Essentials of Fire Fighting , 5 th Edition

1. Essentials of Fire Fighting, 5th Edition Chapter 5 — Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment Firefighter I

2. Chapter 5 Lesson Goal • After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to identify, use, and maintain various articles of clothing and equipment following the policies and procedures set forth by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). Firefighter I

3. Specific Objectives 1. Describe the purpose of protective clothing and equipment. 2. Describe characteristics of protective clothing and equipment. 3. Summarize guidelines for the care of personal protective clothing. (Continued) Firefighter I

4. Specific Objectives 4. List the four common respiratory hazards associated with fires and other emergencies. 5. Distinguish among characteristics of respiratory hazards. (Continued) Firefighter I

5. Specific Objectives 6. Describe physical, medical, and mental factors that affect the firefighter’s ability to use respiratory protection effectively. 7. Describe equipment and air-supply limitations of SCBA. (Continued) Firefighter I

6. Specific Objectives 8. Discuss effective air management. 9. Distinguish among characteristics of air-purifying respirators, open-circuit SCBA, and closed-circuit SCBA. 10. Describe basic SCBA component assemblies. (Continued) Firefighter I

7. Specific Objectives 11. Discuss storing protective breathing apparatus. 12. Summarize recommendations for the use of PASS devices. 13. Describe precautionary safety checks for SCBA. (Continued) Firefighter I

8. Specific Objectives 14. Discuss general donning and doffing considerations for SCBA. 15. Summarize general items to check in daily, weekly, monthly, and annual SCBA inspections. 16. Summarize safety precautions for refilling SCBA cylinders. (Continued) Firefighter I

9. Specific Objectives 17. Discuss safety precautions for SCBA use. 18. Describe actions to take in emergency situations using SCBA. 19. Discuss operating in areas of limited visibility while wearing SCBA. (Continued) Firefighter I

10. Specific Objectives 20. Discuss exiting areas with restricted openings under emergency conditions while wearing SCBA. 21. Don PPE and SCBA for use at an emergency. (Skill Sheet 5-I-1) 22. Doff PPE and SCBA and prepare for reuse. (Skill Sheet 5-I-2) (Continued) Firefighter I

11. Specific Objectives 23. Inspect PPE and SCBA for use at an emergency incident. (Skill Sheet 5-I-3) 24. Clean and sanitize PPE and SCBA. (Skill Sheet 5-I-4) 25. Fill an SCBA cylinder from a cascade system. (Skill Sheet 5-I-5) (Continued) Firefighter I

12. Specific Objectives 26. Fill an SCBA cylinder from a compressor/purifier. (Skill Sheet 5-I-6) 27. Perform emergency operations procedures for an SCBA. (Skill Sheet 5-I-7) 28. Exit a constricted opening while wearing standard SCBA. (Skill Sheet 5-I-8) (Continued) Firefighter I

13. Specific Objectives 29. Change an SCBA cylinder — One-person method. (Skill Sheet 5-I-9) 30. Change an SCBA cylinder — Two-person method. (Skill Sheet 5-I-10) Firefighter I

14. Protective Clothing • Helmet • Protects head from impact • Protects head from scalding water, products of combustion • Protective hood • Protects portions of face, ears, neck not covered by helmet or coat collar (Continued) Firefighter I

15. Protective Clothing • Protective coat/trousers • Protect trunk, limbs against cuts, abrasions, burn injuries • Protect from heat/cold • Provide limited protection from corrosive liquids (Continued) Firefighter I

16. Protective Clothing • Gloves • Protect hands from cuts, abrasions, burns • Safety shoes/boots • Protect feet from burns, puncture wounds • Eye protection • Protects wearer’s eyes from hazards (Continued) Firefighter I

17. Protective Clothing • Hearing protection • Limits noise-induced hearing loss • Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) • Protects face, lungs from heat, smoke, toxic products of combustion and airborne contaminants (Continued) Firefighter I

18. Protective Clothing • Personal alert safety system (PASS) • Provides audible means by which a lost, trapped, or incapacitated firefighter can be located Firefighter I

19. Helmet Characteristics • Benefits • Prevents hot water, embers from reaching ears and neck • Protects head from impact • Protection from heat, cold • Secondary protection of face/eyes with faceshield • Colored helmets, removable shields provide I.D. (Continued) Firefighter I

20. Helmet Characteristics • Structural fire fighting helmets must have ear flaps or neck covers • Chin straps ensure helmets stay in place upon impact • For secondary face/eye protection, faceshields are attached to helmet Firefighter I

21. Eye Protection Characteristics • Several styles of safety glasses, goggles available • Frames, lenses should meet ANSI Standard Z87.1 for severe exposure to impact, heat Firefighter I

22. Hearing Protection Characteristics • Most common use is for firefighters who ride apparatus exceeding maximum noise exposure levels • Intercom/ear protection systems provide dual benefit • Earplugs/earmuffs may be used Firefighter I

23. Protective Hood Characteristics • Typically made of fire-resistant material • Provide higher level of protection than facepiece alone when used in conjunction with SCBA • Facepiece-to-face seal is important Firefighter I

24. Turnout Coat Characteristics • NFPA® 1971 requires • Outer shell • Moisture barrier • Thermal barrier • Barriers • Trap insulating air • Provide limited protection (Continued) Firefighter I

25. Turnout Coat Characteristics • Features that provide additional protection/convenience • Collars must be turned up • Wristlets • Closure system • Drag Rescue Device (DRD) (Continued) Firefighter I

26. Turnout Coat Characteristics • Should be cleaned to manufacturer’s specifications, reflective trim maintained to NFPA® standards Firefighter I

27. Turnout Pant Characteristics • Integral part of protective ensemble, only NFPA®-compliant lower-extremity covering • Considerations in protective coats apply to trousers (Continued) Firefighter I

28. Turnout Pant Characteristics • Options may increase durability • Must fit properly • Should be cleaned according to manufacturer’s specifications; reflective trim maintained to NFPA® standards Firefighter I

29. Hand Protection Characteristics • Protect against heat, steam, cold penetration; provides resistance to cuts, punctures, liquid absorption • Must allow dexterity, tactile feel • Must fit properly Firefighter I

30. Foot Protection Characteristics • Available in variety of styles, materials • Must fit well • Protects from potential hazards • Firefighters should have • Protective boots • Safety shoes (Continued) Firefighter I

31. Foot Protection Characteristics • Many safety boots incorporate steel for extra protection • Most rubber fire fighting boots have insulation Firefighter I

32. Wildland Personal Protective Clothing Characteristics • Includes gloves, goggles, brush jackets/pants or one-piece jumpsuits, long-sleeve shirts, head/neck protection, footwear, respiratory protection (Continued) Firefighter I

33. Wildland Personal Protective Clothing Characteristics • Gloves usually made of leather, must provide wrist protection • Cuffs of sleeves/pant legs closed snugly • Fabric is treated cotton or other flame-resistant material • Hard hats/helmets with chin straps must be worn (Continued) Firefighter I

34. Wildland Personal Protective Clothing Characteristics • Acceptable footwear varies • Lace-up safety boots with lug/grip-tread soles most often used • Boots should be at least 8 to 10 inches (200 to 250 mm) • Steel toes NOT recommended Firefighter I

35. Station/Work Uniform Characteristics • Should meet requirements of NFPA® 1975 • Designed to be fire-resistant but not to be worn for fire operations Firefighter I

36. Considerations for Use and Limitations of PPE • Removing liner of turnout coat compromises effectiveness • Wearing PPE may increase risk of heat stress • Firefighters may suffer burns with no warning (Continued) Firefighter I

37. Considerations for Use and Limitations of PPE • Structural PPE provides no CBRNE protection • Decreased ability to feel ambient heat • Damaged PPE causes greater risk • Using appropriate PPE is only way to be properly protected Firefighter I

38. Care of Personal Protective Clothing • Must be maintained according to manufacturer’s specifications • If contaminated, should not be worn until properly laundered according to manufacturer’s recommended procedure (Continued) Firefighter I

39. Care of Personal Protective Clothing • Care of helmets • Cleaning considerations Firefighter I

40. Respiratory Hazards • IDLH atmospheres • OSHA considers the interior of a burning building to be an IDLH atmosphere (Continued) District Chief Chris E. Mickal, NOFD Photo Unit Firefighter I

41. Respiratory Hazards • Four common hazards • Oxygen deficiency • Elevated temperatures • Smoke • Toxic atmosphere (with and without fire) Firefighter I

42. Oxygen Deficiency • Combustion process consumes oxygen while producing toxic gases • Deficiencies can occur in below-grade locations, chemical storage tanks, etc. • Oxygen-deficient atmosphere — One containing less than 19.5 percent oxygen (Continued) Firefighter I

43. Oxygen Deficiency • Some departments are equipped to monitor atmospheres, measure hazards directly • Where monitoring is impossible or readings questionable, SCBA should be worn Firefighter I

44. Elevated Temperatures • Exposure to heated air can damage respiratory tract • Excessive heat taken quickly into lungs can cause serious decrease in blood pressure, failure of circulatory system (Continued) Firefighter I

45. Elevated Temperatures • Inhaling heated gases can cause pulmonary edema, which can cause death from asphyxiation • Tissue damage from inhaling hot air is not immediately reversible; prompt medical treatment needed Firefighter I

46. Smoke • Consists of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbon particles, other products • Particles enable condensation of gaseous products of combustion • Some particles in smoke irritating; others lethal Firefighter I

47. Toxic Atmospheres Associated With Fire • Inhaled toxic gases may have several harmful effects on human body • Some gases cause impaired lung function • Other gases pass into bloodstream and impair oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells (Continued) Firefighter I

48. Toxic Atmospheres Associated With Fire • Type, amount of toxic gases released at fire vary according to • Nature of combustible • Rate of heating • Temperature of evolved gases • Oxygen concentration • Carbon monoxide Firefighter I

49. Toxic Atmospheres Not Associated With Fire • Many industrial processes use extremely dangerous chemicals • Because presence is likely, require use of SCBA • Hazardous materials • Common calls may also require SCBA • When in doubt, wear SCBA Firefighter I

50. Physical Factors Affecting Use of Respiratory Protection • Physical condition • Agility • Facial features Firefighter I