Smoke inhalation is a factor in most fire deaths in the United States

  Our textbook suggests smoke inhalation is a factor in most fire deaths in the United States, especially those that result from post-flashover fires. The authors continue stating single exposure to fire smoke can have both acute effects (e.g., death, incapacitation, impaired mobility, and reduced clarity of thinking) and post-exposure effects (e.g., lung damage). Firefighters can experience chronic effects from multiple exposures to smoke, as seen recently with the cancer risk heightened due to smoke inhalation. Have you, or someone you know, experienced inhalation of the irritants in smoke? Was it involved in initiating a fast attack because of a trapped civilian or other reason? Have you ever initiated a fast attack with your SCBA mask not completely sealed, believing the positive pressure would keep out smoke and irritants? Why, or why not?