So Ive been doing drills with friends that are firefighters, so far we have done Interior fire search and rescue also we have done hose drills and ladder's drills "leg locks" I main problem is the S.C.B.A, I dont know how effectively breath in it, I guess it takes time getting use to, for some reason I can't seem to relax and take short breaths, the last time I did a interior fire simulator I used up 10 mints of air on a 30 min bottle, my friend that was pretty good, Ive been trying to practice each time I go there on the S.C.B.A because that is critical going into a fire knowing how to conserve your air. most guys say they use at least 10 mins just walking up to the door, does anyone have any suggestions.

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no one has any answers?
I am not a firefighter just yet, Ive just been doing drills so I have an idea of what to expect and know what to do coming fire school. No they don't use 10 mins of air walking up to the door.

so your saying I should hold my breath for as long as I can and then exhale.
Skip breathing is just that, skipping a breath. The more you use one the more comfortable you will become, I had a major at my paid department make me play ping pong in one, wash the dishes, and watch t.v..
Just taught a class on air conservation, skip breathing is the old method, and not recommended any more. The problem with skip breathing, is you deprive your muscles of much needed oxygen, while building up large amouts of toxic gases in your blood stream, while exerting yourself. Ever wonder why you get a headache after working a fire on an SCBA. The new method is through the mouth and out through the nose with the philosophy that the size of the nasal passage slow down the velocity of the air allowing your body to scrub out the much need oxygen. Now for those of you that are going to argue skip breathing, they still do teach it, but only for rescue situation, when you not exerting your self and trying to conserve air. Anybody want more info, go to Fiehouse.com, and search air consumption drill there is a plethora if info there.
thanks that helps alot, I have ashtma as well, I mean just putting the S.C.B.A without the regulator is fine, but once I put the regulator into the mask is when I start using more air then I should, then all I hear is a PSHHHHHH. PSHHH. and I know its me breathing I just wanna learn to control that should I don't use up all my air before I get to the door or window of the burning building.
The last time I checked there wasn't a prize for making your air last the longest during a fire. What really matters is that you are doing the basic firefighting skills well. I would try to relax as much as possible while on air but concentrate mostly on what you are doing and the situation that presents itself around you. I feel air management, monitoring how much you have is far more important than how long you make a cylinder last. As you get more comfortable with SCBA your cylinder times will improve naturally.

Just my thoughts..
air management is great if properly used. the problem though is i can get about 23 minutes on a hoseline op and about 20 on a SAR op on a 30 min bottle but i'm still out in 10 to 15 because If your partner isnt as good with it you leave when hes low on air not you. It's not a game by any means but if you and your partner work at it together you can stay in longer and get more done.
thanks that really helps, I just dont wanna be the guy that lasts 2 seconds in a fire, also its good to scoop the place out as your in there fighting the fire that way you know an escape route just in case you had to bail or were running out of air.
What sets are you guys using? We use AUER BD88-AS (open circuit, positive pressure, lung governed first breath activated) with 207bar (1800L) cylinders and I get about 35 minutes to the whistle, which still leaves me with 10 minutes to empty. Thats working inside on compartment fire fighting. Relax, its easy to say but until you have been inside a few times you probably won't be able to anyway, and even If you make 20 minutes training you'll probably suck the lot in 10 on your first fire. I breath normaly, get the job done and don't really think about it. Keep an eye on your guage (do you guys use a tally board? Our pump operator monitors our entry time and lets us know when to come out) and take note of what the other guys have said, there are more important things to be worried about, like getting to know your branch (you guys might call it a nozzle?). Hope this helps and good luck with everything
Cheers
I don't know what kind of brands they use. is it hard to see the gauge will all the smoke around you?
You shouldnt be in the smoke really, I have seen Structural helmets melted because the FF had his head in the neutral plane (where the smoke meets the air, you can see a good eg. in the vid on my profile) which is usually between 700'C and 1200'C. You guys might be different as you use ventilation, this might stir everything up im not sure. We stay below the neutral plane, and the air is pretty much clear. If you are in a smoke filled environment, your guage should glow, hold it up and press it against you're BA mask, that way there is no smoke between it and you.
Hope this helps cheers.
I am not doing live drills I am doing simulators, I simulated a interior fire, I was able to use up 10 mins of air in a 20 min lecture and doing a right hand man search. I have also done ladder drills. "leg locks" Ive also learned some things on the trucks and how to properly roll up the hose along with learning what the hose's sizes are etc. I havent joined a department because I dont have a job. my main focus right now is to get a job and learn as much as possible so I go into fire school having a head start on things.

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