Overview
Title
Webinar - Following the Science: Considerations for a Safe Transition to Non-PFAS in Firefighter Protective Clothing
Description
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) comprise a class of man-made toxic chemicals that have been used in thousands of consumer and industrial products and processes. There is heightened concern of its use in the fire service due to the multiple potential routes of exposure that firefighters experience. PFAS-based materials have been used in firefighter gear as well as in aqueous film-forming foams. Following pressure from firefighters, the fire service industry has transitioned to now offering outer shell and moisture barriers that are not manufactured with PFAS. As with any major change to protective clothing, it is critical to assess the differences in performance of the new gear and determine any limitations that may need to be considered. In this webinar, R. Brayn Ormond, PhD, will provide updates on research efforts to better understand the risk and extent of PFAS exposure to firefighters from their gear and then provide a comprehensive comparison of the effectiveness of PFAS-treated and newly available non-PFAS-treated turnout gear in both new and aged conditions.
This webinar is sponsored by ESO.
Day and Time
May 20, 2025, 1400-1500 EST
Presenter
Bill Gardner (sponsor welcome)
R. Bryan Ormond, Ph.D.
Contact
NVFC: Amanda Tegtmeyer, amanda@nvfc.org, 202-887-5700
Webinar Sponsor
ESO is dedicated to improving community health and safety through the power of data. Since its founding in 2004, the company continues to pioneer innovative, user-friendly software to meet the changing needs of today’s EMS agencies, fire departments, and hospitals. For more information, visit eso.com.
Speaker(s)
Bill Gardner
Chief
Senior Director of Fire Products at ESO, Chief Gardner retired in 2019 as the Fire Chief in Leander, Texas. After retiring from his fire service career, he returned as volunteer Sr Advisor at Leander Fire. Bill began his firefighting career in 1985, working at various Municipal Fire, Emergency Management and Emergency Medical Services Departments. He was recognized twice as the Paramedic of the Year (1999 & 2001) at Austin/Travis Co. EMS, received a nomination for International Association of Fire Chiefs for the Fire Chief, Central Texas Firefighter of the Year, and was a finalist for Texas Firefighter of the Year. Gardner also served as the President of the Texas State Firefighters and Fire Marshals’ Association.
Dr. R. Bryan Ormond (Moderator)
Ph.D, Assistant Professor
N.C. State University
As an associate professor at NC State University's Textile Protection and Comfort Center (TPACC), Dr. Ormond has focused on developing test methods, standards, equipment, and ensembles for first responders and military personnel to address protection from chemical, particulate, and thermal hazards. His most recent research has centered on reducing firefighter exposure to toxic chemicals through developing particulate-blocking PPE, assessing gear cleaning methods, evaluating on-scene decontamination methods, and investigating the impacts of PFAS and PFAS-free finishes and materials on PPE performance.
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