Firefighter PPE and Gear Overview

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Essential for firefighter safety: Provides full body coverage and protection from various hazards
• Regular maintenance: Must be cleaned, maintained, and inspected regularly

Structural Firefighting Ensemble

• Designed for high-temperature and toxic gas environments
• Worn with Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
• Key components:
  • Helmet: Meets NFPA 1971 Standard, provides impact protection, color-coded for rank and function
  • Protective Hood: Covers exposed skin, flame-resistant material, worn under helmet
  • Turnout Coat: Three layers: outer shell, moisture barrier, thermal barrier, secure double seal
  • Bunker Pants: Match turnout coat, three-layer protection, large for quick donning and movement
  • Boots: Rubber or leather, meet NFPA 1971, water-repellent, flame-resistant, thermal protection
  • Gloves: Protect from heat, liquids, vapors, cuts, penetration, heat-resistant leather
  • Personal Alert Safety System (PASS): Electronic device that sounds an alarm if the firefighter is motionless or activates it. Can be separate or integrated into the SCBA unit
  • Additional PPE: Approved goggles, intercom system, earplugs, hand light, radio, reflective vest, drag rescue device

### Limitations of Structural Firefighting Ensemble

• Requires energy and strength
• Retains body heat and perspiration
• Limits mobility and range of motion
• Decreases normal sensory abilities

Work Uniforms

• Nylon or polyester clothing may melt
• Synthetic fibers are resistant to high temperatures

Donning and Doffing PPE

• Done in a specific order for maximum protection
• To doff PPE, reverse the donning procedure

Care of PPE

• Regular condition checks are necessary
• Repair worn or damaged PPE immediately
• Clean PPE when necessary: bad soiling, chemical exposure, or hazardous material exposure
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions

Specialized Protective Clothing

• Vehicle Extrication: Lighter and more flexible than structural firefighting PPE, latex gloves and eye protection are recommended for patient treatment
• Wildland Fires: Meets NFPA 1977, fire-resistant materials, designed for comfort and maneuverability, helmet, eye protection, gloves and boots specifically designed for comfort and sure footing

Respiratory Protection

• Interior atmosphere of a burning building is immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH)
• Firefighters must be proficient in using SCBA before engaging in interior fire-suppression activities

Respiratory Hazards of Fires: Smoke

• Three major components:
  • Smoke particles
  • Smoke vapors
  • Toxic gases: carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, phosgene

Respiratory Hazards of Fires: Oxygen Deficiency

• Occurs when fire consumes available oxygen or produces gases that displace oxygen
• Can lead to disorientation, muscle control issues, and irrational thinking

Respiratory Hazards of Fires: Increased Temperature

• Inhaling superheated gases can cause severe respiratory burns

Other Toxic Environments

• Firefighters may encounter toxic gases or oxygen-deficient environments in:
  • Hazardous materials releases
  • Confined-space or below-grade structures

Conditions that Require Respiratory Protection

• SCBA must be used:
  • In enclosed areas with smoke
  • During overhaul until air is tested
  • Whenever toxic gases or oxygen-deficient atmospheres are possible
• Golden rule: Always assume that the atmosphere is hazardous!

Types of Breathing Apparatus

• Open-circuit SCBA: Used for structural firefighting, compressed air tank provides supply, exhaled air released into the atmosphere
• Closed-circuit SCBA: Used for extended operations, air passes through a mechanism that removes carbon dioxide and adds oxygen within a closed system
• Supplied-air respirator: Uses a hose line connected to a breathing-air compressor or compressed air cylinders, sometimes used for specialized operations

SCBA Standards and Regulations

• NIOSH: Sets design, testing, and certification requirements for SCBA
• OSHA and state agencies: Responsible for establishing and enforcing respiratory protection regulations
• NFPA standards related to SCBA:
  • NFPA 1500: Basic requirements
  • NFPA 1404: Requirements for SCBA training
  • NFPA 1981: Requirements for design, performance, testing, and certification of open-circuit SCBA

Limitations of SCBA

• Air cylinder capacity: Use is limited by the amount of air, factors to consider:
  • Time and effort to reach destination
  • Available air upon reaching destination
  • Time to complete task
  • Time to reach a safe area
• Added weight and bulk: Decreases flexibility and mobility
• Face piece: Limits visibility
• Communication and hearing: Face piece may affect communication and hearing abilities

Physical Limitations of the User

• Moving with the extra weight of SCBA and PPE requires additional energy, increasing air consumption and body temperature

Psychological Limitations of the User

• Breathing through an SCBA can be stressful due to foreign environment
• Firefighters must adapt to these stressful conditions

Components of SCBA

• Backpack: Frame for mounting other SCBA parts
• Harness: Straps and fasteners to attach the SCBA to the firefighter
• Air cylinder: Holds breathing air, equipped with a hand-operated shut-off valve, pressure gauge indicates cylinder pressure
• Regulator assembly: Controls air flow, some have dual-path pressure reducer, needs cylinder valve opening, SCBA donning, and face piece attachment, contains a pressure gauge (second heads-up display required), includes end-of-service-time-indicator (EOSTI) or low-air alarm (NFPA requirement), some include PASS device, equipped with rapid intervention crew/company universal air connection (RIC UAC)
• Face piece assembly: Delivers breathing air, consists of face mask, exhalation valve, regulator, covers entire face, requires annual fit test

Pathway of Air Through an SCBA

• Air passes through the cylinder shut-off valve into the high-pressure hose to the regulator.
• The regulator sends air to the face piece and the user.
• Exhaled air returns to the face piece and is exhausted through the exhalation valve.

Skip-Breathing Technique

• Conserves air: take a short breath, hold, take another short breath, relax and exhale fully.
• Each breath should take 5 seconds.

Mounting Breathing Apparatus

• SCBA should be located for quick donning:
  • Seat-mounted brackets
  • Compartment-mounted brackets
  • Exterior-mounted SCBA

Donning SCBA

• Before donning:
  • Air cylinder at 90% pressure
  • Donning/doffing switch activated
  • Open the cylinder and listen for alarm
  • Check pressure gauges
  • Check harness straps for full extension
  • Check valve positions

Donning SCBA From an Apparatus Seat Mount

• Don all protective clothing
• Place arms through shoulder straps

Inspection of SCBA

• Identify damaged or needing repair parts
• Operational testing: checks SCBA functioning after each use, beginning of shift, or on schedule
• Annual inspection: required for every SCBA, performed by a certified manufacturer's representative or trained and certified personnel

Servicing SCBA Cylinders

• Cylinders are visually inspected during daily and monthly inspections
• Federal law requires periodic hydrostatic testing and limits the number of years a cylinder can be used.

Replacing SCBA Cylinders

• One firefighter can doff the SCBA to replace the air cylinder.
• Two firefighters can change cylinders without removing the SCBA.
• Firefighters should be able to change cylinders in the dark while wearing gloves.

Refilling SCBA Cylinders

• Compressors and cascade systems are used to refill SCBA cylinders.
• Proper training is required to fill SCBA cylinders.

Cleaning and Sanitizing SCBA

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Rinse the unit with clean water.
• Clean the harness assembly and cylinder with mild soap and water.
• Clean the face pieces and regulators with mild soap and water or a disinfectant solution.

Summary

• Personal protective equipment is crucial for firefighters.
• Structural firefighting PPE enables firefighters to operate in burning buildings, high temperatures, and toxic gas environments.
• PPE includes a bunker coat, pants, helmet, protective hood, boots, SCBA, PASS, and additional equipment.
• Structural PPE adds weight.
• Firefighters should be able to don PPE within 1 minute.
• PPE needs regular checks and cleanliness.
• Gloves and coveralls or jumpsuits are used during vehicle extraction.
• PPE for wildland fires incorporates a fire-resistant jacket and pants, helmet, eye protection, and pigskin or leather gloves.
• The two main types of SCBA are open-circuit and closed-circuit devices.
• SCBA limits the air supply in the cylinder.
• Breathing through an SCBA is different from normal breathing and can be stressful.
• SCBA consists of a backpack, harness, air cylinder assembly, regulator assembly, and face piece assembly.
• Air flow through SCBA follows a specific pathway.
• Skip-breathing conserves air.
• SCBA requires regular checks.

Explore the essential components of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for firefighters, designed to safeguard against hazards during structural firefighting. This quiz covers the key elements, including helmets, turnout coats, bunker pants, and other gear specifics required for safety and effectiveness in high-temperature environments.