SCBA Flashcards
Officer Responsibility
Officers in charge must ensure that all personnel are wearing an SCBA in IDLH or suspected hazardous atmosphere.
BOA
Breathe, Organize and Act
Four Breathing Techniques
- Skip breathing: A normal inhalation held for several seconds, followed by an additional inhalation before exhalation
- Box breathing: A slow inhalation over 3-4 seconds, hold for 3-4 seconds, exhale over 3-4 seconds, and then hold for 3-4 seconds before the next inhalation
- The Reilly Emergency Breathing Technique (R-EBT): A slow inhalation followed by an exhalation controlled by the athlete making a humming sound as the breath is released
- Straw breathing: A slow inhalation followed by an exhalation controlled by pursing the lips to mimic breathing through a straw
Emergency breathing technique
Wheel breathing, last resort. Done in low air situations or in the event of a severed or cut air supply line. Never hold your breathe.
Heat stress injuries
Heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include fatigue, muscular weakness, tachycardia, fainting, nausea and vomiting, and profuse sweating.
Describing SCBA
Pressure-demand self-contained breathing apparatus, open circuit (exhaled air goes into atmosphere).
10 components of SCBA
- Facepiece
- Regulator (demand valve)
- Heads-Up Display (HUD) (part of both facepiece and regulator)
- Cylinder and control valve assembly
- Pressure reducer with primary low pressure warning device
- Control module with integrated thermal imaging camera
- Power module
- Harness and carrier assembly
- Speaker module
- Quick-fill pouch
Personal Alert Safety System (PASS)
Provides the user with the ability to monitor movement through a motion sensor. Pre-alarm 20 seconds, full alarm 30 seconds. The PASS device also monitors cylinder pressure and battery status.
Face piece
The face piece is equipped with a mechanical speech diaphragm that enhances speech communication. The HUD is provided inside the face piece through light pipes from the regulator.
Regulator
The mask mounted G1 Regulator is a pressure-demand regulator, which maintains a positive pressure in the face piece while the SCBA is in use. The positive pressure regulator reduces the pressure coming from the pressure reducer further to provide breathable air to the user (102-113). The Regulator is equipped with an emergency bypass valve (Red knob on the side of the regulator). The top and bottom buttons are for locking in the regulator and releasing the regulator. When you push the bottom button on the regulator it shuts off air flow to the face piece. The top button houses an LED buddy light Yellow = 1⁄2 air and Red = low air or PASS.
HUD
Air level indicator on right (4), top to bottom on left; status icon, evacuation icon and low battery icon. 7 total.
Pressure Reducer with Primary Low Pressure Warning Device
The pressure reducer reduces the cylinder pressure to an intermediate pressure, which is in turn further reduced by the regulator to a pressure that is respirable by the user. The pressure reducer incorporates a failsafe design which ensures air flow to the user in the event of a malfunction within the pressure reducer.
UAC fitting (Universal Rescue Connection)
The UAC fitting is a male fitting inlet for use by Rapid Intervention Teams for emergency filling of the SCBA or during transfill operations.
Primary Low Pressure Warning Device (Bell)
The primary low pressure warning device alarms when there is approximately 35% of the SCBA’s rated service time remaining and when the cylinder valve is first opened, providing an audible indication that the alarm is working properly. NIOSH regulation states that the primary low pressure warning device must alert the user at 35% plus or minus 2%.
Control Module with PASS Device and Integrated Thermal Imaging Camera
PASS device on the G1 SCBA is made up of three components: battery module, power module, and control module. The PASS device also monitors cylinder pressure and battery status.
Power Module
It connects to the battery module, emits audible PASS alarms and pre- alarms and has 4 buddy lights. The power module is also equipped with a RIT light, which activates when low pressure alarm occurs; making it easier to see the UAC in the dark.
Backplate
The D rings on each side of the harness are rated to 500lbs and are easily accessible in the event that you may need to grab a downed firefighter. The top ring of the harness is rated to 1000lbs.
Quick-Fill Pouch
The Nomex Quick Transfill pouch on the right side contains a 0.75 metre (3 foot) hose assembly with dust caps. The transfill hose is used to transfer air from one SCBA to another through the high-pressure Universal Air Connection (UAC).
Hydrostatic test date on the cylinder
Approval sticker located on the cylinder neck. Cylinders must be tested every five years.
Functional checks
Must be conducted with a full cylinder.
FT A - Check that the regulator and face piece can hold a negative pressure. Min 10 seconds.
FT B - Check function of regulator and speaker module.
FT C - Check function of the control module, power module, HUD and primary low pressure warning device.
Graphical display and the analog gauge
Consistent within a 5% range (225 psi) with the cylinder pressure.
Alarms should continue until what PSI
Until the air pressure is 200 psi or less.
SCBA Donning Procedure
Left shoulder strap first and then last when doffing.
As the system pressure rises from 0 to 200 psi..
Both visible and audible alerts activate automatically, indicating that the SCBA is functioning properly. The following indications must occur:
◦ Brief sound from the pressure reducer primary low pressure warning device (BELL)
◦ Chirp from the power module and speaker module
◦ Pressure displays on the HUD
◦ LED lights flashing green on power and control module
Do not use SCBA..
DO NOT use the SCBA if the pressure drops more than 100 psi in ten seconds. The SCBA must be repaired; otherwise, reduced service life may result.
3 Pre-Entry Safety Checks
- Tug Test
- By-Pass
- Negative Pressure
HUD Pressure Status
4 green LEDs - 75-100%
3 green LEDs - 50-74%
2 yellow LEDs - 36-49%
1 red LED - 0-35%
Medium Pressure/Half Air Alarm
The 50% air remaining (2250 PSI) HUD status will initiate when the cylinder reaches exactly 50% of its air capacity and a sweeping whistle audible sound will initiate when the Medium Pressure Sound is enabled. Two yellow LEDs will light within the air management section of the HUD and will remain lit the system pressure reaches 35%.
Low air (0-35%)
1575 PSI. Red buddy lights with pneumatic light (white light) above UAC.
Face piece cleaning
Regular washing of the head harness utilizing this procedure ensures a clean harness that is free of contamination.
Cylinders
Never carry or move a cylinder by the handwheel. Cylinders should not be stored partially charged. For maximum safety, the cylinders should be stored full or at a pressure above ambient but less than 100 psi. If necessary, top-off the cylinder such that the service pressure is attained with the cylinder at a temperature of 21°C.
Rechargeable Lithium Ion Battery
- Recharge batteries at 60% or at start of each Day shift; audible tone is emitted every 30sec; the Control Module displays an empty battery icon; and a YELLOW LED flashes on the HUD
- 6-bank recharger station will NOT overcharge batteries
- Charger lights:
- RED: Charging
- Flashing GREEN: charging
- GREEN: fully charged
CFD RIT (Rapid Intervention Team) PACK
All CFD Packs are located on auxiliary apparatus: Rescues, Aerials, HazMats, Tenders, Air-Light and the High-Rise Supports. 60 min cylinder. Replace if less than 4000 PSI.
