The 3M Scott Fire & Safety Firefighter Combat Challenge seeks to encourage firefighter fitness and demonstrate the profession's rigors to the public. Wearing "full bunker gear" and the 3M Scott Air-Pak™ SCBA breathing apparatus, competitors race head-to-head as they simulate the physical demands of real-life firefighting by performing a series of tasks they could encounter in a live fire rescue
Selecting and purchasing SCBA can be a complex process. Not only is it capital-intensive, it also represents a long-term investment in arguably the most important piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) that a firefighter puts on. The SCBA is a critical lifeline to the firefighter and should be given careful consideration before making a 12 to 15-year investment. The National
You may think the comfort of a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) is subjective, but it’s really not. Here are 10 obvious — and not so obvious — ways firefighters should judge the comfort of their SCBA. 1. Realistic Movement The SCBA feels nice on your back, right? When you tried it on in the training room, it felt good. When
When considering the purchase of new SCBA, it is important to understand the compliance implications of purchasing “refurbished” SCBA from a supplier not authorized by its manufacturer. Several businesses in the United States and Canada advertise and sell SCBA that are “refurbished” or “reconditioned” units from various SCBA manufacturers. U.S. OSHA regulations [29 CFR 1910.134(h)(4)] require that “the employer shall
When it comes to personnel, volunteer fire departments are no different than corporations or nonprofit groups. They all need people in the boat rowing toward the same agreed-upon destination. And while that rowing requires hard skills, like a strong back, it also requires soft skills — such as the ability to work as part of a team. In firefighting, the
A rapid intervention team (RIT) must have a thorough knowledge of basic and advanced search procedures to be effective at reaching the downed firefighter quickly. The time saved at reducing the search time can be time used at completing an RIT bag change and extrication if needed. This search knowledge can only be gained through constant training and understanding of
