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.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Acosta on March 4, 2009 at 7:05pm

We have thirty guys on our volunteer department and everyone is getting the annual fit test on their own mask. We started this about 10 years ago and it makes a big difference. New guys use loaners till they are voted as full members and then they get a new one after their off probation.

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Permalink Reply by Tony P on March 4, 2009 at 9:09pm

We still only have 6 BA sets. And we're not being issued any more either! The whole thrust of my Fire Service is that the sets (and masks) go together and belong on the trucks. NFPA and OSHA have no particular relevence here of course.

To horrify readers even further, we don't even have 'fit' tests. One size fits msot people is the rule. People with fat or thin faces may have trouble in which case they stay as external FF's. I don't know of any who fit that category, the masks we use seem to be very flexible when donned properly.

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Permalink Reply by Pat Sullivan on March 4, 2009 at 9:37pm

My Dept. has about 100 members. The first year probies usually arent allowed in on attack. When probation is up they are sized and issued full bunkers and mask. We do keep spares on truck. 90% of men wear a medium. Yet we do have annual fit testing. This verifies the integrity of the mask, as well as proper fit.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Mulligan on March 5, 2009 at 2:04pm

Tony, I also agree we are all friends but if it is your geear you will take care of it and clean it even a simple cold will stink if ths last user was sick not to mention any other problems you may not know about.

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Permalink Reply by DAVID BROWN on March 6, 2009 at 1:00pm

does anybody know where i can find the requirement online that i could print ,i know nfpa 1852 has it but i don;t have a copy .

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Permalink Reply by Matthew Mask on March 6, 2009 at 2:42pm

We have 14 members on the department. We don't get are own we have 6 SBCA's so its first come first serv.

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Permalink Reply by Jared Rahr on March 6, 2009 at 2:58pm

We have about 35 members on our dept. and each of us passed the mask certifications. We all have our own masks. Its really nice so we dont have to worry about who wore that mask last and did theyclean it well enough.