Air Management: The Solution for Firefighters in Hazardous Environments

1. Salt Lake Valley Fire Training Alliance THE NEED, THE MANDATE, THE SOLUTION AIR MANAGEMENT

2. NEED

3. Intervention vs Prevention

4. Worcester, MA • One of the lost teams from Rescue 1 radios command that, “We need air, we need air. I’m sharing a tank off me right now. We are lost…” • 4 of the 6 firefighters died of “inhalation of smoke, soot, and hot gases.”

5. Worcester, MA

6. When Were We Taught To Leave The Fire Building? • Recruit training • 30-minute cylinder low-air warning alarm time • These assumptions are completely wrong

7. Where Are Most of Our Fires? • Single-family dwellings or apartment houses • Common characteristics? • These fires have dictated how we train to use our SCBAs

8. Commercial Structures, Ships & Large Structures • How do these differ from residential occupancies? • Firefighters cannot assume that they can work until their low-air warning alarm activates

9. Working Into Your Low-Air Warning Alarm • Has cost some firefighters their lives • Close Calls are happening every day

10. Near Miss Case Studies Video link available at www.manageyourair.com Look for “Firefighter Survival Video” Link Chris Yob Case Study

11. SMART Drill #60-01Download at www.manageyourair.com S Sixty M Minutes A Available for R Real T Training

12. SMART Drill #60-01

13. SMART Drill #60-01

14. MANDATE

15. History as Teacher • SCBA is first introduced – resistance, change, positive result? • NIOSH report and Pass and Integrated Pass Devices • NIOSH report and Air Management • Change in Behavior instead of technology

16. History as Teacher Behavior vs Technology

17. NFPA 1404 Standard for Fire Service Respiratory Protection Training • NFPA 1404 states: • Training SHALL include: • Identification of the various types • Proper face piece fit • When to use • Emergency procedures

18. NFPA 1404 Standard for Fire Service Respiratory Protection Training Training SHALL include: NEW: Identification of the factors that affect the duration of the air supply. Individual Air Management Program • Exit BEFORE reserve air use. • Low air alarm = reserve air use. • Low air alarm = IMMEDIATE ACTION ITEM

19. NFPA 1404 - 2007 ed. EFFECTIVE January 1, 2007 Are YOU compliant?

20. Bret Tarver Case Study • The Southwest Supermarket was constructed in 1956, and was 20,123 square feet • Steel columns and beams with open-web steel trusses • Panelized plywood roof

21. Bret Tarver Case Study • How many of you have buildings like this in your district? • The fire started as a debris fire outside the building • Occupied structure – a righteous entry

22. Bret Tarver Case Study • Tarver: • Low air • Disoriented • Lost • Out of air • Removes face-piece

23. Bret Tarver Case Study • 2 other firefighters run out of air • There are 12 other “Maydays” • Tarver dies from CO poisoning • As a result, PFD adopt an Air Management policy

24. SMART Drill #60-02Download at www.manageyourair.com S Sixty M Minutes A Available for R Real T Training

25. Department standard length 1 3/4” charged line. Entry Light Stick Light Stick Pallets/Debris Instructors safe area, sheet rock storage Barrels/Debris Light Stick Nozzle with bail secured closed Wall Breach - 4’section Light Stick

26. SOLUTION

27. The Rule Of Air Management Know how much air you have in your SCBA, and manage that air so that you leave the hazardous environment before your low-air warning alarm activates The ROAM says:

28. Firefighters and SCUBA Divers • What do firefighters in an IDLH environment and SCUBA divers under water have in common? • SCUBA training • Dive Masters • Fire Service applications

29. Near Miss Case Studies Video link available at www.manageyourair.com Look for “Firefighter Survival Video” Link “MacDougal Link” MacDougall Case Study

30. Low-Air Warning Alarm • If you went to a fire right now • Do you react? • False alarm mentality kills firefighters • Working into your low-air warning alarm -- you are betting your life that everything will go right on your way out of the IDLHenvironment

31. The ROAM says Know how much air you have in your SCBA, and manage that air so that you leave the hazardous environment beforeyour low-air warning alarm activates

32. ROAM • The Rule of Air Management holds true for any fire building or hazardous atmosphere. Firefighters must follow this rule at all times: bread-and-butter room fires house fires apartment house fires commercial fires high rise fires ship fires confined space rescues at any incident where you are wearing your SCBA

33. ROAM • The Rule of Air Management sounds simple, but it takes discipline • The ROAM is the new, basic firefighting skill

34. SMART Drill #60-03Download at www.manageyourair.com S Sixty M Minutes A Available for R Real T Training

35. 200’ of 2 ½” Hose to second floor. First Floor UP Instructor Area Entry Door Backup Line, 200’ of 1 ¾” hose with nozzle secured closed Instructor area 1 ¾” Hose, laid, charged, nozzle secured closed.

36. SMART Drill #60-03 S Sixty M Minutes A Available for R Real T Training

37. Change = Resistance = Change • The ROAM has been used by the Dive industry for decades • Fire Departments in England and Hong Kong are serious about Air Management • The ROAM may take time to implement in your department • Train as if you life depends on it

38. Like to Gamble? • Remember, close calls are happening every day in the US fire service due to the lack of air management • If you fail to follow the Rule of Air Management and work into your reserve air, working until your low-air alarm activates… • “You are betting your life” that nothing will go wrong on your way out.

39. manageyourair.com Special Thanks “The Seattle Guys” • Allan Simmons Productions/Firestorm Videos www.firestormvideos.com • Pete Smith of Venture Media www.venture-media.com • David Jensen from Pelican Products • Scott Krushak, Phoenix Fire Department