Last night, members trained on our self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The group started with a comprehensive review of the many standards that surround these tools. Members also reviewed the anatomy of the airpack and ways to address equipment failures, inspection, maintenance, and training requirements.
Following this, the group performed an SCBA confidence drill consisting of 5-6 stations repeatedly performed while on tanked air. The drill is two-fold in that it provides the repeated opportunity to practice difficult skills, but also introduces the real fatigue associated with the work. Once a threshold was hit of air consumption, skills performed, and fatigue, members would attempt to make the remaining portion of their tanked air last as long as possible. The longest lasting member made it 49 minutes.
