911 Clean is a division of 911 Safety Equipment. 911 Clean is the fire industry’s leading firefighter gear cleaning and repair service. Our team is dedicated exclusively to the advanced cleaning, sanitization, advanced inspection, repair, and tracking of firefighter turnout gear and other related PPE. Our firefighters’ safety and well being are at the forefront of everything we do. That is why we make sure to provide our customers with the best maintenance programs available. We offer individuals, fire departments, and military bases cleaning and repair programs tailored to meet their specific needs. We are a third party verified ISP and fully compliant with NFPA 1851 and NFPA 1971. 

To get started with our cleaning and repair services, please fill out our New Customer Registration Form and an Order Form and email them to support@911se.com. For returning customers, please fill out an Order Form and email it to support@911se.com. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to Contact Us. We are always more than happy to help! 

WHY US?

We are a fully NFPA 1851 and NFPA 1971 compliant advanced gear cleaning, sanitization, advanced inspection, repair, and tracking facility. We are also one of the nation’s largest third party verified Independent Service Providers, verified by Intertek. 911Clean is recognized as the go to warranty center for many of the turnout manufacturers and component suppliers. Garment manufacturers have commented that our work is equal to or better than the original unit. We truly care about our customers, and that can be seen in our business model, as over 90% of new business comes from referrals. We are here to take care of those individuals that take care of us.

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO

The reason that we started 911 Clean and emphasize the importance of cleaning and repairing gear is because we are passionate about our firefighters’ health and safety. Occupational cancer in firefighters has been steadily increasing, and thanks to the growing body of research and data, we now realize why this is happening. One of the big reasons is the change in building construction and furniture materials.

Modern structures and products are full of synthetics, plastics, and chemicals. During a fire, not only do these modern materials ignite quicker, but they also emit harmful carcinogens, dangerous containments, and toxic soot. While fighting the fire and during overhaul, firefighters are exposed to these dangerous cancer-causing agents. Due to this, firefighters are at a greater risk of cancer than ever before. In fact, cancer is the leading cause of death in both active and retired personnel.

OUR MISSION

Cancer has become the #1 killer of firefighters in the country, and 911Clean has made it our mission to aid in reducing the number of cancer-related firefighter deaths. We do this through the careful inspection, deep cleaning, and sanitization of firefighter bunker gear and related PPE.

Our firefighters risk their lives every day for us, and we want to provide them with gear that is up to NFPA 1851 standards. We ensure that a firefighters’ turnout gear is ready for action, so that they can do their job to the best of their ability.

If you are a firefighter and would like to aid in the mitigation of cancer in the fire service, continue reading below. We have put together some helpful tips that you can utilize for cancer prevention. Remember, change starts with you, and anything is better than nothing when it comes to protecting yourself and those around you from cancer-causing agents. 

FOR THE LOVE OF FIREFIGHTERS, PLEASE DECON

One of the best ways to mitigate cancer in firefighters is to limit exposure to harmful carcinogens and substrates that can be found at the fire scene and while performing overhaul. The biggest way that firefighters can reduce their exposure while on scene is through gross decon.

The purpose of gross decontamination is to remove possible carcinogens and contaminants as soon as possible following exposure. These substances may be inhaled or absorbed through the skin. In fact, with every 5 degrees that body temperature rises, skin absorption rates increase by 400%. That means that while fighting a fire and during overhaul, the skin is more likely to absorb those harmful contaminants. Areas on the body that have the highest absorption risk are the neck/throat/jaw, ears, face, and groin. While soot used to be considered a badge of honor, it is now recognized as a Group 1 carcinogen (the worst kind), so it is important to remove it from your skin.

DECONTAMINATION METHODS

Decontamination methods that can be used to remove contaminates include spraying gear down with water, wiping off dry debris with a brush, removing and isolating contaminated gear immediately, using a gear cleaner to spot-treat soiling, using a towelette to remove soot from the high absorption areas, and rinsing with soap and water in a portable shower if your department offers one. Just remember, when it comes to decontamination, something is better than nothing.

Your department should have decontamination procedures already in place, so please make sure to follow them. If they don’t, ask your department to implement actions for on scene decon. If you ask and your department says no, give us a call…we’ve got your back!

WHEN DECON IS NOT ENOUGH

Keep in mind, there are going to be situations when decon is not enough to remove the soot and substances absorbed into your gear. When decontamination methods and routine cleaning prove to be ineffective, your gear may require a deep cleaning. When this happens, you should send your gear to a verified ISP which can clean your gear for you. Here at 911Clean, we deep clean and sanitize your gear before sending it back. If you run into an issue where you need gear but yours is contaminated or currently getting cleaned, we do have rental turnout gear available. You can visit our site www.911RentalGear.com or email support@911se.com to request rental gear.

MITIGATE THE RISK

Reducing exposure to carcinogens and other toxic substances starts with prevention, and this prevention must be an ongoing effort on every scene.

Below we have listed a variety of ways in which you can protect yourself and protect those around you.

• PROPERLY WEAR YOUR GEAR! Make sure that all closures are securely fastened, you are wearing your SCBA while in the fire, working on the edge of it, and during overhaul. Do not take off your mask prematurely
• Spray your gear off with water right after a fire scene
• Use a towelette or a wipe such as Firewipes to aid in the cleaning and removal of soot, smoke and other potential carcinogens. Use them on your neck, face, and hands right after a fire
• Wear protective personal equipment such as gloves, a face mask, and clothing that covers exposed skin, when dealing with contaminated gear
• Wash gear with a gear cleaner such as NFPA 1851 compliant CitroSqueeze to spot treat garments either on scene or once back at the station. Gear cleaners such as this are an effective way to remove soot, oil, grease, and other hydrocarbon contaminants from gear. It also helps maintain the protective quality of the turnout apparel and PPE fabrics
• Keep soiled PPE away from the rehab area, personal vehicles, and station living quarters
• Remove contaminated gear as soon as possible and make sure to bag up any contaminated garments until they can be properly cleaned
• Do a routine cleaning once gear arrives back at the station. If it is still not clean, you may need to do an advanced cleaning
• Change into clean clothes once overhaul is completed. DO NOT WEAR DIRTY GARMENTS
• Wash your hands and thoroughly shower as soon as possible after an incident
• If possible, have a second set of turnout gear to wear while your first set is getting advanced cleaning. If you do not have a second set of gear, we do offer Rental Gear.

Adopting just some of these mitigation measures into your daily routine will help reduce your risk of cancer and decrease the number of cancer related deaths in the fire service. Remember, CHANGE STARTS WITH YOU!

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