I have noticed that a lot of departments don't wear air packs during overhaul . There is a lot of dangerous fumes still present at that time . What does your department require ?
Permalink Reply by T.J. on August 20, 2008 at 8:09am
We've all been at fault for that, I guess it's just being a man and getting a little smokey when the fire's out, but your right. My department is very aggressive and we'll not take the packs off tell the smoke is gone and fans are set up in openings to make sure fresh air is all around, but we've got our days.
We sould all wear SCBA's but we dont because by the time we get to that point were tired and wore out. At my dept. we might get 6 people to a structure fire if were lucky. We are suppost to were them for overhaul but we dont all the time.
Exactly, like Cyanide gas...who wants to breath that in? Not me. It causes most of the fatalities of firefighters AFTER they return home hours after the fire. Its not worth it. I will take everyone laughing at me over me getting cancer or worse. Stay Safe
In theory after the fire is knocked, we'll give the building a few minutes to breath. Wearing a pack for overhaul is totally optional. Normally brothers don't wear a pack though.
Does your department have any SOGs or SOPs on this? As a Safety Officer for my department I have to complain to get them to where there Airpacks. We currently do not have any SOPs regarding the use of airpacks so they do whatever they want and it is a constant battle! I would like to have anyone that have SOPs, I would like them Emailed to me @ concordiafire@hotmail.com
WELL THE DEPTS THAT DOESNT WHERE THE SCBA PROBABLY DOESNT DO MUCH SCHOOL TRAINING OR DOESNT CARE , BUT OUR DEPTS PRACTICES IT . WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT OF DANGEROUS OR HARMFUL FUMES FROM CONTENTS BURNING-CRAZING NOT TO WHERE EQUIPMENT PROVIDED KEEP UP THE GOOD PRATCICE, KEEP WEARING YOURS BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLLOWERS OUT THERE. THE ONES NOT WEARING THEM WHEN NEEDED WILL EVENTUALLY CATCH ON. DAVE
It is clearly written in an SOP that we were our BA's until no threat remains, which means when we are doing fire watch we can take it off. I wear mine at any time in a hot zone, or what was a hot zone. I'm not alone, but some won't wear it even in a smoky atmosphere. I have a child who wants her mother to come home and doesn't need to take care of me when I'm on my death bed (not until I"m 98 anyway). Not only do I do it for me and my health, but I do it for her.