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SCBA claustrophobia
Okay just a bit of background about me, I am 19 years old and I live in the suburbs of Chicago, IL. Last year (my senior year of high school) I took intro to fire science at a technical school for HS students looking into careers. We covered just the basics and I really loved it. We did get trained on SCBA use. I would feel comfortable wearing the mask by itself but when I started breathing the air from my tank and doing more physical labor I started to feel like I couldn't breath and the mask suddenly made me very claustrophobic. There was one time I actually ripped my mask because I panicked so much. I love this career and it is my passion but this is something I know all firefighters have to be able to do. I really want to be able to beat this so I can focus on the task at hand instead of me feeling claustrophobic.
I guess my question is this: have you or someone you know ever struggled with any level of claustrophobia while wearing your SCBA mask? How did you go about working through it? Also is there any place that sells old SCBA mask/parts where I could wear it around the house to get used to it? (All departments around my are career and can't lend their gear to non members)
Also this frankly terrifies me, how would you work through doing a SCBA confidence course/tunnel like this?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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I did know of people who have had issues and their approach did vary. The biggest suggestion would be to just wear a mask and pack and get used to it, but it doesn't seem as though that is a good possibility for you at this point.
The good news is you are young and do have a chance to address this, if you choose to pursue a FF career. If you are looking at going to a technical school for fire protection, they could help you more there and spend more time with you. Clausterphobia is nothing new and many instructors have dealt with students in the past.
Another good option is to think beyond the phobia situation and on the task at hand. When you are actually working as a FF with a pack on, the reason you have it on is to do a job, be it search, hose advance, vent, etc. Concentrate on the task and accomplishing that and not on the facepiece....essentially keep you mind occupied elsewhere.
As for the video on the confidence course, the reason those are there is to help build confidence. This isn't something that new people are just thrown into right away, but something that builds a bit. One will go over the SCBA and doing many things with the pack before ever going into such a situation. Again a trick would be to concentrate on the next step, take deep breaths, know that any training situation is more controlled and safe.
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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on
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The first thing you need to work through is being comfortable with the mast on while doing normal things. Sitting watching tv, reading or vidio games I suppose. Then throw in some basic things like walking around the station, acquainting yourself with the apparatus or sweeping the floors. It may take time. I have brought many new fireman through this very thing by this means. Once they become comfortable with wearing the mask doing everyday stuff then move on to small tasks in a relaxed state. Once you have accomplished this then attempt to perform more strenuous work or may alittle at a time. You may have to work at this or you may find that this will bring you though the anxiety of wearing the mask. Breathing on a SCBA with tank attached is not something to just attempt without practice and familiarity anyhow. It takes time an practice. Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Derek J Sinesi on
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Michael, The best way is to wear it around and get comfortable with it. It is all a mind thing. I'm not a big fan of heights but I can do any job on the fire ground because I faced my fear of heights. I went and found a old wooden ladder that shook like craze when climbing it. It took me a few months to get where I could climb to the top of that darn thing. I finally got where it didn't bother my to climb it. Then I would get up on roofs and walked around until that didn't bother me. There are still roof pitches I do not like and get nervous to be on but when a job needs to be done I can get up there and do it. I'm not sure where you can find some old SCBA. Good luck.
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Permalink Reply by Timothy John Dodson on
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I can sympathize with your situation. I started wearing one while hanging out at the station while in full turnout. I would walk around the station, climb on and off the trucks, etc. It has become easier, but I still have a long way to go. In my younger years it did not bother me. But as I have gotten older, the claustrophobia has set in, so I'm learning to cope all over again. It does not help that I was out of the fire-rescue business for about 10 years before coming back to it.
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Permalink Reply by Norm Tindell on
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A member of our department defeated her claustrophobia in an interesting way.
She took an SCBA home with her and wore it around the house for as long as the bottle would last. I don't recall whether she had a spare bottle. She did house work like vacuuming the carpet, laundry, etc. (Sure wish we had video of that!) After a few days of wearing the rig for hours on end her claustrophobia was completely gone.
I saluted her for her innovative and courageous attitude.
Hope your concerns are just as easily addressed. Stay with it and good luck.
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Permalink Reply by John Gallagher on
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This was a huge problem for me with the old style rubber facepiece. It was fine as long as you were not really exerting yourself. Once you started to exert yourself, the facepiece would feel like it was closing over your face. You would get the sensation of out breathing the Scott pack. Once the newer hard plastic facepieces came in, that problem was solved for me. I think you should try Norm's solution, it seems the best solution.
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Permalink Reply by David Jatczak on
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All of the previous comments say the same thing, you need to work through it. If you are not part of a department - where could you go? There are other areas you can go for more training and experience with an SCBA and not be on a Fire Department. Try a company that does Environmental work or a Training Center that provides OSHA training (Specifically HAZWOPER). There are several in the Chicago area, I previously worked at the one in NW Indiana (that started out in Alsip, IL). They cover various respriators as well as SCBA. As an instructor there work I worked with people who had similar issues and discovered they had the same problem by attending the class we put on. This is a different environment you are in, something like SCUBA Diving, and it takes time for your mind to get comfortable with it. The confidence course is just that, builds your confidence with the equipment. I have trained and attended training classes where even experienced firefighters with several years on the department do not make it through for one reason or another. This is a training issue and you just need more work with it. Hope you keep working and continue training, that is one of the most important things you can do. I have continued my training for over 34 years. Also read over material on Air Management for breathing techniques to help you to calm down and make your air supply last longer while working with the SCBA. Then again practice by putting the unit on and performing the skills. It takes time and you will NOT find a quick fix. The one saying that keeps me thinking of this is: "Amateurs train until they get it right, Professionals train until they can not get it wrong." You have the ability to overcome your fear, just do not give up.
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Permalink Reply by Amy on
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Michael - I completely know where you are coming from. When I went through the police academy, I discovered my issues with just that during air soft and use of force training where masks were required and physical stress is maxed.
Under that kind of peer pressure, I pushed through it. Then I went through SCBA training, and lord help me, I thought I would lose it! Just like you, as soon as I started to move/rely on my air, I was done. Panic, ripped it off. Once I got over the panic I was furious. And it went right back on. And I'm sitting in a chair.A fracking chair. Forget moving.
Long story short, being the intensely stubborn woman that I am, It became a nightly 2 hour trip to the station for desensitization. Best advice I got: hum. It forces you to control your breathing. I also started with the air wide open, and gradually decreased to the normal flow. I have no issues with the tunnels, dreiger trailer, heights, tight spaces, just something on my face, that sense of not getting air. Familiarity with it, knowing you are going to get air, and you can trust the equipment will go a long way too.
I got so I could run laps with the dang thing. Still don't like it, but I control IT, not the other way around.
Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Captain Kevin C. Ross on
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Hi Michael,
Your idea of wearing the mask around the house to get used to it is a good start. However, I have the feeling that the real problem happens once you are connected to the regulator and are actually on air, because this is really when you are closed in and get the feeling of not getting enough air. So once you feel comfortable just wearing the mask then you have to advance to connecting the regulator and going on air. Now this will be a challenge just to get the equipment to do this. Perhaps you could contract your state fire academy, or county fire training center and explain your situation and your hope to become a firefighter, and maybe they would work with you at their facilities to train to use an SCBA, or at least they may be able to tell you what to do, so they can help you. Maybe join a volunteer fire department, most of them have great training programs and officers that could help you. Contact your local paid fire department maybe they would be willing to work with you at their station. As far as others having the same problem as you, don't worry about that there have been thousands of firefighters who have had this problem, you are not alone or different than a lot of people who have gone on to be great firefighters.
Now once you get the equipment and go on air there is a bypass valve and as soon as you feel closed in and can't get enough air turn it on slowly until you feel you are getting enough air, then give yourself time to calm down and then slowly turn the bypass off a little at a time, giving yourself at least a few seconds to become used to each level and remain calm, before turn the bypass down again. If at any point you start to feel that you can not stand it and are not getting enough air again turn the bypass up again so you are comfortable. Then you start working the valve closed again. Now this is not going to happen over night that you get the valve closed, so take your time and relax. It also does not mean today you get the valve closed and tomorrow you come back put the SCBA and will not have to open the valve. It will take time and patients on your part as well as the instructors part to get you to the point where you won't even have to think about it. Once you get to the point you are able to put the SCBA on without opening the bypass at all now it is time for the next lesson, go on air and start doing some small light tasks, (ex. walking carrying an axe, carry some garbage out to the dumpster, etc.) take your time walk, as time goes on you will increase the pace, and increase how strenuous the task is. As far as advanced classes like mask confidence courses etc those are way down the road and should not even be considered or thought about now. But again when it is time you will start with small steps, first no SCBA, get a plastic culvert pipe (from a construction company or county highway dept, tell them what you want it for and they maybe willing to loan it to you or swap it out as you need to go to a longer pipe.) long enough to fit in but where you can see out both ends, be sure you have plenty of room to move around, and you will work up from there to longer pipes and then with the SCBA on and then on air, etc. Take your time, relax and enjoy your career as a firefighter. Congratulations on making the decision to be a firefighter. If I can help you anymore via e-mail feel free to contact me at KCCAPT36@aol.com
Captain Kevin C. Ross
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