With 2009 Fire/EMS Safety, Health, and Survival Week ending last week, the one key statement that stands out and everyone should remember as well as practice is “Protect Yourself, Your Safety, Your Responsibility.” This outlook needs to be practiced 24/7 by all fire fighters and first responders. Equipment we use and vehicles we respond in need to be safe and this is initially done from our equipment inspections, checks, and training. As an emergency first responder, be it Fire Fighter, Haz-Mat, EMS, or Law Enforcement, it’s each of our responsibility to perform as best we can and as safely as we can.
The Self-Contain Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) is one of the many important pieces of emergency equipment that’s used on the fire ground. The SCBA is an intriagal part of the overall PPE for the fire fighter to use when call for. SCBA are one of the most effective and potently hazardous pieces of equipment that can be used in the field. They allow us to go into extremely hazardous situations and may give a false scene of security if fire fighters are not careful in their uses. Training is necessary and vital in knowing without hesitation the proper use/operation of the SCBA.
It is extremely important to know the SCBA’s limitations when using. Understanding the pack’s operation, how to maintain it, and check the air pack is equally important. The fire fighter also needs to be familiar with the SCBA’s safety features and able to use the air pack in a zero visibility environment if need be.
Some regulations that the fire fighter needs to know about are able to refer to and familiar with during training class room sessions are:
- OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard–29 CFR 1910.134–Respiratory Protection Requirements.
- NPPA: 1440-Standard for Fire Services Respiratory Protection Training
1852-Standard on Selective, Care, and Maintenance of Open-Circuit Self-Contained
Breathing Apparatus.
Other references the SCBA user needs to refer to for information concerning proper use and operation is the Essentials of Fire Fighting Forth Edition, IFSTA and the NFPA Standard 1500.
There are basically six SCBA components that make up an air pack: Cylinder, Harness/Back-plate, Low Pressure Warning Device, High Pressure Hose, Regulator Assemble, and Face piece Assemble. The air cylinder can be a 30 or 60 minute rated at 4500 psi. To hold and carry the cylinder as well as having straps for carrying is the harness/back-plate. You have low pressure warning device to warn you when the air supply is running low and activates when working pressure is at 25% (3-4 minutes) of air left. A high pressure hose carries at, at cylinder pressure, from the cylinder to the first and second stage regulators where the air pressure is stepped down. First stage regulator is mounted on the side backpack and you have your face piece mounted regulator. The two regulators reduce the air pressure starting 4500 psi, stepping it down to about 100 psi in the face piece to be able to breathe in an Immediately Dangerous to Life & Health (IDLH) atmosphere. The face piece covers/protects and provides inhalation and exhalation of low pressure air.
Inspection of the SCBA should be either daily, weekly, monthly depending on how your department is setup for using equipment, and always an after use inspection. It is imperative to perform inspections and document the inspections. Failure to do so may lead to injury or death. All personnel that use the SCBA should be fully knowledgeable on proper inspection of unit.
The demonstration of the operation of SCBA, which is to put it on, needs to be performed at every training session and class. Doing so prior to a fire department drill, live fire exercise, and of course the real world emergency will better prepare the first responder that will have to use the SCBA on the emergency scene. SCBA training and review should be done monthly and at a minimum every three months. This training should be properly documented. Personnel that respond and at anytime need to put the SCBA into use should become proficient in donning within 1 minute 30 second.
Donning SCBA Overhead Method:
Donning SCBA Coat Method:
The SCBA is only going to be as good as the inspection and training conducted of the air pack prior to use, so you know it will work correctly, and the knowledge in using it. The person wearing the air pack needs to be in good health and physically fit. Heart attacks are still the number one killer of fire fighters. The use of the SCBA increases cardiovascular work and heat stress on the fire fighter. If you experience any shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, chest pain, light headedness, or confusion while using the SCBA you need to get to re-hab and seek medical attention. Do not take these early warning signs and symptoms lightly. Listen to your body because it will tell you that you need to back off, stop, and get over to re-hab. Prevention to physical stress factors, the fire fighter should keep hydrated, keep physically fit, and re-hab frequently on long fire ground operations. Most important is to know your limitations and quit before there is a problem.
It should be stressed that safety in all aspects of fire fighting duties are part of our attitude, training , and awareness. Proper knowledge, training, and use of the self-contained breathing apparatus is necessary to help provide as best as one could expect a safe environment for the fire fighter that may and eventually will use.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
No comments:
Post a Comment