220-03 SITUATIONAL AWARENESS.pdf

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Standard Operating Guideline SOG 220-03 Situational Awareness Issue Date: 05/21/2018...

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Standard Operating Guideline SOG 220-03 Situational Awareness Issue Date: 05/21/2018 Effective Date: 06/21/2018 PURPOSE: The purpose of this standard operating guidelines is to implement a procedure that requires members to exit the IDLH (Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health) environment prior to the activation of the Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) low air alarm. AUTHORITY:  Fire Rescue Administrator  NFPA 1404, Standard for Fire Service Respiratory Protection Training SCOPE: This standard operating guideline shall apply to all Emergency Operations personnel. PROCEDURE: These guidelines provide a basic framework for most incidents. 1. Situational Awareness a. Situational Awareness refers to the process used to identify, comprehend, analyze and react to critical information. Maintaining situational awareness, as a firefighter includes, but is not limited to: i. Being aware of the closest exit out of a structure ii. Air consumption iii. Changing fire conditions iv. Scene surroundings b. Maintaining situational awareness allows firefighters to make quick and deliberate decisions, even when faced with adverse conditions. c. Firefighters should stay oriented when inside a structure and should announce any major change in location to the Incident Commander (i.e., relocating to a different floor, exiting a structure, etc…). d. Firefighters must remain oriented within the structure as to the closest entrance or exit. The closest means of egress may not be the original entrance point. It is critical that firefighters note the location of all exterior doors and windows as a possible emergency exit. e. Firefighters should constantly check the environment and take action to ensure safe working conditions (look for threats to safety of self and others). Situational awareness applies to all emergency incidents (medical, hazardous materials incidents, etc...). f. Company Officers should provide Progress Reports in accordance with SOG 210-01 Communications. SOG 220-03 Situational Awareness Page 1 of 3  2. Air Management a. General Information i. The objective of air management is to actively monitor and manage air consumption while performing firefighting functions, and to calculate air usage so that companies exit the IDLH environment prior to the activation of the low air alarm. ii. The rules of air management require both individual and team responsibilities. iii. Individuals shall check their SCBA every morning and after each use in accordance with Vehicle - Equipment Inspection and Check-Out (PPM FR-O- 301). SCBA cylinders at or below 4050 psi shall be filled. b. IDLH Environment i. An IDLH environment is: 1. Any known, suspected, or unknown atmospheric concentration of any toxic, corrosive or asphyxiate substance that: a. Poses an immediate threat to life b. Would cause irreversible, or delayed adverse health effects c. Would interfere with an individual’s ability to escape from a dangerous atmosphere 2. A fire beyond the incipient stage. 3. Any atmosphere which contains less than 19.5% or more than 23% oxygen. c. IDLH Environment Procedures i. SCBA’s shall be worn in all immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) atmospheres. ii. When working in an SCBA in an IDLH environment, the below rules of air management shall apply. iii. Firefighters shall check air pressure with their company prior to entry into the IDLH environment. Air pressure upon initial entry shall be 4050 psi or greater. iv. Individually, Firefighters shall monitor air consumption and pressure. A routine check of the air status allows the firefighter to maintain situational awareness and not get tunnel vision while performing their task. v. Air consumption is effected by: 1. Physical fitness and condition 2. Emotional stability 3. Physical exertion 4. Environment in which the work is being performed 5. The type of work being performed vi. Company Officers are responsible for ensuring company integrity and periodically checking on the condition of their company to include: 1. Air consumption 2. Situational awareness 3. Physical condition SOG 220-03 Situational Awareness Page 2 of 3  vii. The 10-minute benchmarks provided by the Communication Center (refer to SOG 210-01 Communications) are a good time to check on company status. Company Officers should ensure that their personnel rotate positions of heavy work and light work so air consumption is equalized among them. viii. Firefighters shall give an automatic air status report to their Company Officer upon reaching 50% of their remaining air (approximately 2250 psi). ix. Upon notification of a company member reaching 50% of their remaining air, the Company Officers responsibility is to review the air status of their company and make the decision to stay or start to exit the structure based on the person with the least amount of air. This decision should be based on the status of their assigned mission and their location in the structure. x. The Company Officer shall request relief so that egress from the IDLH environment occurs prior to the activation of the low air alarm. xi. Firefighters shall exit an IDLH environment prior to the activation of the low air alarm. This action allows firefighters to exit an IDLH environment with their emergency reserve intact, providing a margin of error for an unexpected collapse, disorientation, or other problem. It also allows the Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) time to make entry and affect a rescue if necessary. xii. Should a low air alarm activate (this should only occur due to a mechanical failure and not a planned or deliberate use of air), Firefighters shall immediately notify their Company Officer. xiii. Refer to SOG 220-04 Mayday upon activation of a low air alarm or if any firefighters experience an air emergency. Supersession History 1. SOG #1730, issued 07/01/2007 2. SOG #1730, issued 10/01/2012 3. SOG 220-03, clerical 05/01/2018 4. SOG 220-03, issued 05/21/2018 SOG 220-03 Situational Awareness Page 3 of 3