Emergency Operations with Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
Course
Firefighter I
Unit II
Safety and
Orientation
Essential
Question
Why is
situational
awareness and
preparation such
an important part
of a firefighter’s
training? Why is
it necessary to
practice skills to
prevent
complacency?
TEKS
§130.299(c)
(11)(H)(I)(J)
Prior Student
Learning
Donning and
doffing
procedures for
local jurisdiction
Personal
Protective
Equipment
(PPE) and SCBA
including an
awareness of the
limitations of the
equipment and
effects on the
user.
Estimated Time
4 hours
Rationale
Firefighters encounter smoke and other toxic inhalants in atmospheres that
are hazardous to their respiratory functions and their lives. Understanding the
need for and use of SCBA is critical to a firefighter’s survival. Failing to use
SCBA correctly could ultimately cause failure of the mission and fire ground
fatalities. Knowing how to properly don, doff, care for, and maintain SCBA,
and how to react to an equipment failure are all responsibilities of a welltrained and prepared firefighter.
Objectives
The student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate confidence in performing firefighting skills while wearing
Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
2. Perform firefighting skills while wearing full SCBA, with a fully charged
cylinder
3. Demonstrate the use of SCBA in conditions of obscured visibility in a
restricted passage
4. Demonstrate emergency procedures to be used in the event of an
SCBA failure
Engage
Use the following questions for a class discussion. Begin by discussing
situational awareness in which firefighters must be able to perform the
functions of their jobs wearing SCBA.
 Why is confidence and preparation so important?
 Why is it necessary to be proficient in the use of SCBA in confined
spaces and restricted passages?
 Could complacent attitudes sometimes be responsible for failures on
the fire ground?
 Why is it necessary that firefighters be able to demonstrate emergency
procedures during an equipment failure on the fire ground?
Use the Discussion Rubric for assessment.
Key Points
I. Performing firefighting skills wearing SCBA with a full cylinder
A. Understanding SCBA restrictions and limitations
1. Physical factors that can effect confidence
a. Poor physical condition – as a firefighter you must be in
good physical condition to maximize your work
performance and extend your air supply
b. Agility – recognize that your SCBA can limit movement and
affect balance. It is important that firefighters have good
balance. Conditioning exercises can minimize the effect of
SCBA on your agility
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c. Facial features – maintaining a good face seal can affect
your confidence in SCBA while firefighting. That is why
industry standards don’t allow for firefighters to have facial
hair that prevents a good seal. Eyeglasses and contact
lenses can also be a problem if not worn according to
industry standards (See standards NFPA 1500 and OSHA
CFR 1919.134.)
II. Using SCBA in confined spaces, obscured visibility, and restricted
passages
A. Confined spaces and inherent hazards
1. Oxygen-deficient atmospheres
2. Atmospheres with less than 18.5% oxygen
3. Grain storage bins
4. Caves and underground tunnels
5. Basements and cellars with limited access or egress
6. Extreme temperatures
7. Cave-ins and collapsed buildings
8. Areas flooded with standing water or other liquids
B. Anticipation of problems can be provided by
1. Pre-incident planning
2. Training
3. Incident Action Plans (IAPs) – an air management system
should be part of the department’s IAP to prevent firefighters
from advancing into confined spaces further than their air supply
will safely allow them to safely
C. Delay entrance
1. Until an IAP is developed
2. Stage the Incident Commander (IC) outside hot zones because
of inherent hazards at the scene (not obstructing the entrance)
3. Understand the tactical problems that exist
a. Ventilation
b. Rescue
c. Lighting
D. Negotiating restricted openings
1. Slip out of the SCBA backpack and harness while leaving the
face piece in place
2. Put the backpack and harness assembly back on after
negotiating the restricted area. While doing so
a. Reduce your profile
b. Push the SCBA in front of yourself while maintaining
control at all times
c. Continue to breathe through your face piece (do not
remove it)
E. Areas of Limited Visibility
1. Move about by staying low (crawling)
2. Feel with a tool as you move slowly, negotiating where you are
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3. If you can see the floor, you may be able to “duck walk” or walk
in a crouched position. This is faster, but more dangerous than
crawling
4. Always operate in teams of two or more
5. Use a tag line
III. Emergency procedures for SCBA failure
A. Conserve air and retreat immediately
B. SCBA regulator malfunction
1. Intermittently open and close the bypass (purge) valve to allow
air into your face piece
2. Close it after each breath to conserve air, and open it again
when another breath is needed
C. Recommended actions
1. Remain calm
a. Control breathing
b. Alert team members
2. Withdraw to a safe atmosphere
a. With other members of your team
b. Use available exits or create one if necessary
3. Use your radio to declare a “Mayday”
4. Follow your department’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
5. Activate your Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) device
6. You may be able to follow the fire hose by using the couplings
to indicate the direction of travel (male indicates the direction of
exit)
7. Crawl in one direction, making all right-hand or all left-hand
turns; be consistent
8. Make noise; get someone’s attention
9. Lay flat and stay close to a wall so you can be easily found
10. If you become separated from your crew
a. Follow your department SOP
b. Describe your surroundings
c. Control your environment as best you can (example: keep
doors closed unless it is an escape route)
d. Slow your breathing as much as possible to conserve air
Activities
1. Assign a reading on the subject SCBA. Have each student write three
questions demonstrating knowledge of the emergency procedures used
while wearing SCBA with a charged cylinder while experiencing obscured
visibility, a SCBA failure, and a restricted opening or passage. Use the
Writing Rubric for assessment.
2. Have students review the Negotiating a Restricted Opening While
Wearing SCBA Checklist and the SCBA Regulator Failure/Emergency
Operation Checklist. Have students complete the skills under the
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supervision of an instructor.
Assessments
Emergency Operations with SCBA Quiz and Key
Negotiating a Restricted Opening While Wearing SCBA Checklist
SCBA Regulator Failure/Emergency Operation Checklist
Discussion Rubric
Writing Rubric
Materials
Emergency Operations with Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
computer-based presentation
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
Resources
0135151112, Essentials of Firefighting (5th Edition), International Fire Service
Training Association (IFSTA).
Accommodations for Learning Differences
For reinforcement, students will participate in peer teaching (mentoring) and
team learning, participate in guided research and note-taking (web-based),
and keep journals (keywords and definitions).
For enrichment, students will participate in an oral exam, skill demonstration,
or written test.
State Education Standards
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education
§130.299. Firefighter I (One to Two Credits).
(11) The student demonstrates confidence in performing fire fighting
skills while wearing self-contained breathing apparatus. The
student is expected to:
(H)
perform fire fighting skills while wearing the full selfcontained breathing apparatus, at a minimum, with the
contents of a fully charged cylinder;
(I)
demonstrate the use of the self-contained breathing
apparatus in conditions of obscured visibility and in a
restricted passage; and
(J)
demonstrate emergency procedures to be used in the
event of failure of the self-contained breathing apparatus.
College and Career Readiness Standards
English Language Arts
IV. Listening
B. Listen effectively in informal and formal situations.
1. Listen critically and respond appropriately to presentations.
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2. Listen actively and effectively in one-on-one communication
situations.
3. Listen actively and effectively in group discussions.
5
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Name________________________________ Date__________________________
Emergency Operations with SCBA Quiz
1. _____ Which of the following is not a physical factor that can affect a firefighter’s
confidence while wearing SCBA?
a. Poor physical condition
b. Increased weight of the SCBA
c. Facial features
d. Agility
2. _____ Industry standards for eyeglasses and contact lenses have been created by:
a. NFPA 1500
b. CFR 1919.134
c. Both a and b
d. Neither a nor b
3. _____ Entry into confined spaces should be delayed until/unless:
a. An IAP is developed
b. The IC is staged outside the hot zone
c. Existing tactical problems are recognized
d. All of the above
4. _____ Atmospheres with less than ____% oxygen are considered to be oxygen
deficient.
a. 18.5%
b. 20%
c. 18%
d. 17.5%
5. _____ An air management system should be part of the department’s IAP to prevent
firefighters from advancing into confined spaces further than their air supply will
allow them to safely.
a. True
b. False
6. _____ During a SCBA regulator malfunction, fully open the purge valve, and leave it
open until you have successfully retreated to an area of refuge within the building.
a. True
b. False
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7. _____ Firefighters who find themselves lost inside a burning structure may be able to
follow fire hose using the couplings to indicate the direction they should travel to
find their way out of the structure.
a. The male coupling would indicate the direction of travel out of the structure
b. The female coupling would indicate the direction of travel out of the structure
c. Neither statement a nor b is correct
d. This technique only works with Storz couplings
8. _____ Inherent hazards or dangers that could exist when operating in confined spaces
are
a. Oxygen deficient atmospheres
b. Extreme temperatures
c. Areas flooded with water or other liquids
d. All of the above
9. _____ When negotiating restricted openings__________ while maintaining control at all
times.
a. Pull the SCBA behind you
b. Push the SCBA in front of you
c. Either a or b
d. Neither a nor b
10. _____ When operating in areas of limited visibility
a. Move about by staying low
b. Feel with a tool as you move about slowly
c. Always operate in teams of two or more
d. Use a tag line
e. All of the above
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Emergency Operations with SCBA Quiz Key
1. B
2. C
3. D
4. A
5. A
6. B
7. A
8. D
9. B
10. E
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Name: _________________________
Date: __________________________
Negotiating a Restricted Opening While Wearing SCBA Checklist
Directions – demonstrate the proper method of negotiating a restricted opening while wearing
an SCBA. You will begin on my instruction to start. The skill will end when you state to me that
you have completed all of the identified steps. Do you understand these instructions?
1 pt.
each
Performance Objectives
Properly dons the SCBA
Maintains contact with the wall, guideline, or hose, and team member while
negotiating restricted opening
Reduces profile and attempts to pass through the opening
If unable to negotiate, notifies the Incident Commander (IC) and broadcasts
a “Mayday”
Loosens the SCBA backpack and harness assembly
Pushes the SCBA through the restricted opening while leaving the face
piece assembly on and maintaining face seal integrity
Negotiates a restricted opening
Re-dons the SCBA backpack and harness assembly
Notifies the IC when out of immediate danger
Total points possible - 9
Instructor’s Signature
Date
9
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Name: _________________________
Date: __________________________
SCBA Regulator Failure/Emergency Operation Checklist
Directions – demonstrate the proper method of responding to a regulator failure while wearing
SCBA. You will begin on my instruction to start. The skill will end when you state to me that you
have completed all of the identified steps. Do you understand these instructions?
1 pt.
each
Performance Objectives
Uses a controlled breathing technique (remains calm)
Operates the purge valve (red bypass) and closes the mainline valve if the
manufacturer specified
Verifies that the main valve on the cylinder is fully opened
Checks the pressure on the remote gauge
If the problem has not corrected itself, uses the purge valve to breathe
Has a team member notify the Incident Commander (IC) and call a “Mayday”
Manually activates Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) alarm
Exits the hazardous environment with urgency (remains calm)
Notifies the IC when out of immediate danger
Removes SCBA, tags and takes it out of service
Total points possible - 10
Instructor’s Signature
Date
10
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Name_______________________________________
Date_______________________________
Discussion Rubric
Objectives
4 pts.
Excellent
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Participates in group discussion
Encourages others to join the
conversation
Keeps the discussion progressing
to achieve goals
Shares thoughts actively while
offering helpful recommendations to
others
Gives credit to others for their ideas
Respects the opinions of others
Involves others by asking questions
or requesting input
Expresses thoughts and ideas
clearly and effectively
Total Points (32 pts.)
Comments:
11
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Name:____________________________________
Date:_____________________________
Writing Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
The writing has all required parts from
introduction to conclusion in smooth
transition.
The writing is interesting, supportive,
and complete.
The writing demonstrates that the
writer comprehends the writing
process.
Accurate spelling, grammar, and
punctuation
The content of paragraphs
emphasizes appropriate points.
The writer shows an understanding of
sentence structure, paragraphing, and
punctuation.
All sources and references are clearly
and accurately documented.
Total Points (28 pts.)
Comments:
12
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