| A breathing apparatus is what fire fighters use | | | | Precautionary measures do not end once you are |
| when responding to a fire establishment to allow | | | | through with the mission. Careful inspection is |
| them to breathe in the hostile environment. Of | | | | necessary after the emergency. First, the air |
| course, all fire fighters undergo training involving | | | | cylinder should be replaced or refilled. Second, the |
| responding to fire incidents, protocols to follow, | | | | face mask and regulator should be disinfected. Of |
| and everything. Wearing of fireman suit and | | | | course, after every operation, the device must |
| breathing support equipment requires proper | | | | be inspected and cleaned. Moreover, its proper |
| procedure and briskness. | | | | functioning should also be checked out. Regular |
| Since the air tank contains limited supply of | | | | inspection of the SCBA shall ensure its readiness. |
| pressurized air, it can only sustain you for a | | | | It should always be ensured that it is in suitable |
| specified period. There are indicated ratings of 30, | | | | operating condition. Should it show loss of |
| 45, or 60-minute capacity. But in most instances, | | | | efficiency or if it does not function as it is |
| these devices do not last as long as specified. The | | | | supposed to, it must be removed from the |
| safest way is to consider that they will last half | | | | storage unit and brought to certified personnel for |
| the expected time according to the rating or | | | | repair. |
| capacity. For instance, the device designed to | | | | For instance, daily inspection should involve |
| supply sixty minutes of air may only work at | | | | inspecting the harness straps, air cylinder pressure |
| best within thirty minutes. SCBAs are equipped | | | | (making sure it is full with the cylinder gauge |
| with alarm system that goes off whenever the | | | | reading at 100psi), and face piece (making sure it |
| amount of air drops to a critical level. When this | | | | is without dirt and damage and its exhalation |
| occurs, a fire fighter must automatically leave the | | | | valve is working properly). Also check whether |
| place and get to safety or have his tank refilled. | | | | the low air pressure alert is working. For detailed |
| Removing of the device in the hazardous vicinity | | | | information about care and maintenance, refer to |
| could raise respiratory tract peril. | | | | the manufacturer's guide. |
| As a basic precaution, make sure that your | | | | Carrying and wearing fire safety equipment is a |
| breathing device works before getting into the | | | | demanding thing, which only a well-trained fire |
| scene because you cannot afford to be trapped | | | | fighter can endure. It is imperative that all fire |
| in the smoky and blazing environment with some | | | | fighters maintain fitness so as to be able to |
| faulty equipment. Make sure that you work as a | | | | respond to emergency situations aptly. Even if |
| team and that no fireman strays from the | | | | they have the best self-contained breathing |
| mission. | | | | apparatus (SCBA), if they are not equipped with |
| Appropriate training allows fire fighters to deal | | | | the right amount of skills and training, the object |
| with the cumbersome weight of the suit, SCBA, | | | | of their mission and the purpose of all their |
| and the industrial fire fighting equipment carried to | | | | equipment are defeated. |
| the place. | | | | |