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Masks on or off in the truck?
On a structure fire call, my captain told me to have my mask on but not on air when I get out of the truck. Of course I will follow his directions, but I was wondering if it's better to mask up before making entry. On some calls, captains got off the truck with their mask on, and their inital size up to dispatch was really difficult to understand, their mask was all foggy, and it's hard to understand their directions. That's just my opinion...brothers and sisters, what do you think?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Padre Pete on
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Kekoa, If your looking for support, I'm with Shane (and you).
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Permalink Reply by Don Vuletic on
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In our department it the firefighters choice. If they mask up while on the unit or on the scene, Some prefer to be ready upon arrival. Most of the time as the I.C. will advise what they want and location. We go from there.
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Manning on
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After reading just some of the entries here, I see that many believe in the mask off idea. So, I get to be a vote for the other side. I was trained to have it all on, and come off the truck ready to go to work. I'm small town, paid, and the majority of our fires are 20 steps to the front door, not 20 stories up onto a high-rise. (I can see where that might call for a different line of thought.)
I wear glasses inserted into my mask, and I usually had my mask on coming off the truck. Never had problems with seeing the whole scene, and always took the time to get a good look before entry. If I saw something wrong, grabbed the partner's shoulder and pointed - he knew his job as well as I knew mine, and a nod of the head told me he saw it too.
as I said, small city dept - speed of atack was the best way to get ahead of the fire. Can't make it up in traffic, so getting dressed quick and coming off ready to work are the only places to improve on response time. Response time is not arrival time, it's first water on fire.
As far as the captain having his mask on, that might not be the best idea. He needs to take the time to do a full size-up and clearly communicate that to all. By the time he comes off the truck and gets a full look, our entry crew should have pulled the line, set the PPV fan (to idle - ready to use if wanted) and be ready to move into the building. I was trained to be part of a 2-man entry team, and an officer came along later, after they completed their first due assignment.
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Permalink Reply by Anita Shultz on
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At our dept. we normally will wait to mask up until the truck arrives at the scene so that all personnel will hear radio traffic.If you are putting on your mask you are not wearing your headset! Sometimes things will change in seconds and you may not hear crucial info. Sometimes there are exceptions. Anita
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Permalink Reply by Derek R. on
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I, personally, being too far away to go to the fire station first, take my own vehicle to the fire........can't see me masking up first. Rather be the rescuER ..not the rescuEE. Be nice if there was an anti-fogging spray or something that was SAFE to use on masks to eliminate this problem. But, responding to the topic here, Our brigade mask up before entry at the command post. For us it's safer visually and easier for communication.
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Permalink Reply by Jeremy Talbott on
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I wonder what type of masks you guys use, back when i strated out My mask used to be a mess with steam, now days I roll out with MSA's and there is no fog what so ever. My firefighters get off the truck with masks on. I can see both points of view, but if you have to make a quick grab its good to be ready to enter coming off Engine in my Humble opinion. Either way works.
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Permalink Reply by Lyn on
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Off, I have never asked my men to mask up before exiting the truck, nor mask up with out air?? Um, when was the last time he actually masked up, no air and was able to give a clear view of what he was looking at, or SUPPOSE to be observing? Its kind of like putting a plastic bag over your head,lol. Now I cant say I haven't had my men do it before, but um, that was in the dark bay with smoke machine going in 100 degree temps,lol... yeah, they messed up bad that day, but dang it was hilarious, hahaha. Naturally I didn't have them in full turn out gear, on their knees crawling & masked up without air for long, just enough to get the message,and one of those messages was just that, mask up BEFORE you enter the structure/scene, not in the truck. It takes up unnecessary time for me to approach you, in front of your face so you can see me, to give clear instructions etc... well, that's my opinion... and we all have a lot of those, but if you feel unsafe about it, bring it up in your next meeting. Couldn't hurt, I always listen to my men...perhaps your officers will listen to you all.BTW, I work a large city,so I cant risk my mens lives because of unclear directions etc...as one said above, you go,we all go...not like that! Last I tried, headset doesn't work well with mask on. Nor does ones breathing, especially when we are going to be busy for some time with the masks AND air on. I need them to see, plainly put.
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Permalink Reply by Mick Shelley on
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Off, until you get there
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For me I will mask up before coming off the truck if it's a hazardous materials incident( i.e. over turned tanker truck) at that point I'm also on air too. Other than that I keep my mask attached to my MMR and I don't DONN the mask until I'm ready for entry or close proximitry fire suppresion. I do agree with Tony rank does not mean the are always correct. We are all safety officers and if you feel it is unsafe then you know the chain of command.
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Permalink Reply by Todd Messer on
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My opinion, its makes no sense at all to get off the truck with your facepiece on at all!!!! As a fellow supervisor, I am very disappointed that he told you to do that! He needs to be reminded of FIREFIGHTER SAFETY!!!! I understand that he needs to do a 360, but you also have the right to get off the rig and see what is going on and get your tools and hose together before you go in SAFELY! All to often people have problems with the mask fogging up then FF's trip and fall and get hurt. I am firm believer of putting airpacks on the outside of the righ and getting them after we are at the fire. Have a discussion with him and express your concerns, you have the right to be safe at work and NOT become part of the problem.
Good Luck Brother!
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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If you have to mask up in the rig for a hazmat call, then the driver parked the rig WAY too close to the scene. You don't need SCBA in the Cold Zone, where the apparatus should be parked.
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If you're "grabbing another fire department's line" then you're freelancing. Freelancing violates the first principle of Incident Command - do what you're instructed to do by Command. If you're taking someone else's line, you're endangering everyone on the fireground, because you're not doing what you're supposed to do.
As far as I'm concerned, you just put forth the best arguement for not masking up in the rig that I've ever heard. Masking up in the rig promotes freelancing.
Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
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