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Basic SCBA: Self Contained Breathing Apparatus

SCBA is critical personal protective equipment that protects firefighters from toxic gases and low oxygen environments. It consists of key components like an air cylinder, regulator, and face mask. Proper inspection, maintenance, and training are required to safely use an SCBA. While technological advances have increased SCBA reliability and safety, it also places additional physical demands on firefighters due to its weight and limitations.

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Balasuperamaniam Raman
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245 views

Basic SCBA: Self Contained Breathing Apparatus

SCBA is critical personal protective equipment that protects firefighters from toxic gases and low oxygen environments. It consists of key components like an air cylinder, regulator, and face mask. Proper inspection, maintenance, and training are required to safely use an SCBA. While technological advances have increased SCBA reliability and safety, it also places additional physical demands on firefighters due to its weight and limitations.

Uploaded by

Balasuperamaniam Raman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Basic SCBA

Self Contained Breathing Apparatus

Balasuperamaniam Raman (G3405919K)


Activity #3 Emergency Response Awareness Training
Content

• Our Respiratory System


• Respiratory Protection
• Self Contained Breathing Apparatus
• Type of SCBA
• Inspection & Maintenance
• Quiz
• Assignment
• What’s Next?
• Summary
Our
Respiratory
System
• Respiratory system extremely
vulnerable
• Inhaled toxic gas can affect the lung
tissue
• Exposure results in various lung
diseases
What is the Solution?
Respiratory
Protection
When is Toxic
environments
Oxygen
deficiency

Respiratory
Protection Smoke or by-
products of
High
temperatures
Required?
combustion
Oxygen Deficiency

• Oxygen concentrations below


19.5 percent are oxygen-
deficient atmospheres
• Effects on the human body:
• Muscular impairment
• Mental confusion
• Death
Effects of Hypoxia (Reduced Oxygen)

Source: Firefighters Handbook, Alabama Fire College


High Temperatures

• Respiratory system sensitive to


temperature
• Air temperatures as low as 165°F
(74°C) can cause death within 1
minute
• Inhaling gases causes:
• Pulmonary edema
• Asphyxiation
• Long-term damage
Smoke
• Unburned products of combustion,
particles of carbon, tar, associated
gases
• Large amounts of gases due to use
of plastics
• Inhalation of small amounts may be
fatal
• Four causes of damage by smoke:
• Asphyxiation
• Chemical irritation
• Chemical asphyxiation
Toxic Gases
• Combustion produces toxic gases and
irritants
• Affect short- and long-term
health
• Combustion products combine to
form lethal toxins
• Some common gases affect
circulatory system
• Commercial occupancies may
produce additional toxins
• Requires higher level of
protection
Toxic Gases Formed as Products of
Combustion

Source: Firefighters Handbook, Alabama Fire College


Is Respiratory Protection Important ?
Self
Contained
Breathing
Apparatus
Self Contained
Breathing Apparatus
(SCBA)
• Wear and use SCBA in IDLH
atmosphere
• Failure to use the SCBA properly
can result in injury or death

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/idlh/intridl4.html
Components of
SCBA
Limitations

• Understand limitations to use unit effectively and


safely
• Limitations of the SCBA unit itself
• Size, weight, air supply
• Physiological limitations of the user
Typical SCBA Specification

Source: Scott Product Catalogue


Design & Size

• SCBA units add weight and bulk to PPE


• Content of SCBA cylinder consumed more quickly than
length of time rated for:
• Limits advance into building
• More frequent crew rotations
• Other concerns:
• Restricted visibility
• Added weight and bulk
• Communication muffled
• Limited air quantity
User Limitation

• Physical, mental, emotional state cause usage problems


• Physical limitations:
• added weight and bulk
• Physiological limitations
• Lack of confidence in SCBA unit
• Physical stress and anxiety
• Emotional conditions
Air supply •Must understand air consumption rates
management •Individual point of no return

Air Supply
Management
Various Use normal breaths and exhale slowly
methods of Never hold breath
breathing Controlled breathing is most efficient use of air
Types of
SCBA
Types of SCBA

• Two types of SCBA:


• Open-circuit SCBA
• Exhaled air is vented to outside atmosphere
• Most common
• Closed-circuit SCBA
• Exhaled air stays in the system for filtering, cleaning,
circulation
• Sometimes used for specialized rescue incidents
Four basic
Designed and built assembly
components:
• NIOSH and NFPA • Backpack and
standards harness
Open Circuit • Cylinder
• Regulator
• Face piece
assembly
SCBA Basic Assembly Components
Face Mask Assembly

Head Harness

Head Straps
Nose Cone

Voice Emitter Head Straps

Regulator Adapter Port


Closed Circuit SCBA

Most common use:


Not used for Air supplies range from
hazardous materials
firefighting operations 30 minutes to 4 hours
incidents

Clean and filter


Contain cylinder, filter exhaled breath and
system, regulator, and add oxygen
valves •Air supply duration based
on filtering/cleaning and
oxygen capacity of unit
Open Circuit Supplied Air Respirator

Open-circuit Commonly used for Long-duration of


SCBA escape unit
supplied air hazardous air supply,
with 5 - 10 minutes
respirators (SARs) materials incidents mobility, agility

Also called Confined


airline space
respirators rescues

Remote air
supply
Annual and Bi-annual
inspection - NIOSH and
Always follow
Daily and regular SCBA manufacturers Operational safety checks
manufacturer’s
inspection require different must be performed
instructions
functional tests of SCBA
units

Inspection & Maintenance


Quiz

• What does SCBA contain?


• A SCBA, which has been used, is charged and returned to
you. What will you check before accepting the SCBA?
• Not everyone is authorized to wear a SCBA, what is the
criteria that qualifies a person to use SCBA?
Assignment

 Please submit an assignment


based on the scenario that will
be shared shortly. The expected
length is 30 pages.
Operational Checks

Donning & Removing the SCBA

Emergency

Safe Use

Various Operational Conditions

Changing & Servicing

What’s Next?
Summary

1 2 3
SCBA is one of the most An increase in safety An SCBA has limitations
important items of PPE regulations and and also increases the
that rescuers have improvements in design limitations and demands
available to them. and construction of on the user’s physical
SCBA have greatly conditioning.
increased their safety
and reliability.

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