| If you think you can breathe anywhere on Earth, | | | | knowing it and this occurs due to imprudently |
| think again. If you think every place on Earth is | | | | taking off the gas mask or face mask. This |
| safe for your lungs, think again. While you may be | | | | poses peril when levels of airborne substances are |
| happy to have relatively safe air to breathe in | | | | not assessed. Of course, during rescue missions, |
| your offices and outside in your garden, men | | | | one of the last things in any rescuer's mind is the |
| working in chemical plants and those entering a | | | | monitoring of levels of toxic fumes. Many |
| building on fire cannot safely breathe the air | | | | dangerous chemical gases are naturally colorless |
| around them. This is when the need for a | | | | and odorless. For instance, carbon monoxide, |
| breathing apparatus arises. This device is simply a | | | | which results from incomplete combustion of |
| tank filled with gas under pressure which travels | | | | substances, is always present near and in a fire |
| to a hose to an attached face mask. People | | | | consumed area. This gas pose imminent danger to |
| working in hazardous zones and rescuers are the | | | | the exposed and instant death could follow due to |
| ones who often wear these devices and for good | | | | deoxygenation of the blood (carbon monoxide |
| reason. Firefighters are also seen wearing such | | | | readily binds with hemoglobin). Furthermore, some |
| support apparatuses because without these | | | | harmful gaseous substances and particulates do |
| devices they run a huge risk of being poisoned by | | | | not cause instant health effects. For instance, |
| toxic gas that build up in a burning establishment. | | | | carcinogenic asbestos, heavy metal dust, and |
| There has been an improvement with the quality | | | | other toxic mists cause long term health effects |
| of self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) | | | | that linger for months and even years after the |
| which is now actually more user friendly and more | | | | exposure. This is why it is important not to take |
| convenient as it is supposed to aid marine and | | | | off the apparatus unless the ambient air is clear |
| industrial firefighters and not burden them with | | | | and safe. |
| heavy load. This is why the new carrying system | | | | For firefighters, there are routine procedures and |
| is rather lightweight and not exceeding 3.1 | | | | protocol to be followed to avoid reckless |
| kilograms. The new device also allows more | | | | accidents. For instance, showering the scene even |
| flexibility, as continued research is done to | | | | after the fire has subsided is basic in order to |
| improve the apparatus to make it more | | | | soak particulates and remove them from the air. |
| ergonomic. | | | | Also having the necessary fire fighting equipment |
| However, it is not enough that one carries a | | | | is essential during such operations. Furthermore, all |
| breathing device. For instance, some firefighters | | | | gears must be decontaminated after the |
| get exposed to toxic gases without them | | | | operation. |
