SCBA Air Management PDF

RIVERSIDE FIRE AUTHORITY FIELD OPERATING GUIDELINES SCBA AIR MANAGEMENT The Rule of Air Management: Know how much air you have used; manage your air consumption with contr...

RIVERSIDE FIRE AUTHORITY FIELD OPERATING GUIDELINES SCBA AIR MANAGEMENT The Rule of Air Management: Know how much air you have used; manage your air consumption with controlled breathing techniques; reserve the amount of air needed to leave the hazardous atmosphere before your SCBA low-air alarm begins to ring. GENERAL GUIDELINES  Prior to entry, assure that cylinder pressure is at a minimum of 90% (4,050 psi).  While operating in SCBA, periodically inspect cylinder pressure. Routinely use Team Reports (CARAT) to convey the lowest team member’s percentage of remaining air supply. CONDITIONS – ACTIONS – RESOURCES – AIR – TEAM INTEGRITY  Team members should rotate positions of heavy work to light work (work period/rest period) so air consumption is equalized among the team members.  The team member(s) that are on their rest cycle shall monitor team situational awareness by keeping appraised of the following:  Interior fire, heat, and smoke conditions.  Maintains Active Accountability  Overhead conditions  Radio communications  Team member(s) activities  Air supply  Secondary egress options  Indicators illustrating interior position (landmarks, floor coverings, reference walls, furnishings, etc.)  When the team’s first member has depleted their air supply to 50% capacity (2,25O PSI), as indicated by the pressure gauge or Heads-Up Display activation (two flashing amber lights), the team leader should advise their supervisor that the team is at 50% air.  Team leaders must manage their team’s air supply so that the team’s duration of activities and/or depth of commitment within the hazard area does not overextend the reserve air supply needed to safely exit.  If a team member, while operating within the hazard area, has depleted their air supply into their 25% reserve and their low-air alarm begins to sound, the team leader shall report this to their supervisor. The report should include their unit designation, the team’s location, the low-air situation, and an estimation of how close they are to the exit. If firefighters hear a low-air alarm sounding within a hazardous atmosphere, and there is not an immediate radio report from the team whose alarm is sounding, that alarm should be considered an emergency until proven otherwise.