TRAPPED AND RUNNING OUT OF AIR
SCENARIO #1
You're fighting fire and you become separated from your crew. You can't find your way out. You know you're low on air because you can hear your Low Air Warning Bell ringing. You need to conserve air but your anxiety level is high and trying to find your way out is just using your air up faster.
SCENARIO #2
How in the hell could this happen. One minute you're fighting fire and the next minute you're trapped under debris from a roof collapse. You're unable to see or contact anyone from your crew and you're running out of air. You have to hang in there until somebody finds you. It's not that hot but it's getting hotter and you've got only one chance for survival - make your air last as long as possible.
SCENARIO #3
You're involved in the unthinkable. An explosion has occured at a large warehouse. You're lost, disoriented and remember the I.C. telling everyone to get out of the building shortly before the blast. You also remember hearing a radio message saying something about Hazardous Chemicals in the structure. You find a hoseline and are trying to get out but you know you don't want to run out of air with all of the wierd colored smoke in the building.
Can you imagine being in these situations? You better. It could happen on your next response.
At a recent RIC drill members were asked if they knew what it was like to run out of air. A statement was made that each and every member should practice "running out of air" in a non-emergency situation in order to develop a plan based on that experience.
Please take the time to read the post below and consider the information.
Remember: The first time you run out of air while wearing a Breathing Apparatus should not be at an emergency!
