PROCEDURE - EVALUATING SCBA BREATHING TECHNIQUES

 Items needed for each individual:

- Digital Air Gauge (DAG)
- (2) SCBA air bottles
- (1) SCBA pack
- Stopwatch
- Pulse-ox monitor
- Blood Pressure Cuff
- Treadmill
- Pad and pencil
- Duct tape

 Preparation:

First you need to prepare the SCBA air bottles to identical pressures. This can be a tricky process because of varying air friction when filling the test bottles. An ideal time to fill bottles would be the night before and allowed to relax to room temperature.
In order to conserve test time, target pressure should be 1000 psi or less. Bottles should be filled slowly and filled at least 200 psi above target test pressure (fill to 1200+ psi).
After bottles have cooled to room temperature, use the DAG to bleed bottles down to identical pressures and identify bottles (on duct tape, not bottle) as A/A; B/B; C/C; etc., for each participant.
Take and log vitals of each participant and set treadmill at 3 mph –
Zero incline (mild pace is to compare breath methods, not a cardiac workout)

 Steps:

- Pre-record individual’s vitals (BP, pulse, respirations, pulse-ox reading)
- Set treadmill to 3 mph
- Don SCBA with first bottle
- Breath normally and record time on treadmill until bottle is completely empty, while warring pulse-ox monitor
(Note: Vibralert will deactivate when bottle is below 100 psi)
- Record vitals
- Rest until vitals return to normal level (approx. 15-20 minutes)

During rest period, review breathing method to be evaluated.

- Repeat sequence with second bottle using breathing method of choice and compare times.

For more information, go to: www.FirefighterSafety.net