THE NEED, THE MANDATE, THE

SOLUTION

AIR MANAGEMENT

Salt Lake Valley Fire Training Alliance

NEED

Interventionvs

Prevention

Worcester, MA

• One of the lost teams from Rescue 1 radios command that, “We need air, we need air. I’m sharing a tank off me right now. We are lost…”

• 4 of the 6 firefighters died of “inhalation of smoke, soot, and hot gases.”

Worcester, MA

When Were We Taught To Leave The Fire Building?

• Recruit training• 30-minute cylinder low-air warning

alarm time• These assumptions are

completely wrong

Where Are Most of Our Fires?

• Single-family dwellings or apartment houses

• Common characteristics?

• These fires have dictated how we train to use our SCBAs

Commercial Structures, Ships & Large Structures • How do these differ

from residential occupancies?

• Firefighters cannot assume that they can work until their low-air warning alarm activates

Working Into Your Low-Air Warning Alarm

• Has cost some firefighters their lives

• Close Calls are happening every day

Near Miss Case Studies

Chris Yob Case Study

Video link available at www.manageyourair.com

Look for “Firefighter Survival Video” Link

SMART Drill #60-01Download at

www.manageyourair.com

S Sixty M MinutesA Available forR RealT Training

SMART Drill #60-01

SMART Drill #60-01

MANDATE

History as Teacher

• SCBA is first introduced – resistance, change, positive result?

• NIOSH report and Pass and Integrated Pass Devices

• NIOSH report and Air Management

• Change in Behavior instead of technology

History as Teacher

Behaviorvs

Technology

NFPA 1404 Standard for Fire Service Respiratory Protection Training

NFPA 1404 states: Training SHALL include:

• Identification of the various types

• Proper face piece fit• When to use• Emergency procedures

NFPA 1404 Standard for Fire Service Respiratory Protection Training

Training SHALL include:

NEW:Identification of the factors that affect

the duration of the air supply.

Individual Air Management Program1. Exit BEFORE reserve air use.2. Low air alarm = reserve air use.3. Low air alarm = IMMEDIATE ACTION

ITEM

NFPA 1404 - 2007 ed.

EFFECTIVEJanuary 1, 2007Are YOU compliant?

Bret Tarver Case Study

• The Southwest Supermarket was constructed in 1956, and was 20,123 square feet

• Steel columns and beams with open-web steel trusses

• Panelized plywood roof

Bret Tarver Case Study

• How many of you have buildings like this in your district?

• The fire started as a debris fire outside the building

• Occupied structure – a righteous entry

Bret Tarver Case Study

Tarver:

Low air

Disoriented

Lost

Out of air

Removes face-piece

Bret Tarver Case Study

• 2 other firefighters run out of air

• There are 12 other “Maydays”

• Tarver dies from CO poisoning

• As a result, PFD adopt an Air Management policy

SMART Drill #60-02Download at

www.manageyourair.com

S SixtyM MinutesA Available forR RealT Training

Entry

Wall Breach - 4’section

Nozzle with bail secured closed

Pallets/Debris

Barrels/Debris

Instructors safe area, sheet rock storage

Light Stick

Light Stick

Light Stick

Light Stick

Department standard length 1 3/4” charged line.

SOLUTION

The Rule Of Air Management

Know how much air you have in your SCBA, and manage that air so that you leave the hazardous environment before your low-air warning alarm activates

The ROAM says:

Firefighters and SCUBA Divers

• What do firefighters in an IDLH environment and SCUBA divers under water have in common?

• SCUBA training

• Dive Masters

• Fire Service applications

Near Miss Case Studies

MacDougall Case Study

Video link available at www.manageyourair.com

Look for “Firefighter Survival Video” Link“MacDougal Link”

Low-Air Warning Alarm

• If you went to a fire right now

• Do you react?

• False alarm mentality kills firefighters

• Working into your low-air warning alarm -- you are betting your life that everything will go right on your way out of the IDLH environment

The ROAM says

Know how much air you have in your SCBA, and manage that air so that you leave the hazardous environment before your low-air warning alarm activates

ROAM

• The Rule of Air Management holds true for any fire building or hazardous atmosphere. Firefighters must follow this rule at all times:

bread-and-butter room fireshouse firesapartment house firescommercial fireshigh rise firesship firesconfined space rescuesat any incident where you are wearing your SCBA

ROAM

• The Rule of Air Management sounds simple, but it takes discipline

• The ROAM is the new, basic firefighting skill

SMART Drill #60-03Download at

www.manageyourair.com

S SixtyM MinutesA Available forR RealT Training

First Floor

Entry Door

UP

Instructor Area

200’ of 2 ½” Hose to second floor.

Instructor area

1 ¾” Hose, laid, charged, nozzle secured closed.

Backup Line, 200’ of 1 ¾” hose with nozzle secured closed

SMART Drill #60-03

S SixtyM MinutesA Available forR RealT Training

Change = Resistance = Change

• The ROAM has been used by the Dive industry for decades

• Fire Departments in England and Hong Kong are serious about Air Management

• The ROAM may take time to implement in your department

• Train as if you life depends on it

Like to Gamble?

• Remember, close calls are happening every day in the US fire service due to the lack of air management

• If you fail to follow the Rule of Air Management and work into your reserve air, working until your low-air alarm activates…

“You are betting your life” that nothing will go wrong on your way out.

manageyourair.comSpecial Thanks

“The Seattle Guys”• Allan Simmons Productions/Firestorm

Videos www.firestormvideos.com

• Pete Smith of Venture Mediawww.venture-media.com

• David Jensen from Pelican Products

• Scott Krushak, Phoenix Fire Department