Transcript Rule of Air Management - Fire Training Tracker

Rule of Air Management
Maple Valley Fire & Life Safety Training Division
2007 T/C DiDonato
Needs Analysis
Firefighter fatalities have not declined
nation wide even though we have fewer
fires.
In most cases firefighter fatalities involve
heart attacks.
In past years, several deaths can be
attributed to firefighters running out of air.
Having an air management plan is simple
and can save your life.
Definition
Air management refers to a plan that
allows firefighters to safely enter, conduct
emergency operations, and exit an IDLH
atmosphere without their low alarm bell
sounding.
Purpose
Train personnel to properly develop and
conduct an air management plan.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course the student
will be able to:
– Describe the components of an air
management plan
– Describe situations when it is prudent to
develop an air management plan
– Develop an air management plan
– Utilize an air management plan during a
planned drill scenario.
Components of an
Air Management Plan
Time
Air
Distance
Communication
Components of an
Air Management Plan
Time
– The amount of time it will take you to
consume the air in your air cylinder (factoring
in your work rate)
Components of an
Air Management Plan
Air
– The lowest bottle
pressure of your
team (team air)
Components of an
Air Management Plan
Distance
– The distance you travel in and will have to
travel out of a building during your
assignment.
Components of an
Air Management Plan
Communication
– Communication with your immediate
supervisor regarding team air, task, enter and
exit. Also refers to communication between
crewmembers.
When do we develop an air
management plan?
When do we develop an air
management plan?
Air Management is most critical when in
larger commercial structures where floor
plans are unique and can be confusing.
Developing a plan for all IDLH situations
creates the habit before it’s truly needed.
Air Management Plan
3 Parts to practicing an Air Management
Plan:
Calculating a “Point of No Return” bottle pressure
Reporting team air before entering an IDLH.
Reporting team air as part of status (CANA)
reports.
Air Management Plan
Definition:
Point at which a crew must turn back to
ensure exiting the IDLH before a low air
alarm sounds.
Point of No Return
Team air
@ entry:
4200 psi
Low Air Alarm:
1000 psi
- ________
= 3200 psi
/2
________
= 1600 psi
+ ________
= 2600 psi
Point of No Return
Now let’s say Engine 81 responds to a
structure fire at the old Tahoma Admin.
Building.
E-81 is assigned fire attack, and check
for extension on the third story.
E-81 will be relatively stationary within
the building.
Given the previous example, E-81 would
have to exit the building at 2600psi.
Point of No Return
Team air upon arrival of the
work area on the 3rd floor:
Team air
@ entry:
4200 psi
Point of No Return
Calculation @ entry:
2600 psi
3700 psi
- ________
= 500 psi
Point of No Return
500 psi Time from entry to work area
+ 1000 psi Low Air Alarm
1500 psi Time to leave the building
Out of the building
before your alarm
bell sounds!!!
Status (CANA) Reports
Monitoring the bottle pressure of each team
member should be done regularly, and team air
should be reported as part of all status reports
given.
The acronym, CANA should be used as an
outline.
• Conditions: “E81 has low heat
and low visibility
• Actions: “We have a knockdown
of the fire”
• Needs: “We need ventilation”
• Air: “Team low air is 2600”
Air Management Plan
Use common sense.
Put safety above tasks on your priority list.
Do not become emotionally attached to
victims or down Firefighters.
Think objectively!
What would
(Insert your Firefighting
HERO’s name)
do in this
situation?
The objective of air management is for every
member of your team to exit the building
safely without their low air alarm sounding.
The choice to stay in an IDLH after a low air
alarm sounds is still an option based on our
current SOG’s…
...it should be a conscious choice though…
…and made with significant consideration to
your crew’s safety!