The Palmerton Fire Department has installed air purification systems inside fire apparatus to protect emergency responders.

Borough fire Chief Jason Behler said the system eliminates 99% of germs, microbes, viruses and bacteria in the air and on surfaces.

Behler said it’s also effective against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

“Ever since COVID has come into existence, it has been a challenge for emergency responders, volunteers,” Behler said. “We don’t live together, we go home to our families.”

Additionally, Behler said it increases air quality and safety for ridership, and causes no damage to interior surfaces.

“We have limited manpower, so taking precautions like this to protect our responders was key to me,” he said. “It helps to assure that when there is an emergency, there are people to respond, and it limits the exposure.”

Behler said the system is especially helpful when firefighters respond to calls.

“When we go to the calls, it’s unknown to us whether we’re exposed or not,” he said. “This system helps maintain clean air within the cab, so that way we’re not transmitting it to each other.”

Behler said the system is also useful in other ways as well.

“The nice thing about this system is basically it uses UV light, circulates air inside the cab, has 99% kill rate for both in the air and surface of bacteria,” he said. “This doesn’t just cover COVID; basically any airborne, helps keep the interior of the cab clean at all times, surfaces too, not just the air.”

More information about the product can be found at https://unitedsafetycorporation.com/safety-and-survivability-systems/uv-phi/