Final answer:
Firefighters should wear SCBA and monitor the environment until carbon monoxide levels decrease and oxygen levels are normalized to prevent CO poisoning.
Step-by-step explanation:
Firefighters should continue to wear SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) and monitor the environment until oxygen levels are normalized and carbon monoxide levels decrease. In scenarios of fire, carbon monoxide (CO) can be a significant danger as it is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced when something is burned, including in residential fires where various materials can combust. Ensuring that oxygen levels are normalized is crucial as CO can reduce oxygen delivery to the body's organs, which can be lethal at high concentrations. Firefighters must be vigilant about their environment to avoid the harmful health effects of CO. It is also essential to follow safety measures like proper ventilation, using carbon monoxide detectors, and following manufacturers' instructions for appliances that may release pollutants.
Understanding and recognizing the symptoms of CO toxicity is necessary for immediate treatment, which includes the victim breathing pure oxygen to displace carbon monoxide from the hemoglobin in their blood. This process is vital for the safety of both the victims and the firefighters. Knowledge about the physical properties of gases, such as with the critical temperature of carbon dioxide, is also important for firefighters when dealing with different types of fire extinguishers.