the most painful and life-altering injuries anyone can face. For the fire service, this week is also a powerful reminder: burns don’t just happen on the fireground—they can happen during overhaul, in the station, or even through contaminated gear...
American Heart Month: Protecting the Heart of the Fire Service
By: ETD Team February marks American Heart Month: a time to raise awareness about cardiovascular health, especially among those at increased risk. For firefighters, that risk is alarmingly high. Cardiovascular events remain the leading cause of on-duty deaths in the fire service, accounting for nearly 45% of all firefighter fatalities in the U.S. Factors like intense physical exertion, extreme heat...
Routine Decon Best Practices
Fireground contaminants do not stay on the fireground. Soot, VOCs, PFAS and other toxins travel with firefighters long after the call is over, settling into gear, truck cabs, seats, tools, personal vehicles and common areas inside the station. Over time, this creates continuous exposure risks for crews, families and community spaces. Routine decontamination is no longer limited to turnout coats...
New Year, Same Gear: Year-Round Turnout Gear Cleaning Matters
A new year always brings a renewed focus on health, readiness and operational safety. For firefighters, that commitment extends far beyond fitness goals or training priorities, because the gear you wear every shift carries the invisible weight of every fire you have fought. No matter how new your calendar is, your turnout gear still holds the residue, toxins and exposures...
What Happens After the Fire: The Hidden Spread of Contamination Revealed by Blacklight
Firefighters are trained to face danger head-on, but some of the greatest risks can’t be seen with the naked eye. The very gear that protects them in extreme environments can become a vehicle for toxic exposure long after the flames are out. A powerful new training video produced by the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Firefighter Cancer Initiative reveals just how...
Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month: Prevention Is All Year
Every January, Cancer Awareness Month shines a spotlight on a growing crisis: cancer remains the leading cause of firefighter line-of-duty deaths. Departments across the country use this month to highlight prevention practices, share survivor stories, and reinforce the need for early detection. But while January serves as an annual call to action, the threat firefighters face doesn’t follow a calendar,...
