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Having your own mask.
I was just wondering how many of the smaller depts issue everyone their own mask. We have tried for years to get the dept to issue everyone their own mask so everyone was gauranteed to have the propper size, if you don't clean it real well after the call it is your face going back into it and the like. We keep getting shot down because the Chief says he is not going to order someone a mask and not have them show up or quit 3 months later. He is also worried about our high turnover rate of rookies and we explained to him to have spares for each pack so if one does go down or something that person has one to use and the rookies can use those until they have been around for a period of time to be determined then order them their own. He still won't do it so I am wondering how other smaller dept's do it. We currently have around 85 people on the dept and some of them I am not real keen on sticking my face into somewhere theirs has been and not knowing how well it was cleaned but on the flip side I can't exactly afford to go get my own like a few others have.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lt. Ballinger on
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I know he is the Chief. I can't complain he does a lot of research into whatever he buys for us to get the most for our money and stuff. We do get good equipment and we have equipment on our dept not many around us have but at times we kind of wonder or wish he would give up getting some of the stuff he has to order more newer gear. We have guys that are interior firefighting with the crotch ripped out of their bunker pants or all the reflective stripes are ripped off their coat or pants. I have been on for 17 years and don't make as many calls as I used to 10 years ago before I had a family but when I went down to him to say all my snaps were broken and the vapor barrier on my bunker pants was shredded from use over time, he sent me to the closet to find something that kinda fit but he has ordered all new gear for FF's with 2 years on the dept because they complained enough. I am not going to stoop to that level so I just live with it.
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Doesn't every dept have a big pile of gear on the floor and you just run in and grab something and jump on the trucks? Darn you guys have it good.:)
Most of us were FIT tested a couple of years back when we changed from MSA to SCOTT. Problem is each engine and truck was given 1 mask per harness. And most of the masks are mediums. I think each rig has a large and a small or some of them have 2 larges. Whatever the ratio is we have gotten some people with chubby cheeks lately or something because there is never enough Larges and people are having to squeeze into a medium or if you roll out with a bunch of people that need mediums someone that needs the medium is having to donn a large and try to get it to seal.
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If we want our gear washed, you take it home or to the coin laundry. Some gear hasn't been washed in 7-10 years i bet. I do mine 3-4 times a year at the minimum.
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you're preachin to the choir. Been down that road many, many, many times.
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Permalink Reply by turk182 on
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We donot issue everyone a face piece but make sure they are thoroughly cleaned after each use.
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Permalink Reply by SaRa on
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SARA FROM SMALL TOWN WAUSEON FD WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN MASK....I'M SORRY BUT WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE DEPT. I WAS USING ONE THAT DIDN'T FIT ALL THAT WELL ON MY FACE AND THAT WAS VERY DANGEROUS TO NOT HAVE THE PERFECT SEAL ARROUND YOUR FACE ....THAT IS WHY EVERYONE GETS FIT TESTED SO EVERYONE IS PROTECTED...NOTHING AGAINST YOUR DEPT. BUT THAT JUST SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS
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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on
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Lt...you wash it 3-4 times a year...?? Do you like all the carcinogens hanging around..? Our old chief was anal retentive about it and now it is just plain expected....We have our own washer (extractor) at the firehouse and it gets used routinely....And besides...washing it regularly helps it last a little longer....Take care od it and it will take care of you.....Stay safe....Paul
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Permalink Reply by Randy Bawks on
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We are a small volunteer dept. with around twenty active members. All the active members have their own mask, and also have a handful of spare masks on the truck. A couple years ago one of our Asst. chiefs came into the meeting with a couple garbage bags full of SCBA masks. Apparently a prison in a neighboring communtiy had all of them with,fitted with charcol cannisters for riot gear, and for whatever reason they where going to throw them away. We gladly took them and removed the cannisters, and handed them out to the active members. So if you have any prisons nearby, start asking around.
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Permalink Reply by Rick Boisvert on
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My department has 90-95 active firefighters on it. since the mid to late 90's we have all had our own mask. There are old stories of guys vomiting in a mask then dunking it in soap and rinse buckets and passing it off. That disgusts me to think of. I think the key point is what type of airpacks do you use and cost of masks in relation to the masks and budget constraints. we recently switched from Scott to ISI Viking Z-7 (not my personal preference) but our chief pushed for us all to have our own mask. all new 2007 NFPA compliant cost about $700-800 bucks from what i understand. Scotts are less than half that i believe.
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If we get a structure fire that I get to go in on then I will usually wash it but most of the time I am outside as a sector or driver/engineer so mine doesn't get real dirty. I wash my nomex hood more often from the sweat.
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Permalink Reply by John Rulli Jr. on
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We keep a mask per pack in the trucks. I don't know why we don't have our own. I'm going to get on the Chief about that on that one.
Good topic Lt. Ballinger!
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