Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire Chiefs and Firefighters

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Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire
Chiefs and Firefighters
Founded 1964
Incorporated 1979
Serving Our Province for the Betterment of Fire
protection
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NLAFCFF. Basic Firefighting Course

• Personal Protective Equipment
• Lesson Two

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In this lesson, you will look at

• Personal protective clothing.
• Self-contained breathing apparatus.
• Donning and doffing protective breathing
  apparatus.
• Inspecting and maintaining protective breathing
  apparatus.
• Filling self contained breathing apparatus

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ObjectivesBy end of this lesson, you should be
able to

• 2.1. Identify the kinds of personal protective
  clothing, their characteristics and their uses.
• 2.2. Identify the reasons for using self
  contained breathing apparatus
• 2.3. Identify the limitations of self contained
  breathing apparatus.
• 2.4. Identify the types of breathing apparatus.
• 2.5. Identify the parts of breathing apparatus.
• 2.6. Don and doff breathing apparatus.
• 2.7. Inspect and maintain breathing apparatus.
• 2.8. Identify safety precautions for using self
  contained breathing apparatus.
• 2.9. Identify how to respond in emergency
  situations while using a self contained
  breathing apparatus

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Introduction

• Firefighters require the best personal
  protective equipment available because of the
  hostile environment in which they perform their
  duties.
• Providing and using quality protective equipment
  will not necessarily guarantee firefighter
  safety however, injuries can be reduced and
  prevented if protective clothing and breathing
  apparatus are used properly.

Fire fighting exposes personnel to a hostile
environment.
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Introduction

• All firefighters operating at an emergency scene
  must wear full protective equipment (which
  includes personal protective clothing and
  self-contained breathing apparatus) suitable to
  that incident.

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Personal Protective Clothing
NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensemble for
Structural Fire Fighting, includes coats,
trousers, coveralls, helmets, gloves, footwear
and interface components (protective hoods and
wristlets) as parts of the multiple elements of
clothing and equipment designed to provide
protection for firefighters during structural
fire fighting and certain other operations. All
components must have an appropriate product label
permanently and conspicuously attached.
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Clothing

• Helmet
• Protection from impact, heat, cold and water.
• Faceshield provides secondary face and eye
  protection.

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Helmets Eye Protection
All helmets must have ear covers and chin straps.
A typical helmet faceshield.
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Clothing

• Protective Hood
• Ears, neck and face protection from heat

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Protective Hoods
Longer protective hoods extend over the shoulders
and chest.
The short protective hood covers the ears, neck
and face from exposure to extreme heat.
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Clothing

• Protective Coat Trousers
• Three layers (outer shell, moisture barrier and
  thermal barrier) trap insulating air to protect
  against heat, cold and environmental factors.
• Turned-up collar protects neck.
• Protection from heat, cold and cuts.

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Protective Coats
WARNING All inner liners of the protective coat
must be in place during any fire fighting
operation. Failure to wear the entire coat and
liner system during fire conditions may expose
the firefighter to severe heat that could result
in serious injury or death.
The moisture barrier protects the firefighters
from water, steam, hot vapors or corrosive
liquids.
Structural fire fighting protective coat.
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Protective Coats
The storm flap covers the closure area and
prevents steam, water and fire products from
entering the gaps between the closures.
The wristlet that extends over the hand should
have a thumbhole to prevent it from sliding up
the wrist.
The collar protects the firefighters neck and
throat.
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Protective Trousers
Heavy-duty suspenders keep trousers from sagging
when they become wet.
Reinforced knees prolong the life of protective
trousers.
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Personal Protective Clothing

• The label contains the following information
• THIS MEETS THEREQUIREMENTS OF NFPA 1971,
  STANDARD ON PROTECTIVE ENSEMBLE FOR STRUCTURAL
  FIRE FIGHTING, 1997 EDITION.
• Manufacturers name, identification or
  designation
• Manufacturers address
• Country of manufacturer
• Manufacturers identification number of lot
  number or serial number
• Month and year of manufacturer (not coded)
• Model name, number or design
• Size or size range
• Garment materials (coats, trousers, coveralls,
  hoods)
• Footwear size and width (boots)
• Cleaning precautions

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Clothing

• Safety shoes or boots.
• Protection from punctures, embers and falling
  objects.

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Foot Protection
These leather protective boots can also serve as
station safety shoes.
Fire scenes have numerous foot hazards.
The rubber boot is one style of protective boot.
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Clothing

• Eye protection.
• Safety glasses or goggles, helmet face shields
  and SCBA

Various types of eye protection available to the
firefighter.
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Clothing

• Hearing Protection.
• Ear plugs or ear muffs

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Clothing

• Gloves
• Protect hands from cuts, wounds and burn
  injuries.

Gloves must have enough flexibility to allow the
firefighter to perform fire fighting tasks.
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Other clothing

• Brush gear ( forest fire fighting protective
  clothing)
• Station/work uniform (NFPA 1975)

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Clothing

• Additional equipment
• P.A.S.S.
• S.C.B.A.

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Clothing

• Personal Alert Safety System (PASS)
• Provides life-safety protection by emitting a
  loud shriek if the firefighter should collapse or
  remain motionless for approximately 30 seconds.

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PASS Devices

• PASS devices should
• meet the requirements of NFPA 1982 Standard on
  Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS) for
  Firefighters
• be tested weekly in accordance with
  manufacturers instructions
• be checked for calibration as necessary during
  practical training under realistic conditions

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PASS

• Firefighters using PASS devices should
• be retrained on PASS device every six months
• always turn on and test the device before
  entering a hazardous atmosphere
• periodically stop in unison and listen for
  distress signals during operations
• turn off the device when a victim is found so
  that communication is possible

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Personal Protective Clothing
All equipment worn by the firefighter should meet
current applicable standards.
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Care of Personal Protective Clothing
In order for personal protective clothing to
perform properly, it must be maintained within
the manufacturers specifications. Each piece
of protective clothing has a particular
manufacturers recommended maintenance procedure
that should be followed to ensure it is ready for
service.
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Care of Personal Protective Clothing
Helmets should be properly cleaned and maintained
to ensure their durability and maximum life
expectancy. The following are guidelines for
their proper care and maintenance.

• Remove dirt from the shell. Dirt absorbs heat
  faster than the shell itself, thus exposing the
  wearer to more severe heat conditions.

• Remove chemicals, oils and petroleum products
  from the shell as soon as possible. These agents
  may soften the shell material and reduce its
  impact and dielectric protection.

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Care of Personal Protective Clothing
The firefighter should try on the helmet to
ensure a proper fit. Some may be adjusted to
correct a loose or tight fit.
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Care of Personal Protective Clothing

• Repair or replace helmets that do not fit
  properly. A poor fit reduces the helmets
  ability to resist the transmission of force.

• Repair or replace helmets that are damaged. This
  includes leather helmets that have become cracked
  or brittle with age.

• Inspect suspension systems frequently to detect
  deterioration. Replace if necessary.

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Care of Personal Protective Clothing

• Consult the helmet manufacturer if a helmet
  needs repainting. Manufacturers can inform the
  department about the choice of paints available
  for a particular shell material.

• Remove polycarbonate helmets that have come into
  contact with hydraulic oil from service and
  check them. Some oils attack the polycarbonate
  material and weaken the helmet.

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Care of Personal Protective Clothing
Cleanliness also affects the performance of
protective coats, trousers and hoods. The outer
shells should be cleaned regularly. Clean outer
shells have better fire resistance dirty
protective clothing absorbs more heat. Follow
the manufacturers directions for cleaning.
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Care of Personal Protective Clothing
Gloves and boots should also be cleaned according
to the manufacturers instructions. NFPA 1581,
Standard on Fire Department Infection Control
Program, further requires that personal
protective clothing be cleaned and dried at least
every six months in accordance with the
manufacturers recommendations.
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Clothing

• Donning Protective clothing.

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SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS

• Protective breathing apparatus is extremely
  crucial to the well-being of the firefighter.
  Failure to use this equipment could lead to
  failed rescue attempts, firefighter injuries or
  firefighter fatalities

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SCBA

• There are many atmospheres toxic to the
  firefighter who is not wearing protective
  clothing and SCBA both atmospheres associated
  with the products of combustion and those
  associated with chemical spills and confined
  spaces.
• To be safe, learn the characteristics and
  probable location of the most common toxic
  atmosphere in your locality.
• Be safe When in doubt wear SCBA.

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4 Major Respiratory Hazards

• oxygen deficiency
• elevated temperatures
• smoke
• toxic atmospheres

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Oxygen Deficiency
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IDLH
Concentrations over the IDLH listing are
immediately dangerous to life and health.
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Carbon Monoxide

• More fire deaths occur from carbon monoxide (CO)
  poisoning than from any other toxic product of
  combustion.
• This colorless, odorless gas is present with
  every fire. The poorer the ventilation and the
  more inefficient the burning, the greater the
  quantity of carbon monoxide formed.
• Black smoke is high in particulate carbon and
  carbon monoxide because of incomplete combustion.

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Carbon Monoxide

• The bloods hemoglobin combines with and carried
  oxygen in a loose chemical combination called
  oxyhemoglobin.
• Carbon monoxide does not act on the body, but
  crowds oxygen from the blood and leads to
  eventual hypoxia of the brain and tissues,
  followed by death if the process is not reversed.
• Concentrations of carbon monoxide in air above
  five-hundredths of one percent (0.05 percent)
  (500 parts per million ppm) can be dangerous.

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Carbon Monoxide

• A bottom line is that firefighters may be
  suffering the effects of CO exposure even though
  they are asymptomatic.
• A hardworking firefighter may be incapacitated by
  a 1 concentration of CO. The stable combination
  of CO with the blood is only slowly eliminated by
  normal breathing.

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Toxic Atmosphere
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SCBA Limitations
To operate effectively, the firefighter must be
aware of the limitations of protective breathing
apparatus. These include limitations of the
wearer, equipment and air supply.
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Limitations of Wearer
Several factors affect the firefighters ability
to use SCBA effectively. These factors include
physical, medical and mental limitations.
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Medical Limitations

• Neurological Functioning Good motor coordinator
  is necessary for operating in protective
  breathing equipment. The firefighter must be of
  sound mind to handle emergency situations that
  may arise.
• Muscular/Skeletal Condition The firefighter
  must have the physical strength and size required
  to wear the protective equipment and to perform
  necessary tasks.
• Cardiovascular Conditioning Poor cardiovascular
  conditioning can result in heart attacks, strokes
  or other related problems during strenuous
  activity.
• Respiratory Functioning Proper respiratory
  functioning will maximize the wearers operation
  time in a SCBA.

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Mental Limitations

• Adequate Training in Equipment Use The
  firefighter must be knowledgeable in every aspect
  of protective breathing apparatus.
• Self-confidence The firefighters belief in his
  ability will have an extremely positive overall
  effect on his actions that are performed.
• Emotional Stability The ability to maintain
  control in an excited or high stress environment
  will reduce the chances of a serious mistake
  being made.

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Physical Limitations
NFPA 1500 allows the firefighter to wear soft
contact lenses while using SCBA if the
firefighter has demonstrated successful long-term
(at least 6 months) use of contact lenses without
any problems.
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Limitations of Air Supply
Air supply is another factor to consider when
discussion protective breathing apparatus
limitations. Some limitations are based on the
apparatus user whereas others are based on the
actual supply of air in the cylinder.
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Limitations of Air Supply

• Cylinder Pressure Before Use If the cylinder
  is not filled to capacity, the amount of
  working time is reduced proportionately.
• Training and Experience of User Properly
  trained and highly experienced personnel are
  able to draw the maximum air supply from a
  cylinder.

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Limitations of Air Supply

• Physical Condition of User The poorer the
  firefighters physical condition, the faster the
  air supply is expended.
• Degree of Physical Exertion The higher the
  physical exertion, the faster the air supply is
  expended.
• Emotional Stability of User The firefighter who
  becomes excited increases respiratory rate and
  uses air faster than a calm firefighter.
• Condition of Apparatus Minor leaks and poor
  adjustment of regulators result in excess air
  loss.

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Limitations of Equipment

• Limited Visibility The facepiece reduces
  peripheral vision and facepiece fogging can
  reduce overall vision.
• Decreased Ability to Communicate The facepiece
  hinders voice communication.
• Increased Weight The protective breathing
  equipment adds 25 to 35 pounds (11 kg to 16 kg)
  of weight to the firefighter, depending on the
  model.
• Decreased Mobility The increase of weight and
  the splinting effect of the harness straps reduce
  the firefighters mobility.

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Types of Breathing Apparatus
There are two types of SCBAs used in the fire
service open-circuit and closed-circuit.
Open-circuit SCBA is used much more frequently
than closed-circuit SCBA. In fact,
closed-circuit breathing apparatus is rarely used
in todays fire service.
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Types of Breathing Apparatus

• Open-Circuit SCBA
• Commonly used in the fire service
• Uses compressed air
• Exhaled air vented outside system
• Closed-Circuit SCBA
• Rarely used in the fire service
• Uses compressed or liquid oxygen
• Exhaled air stays within the system for re-use

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4 Basic SCBA Component Assemblies

• Backpack and Harness Assembly Holds the air
  cylinder on the firefighters back.
• Air Cylinder Assembly- Includes cylinder, valve
  and pressure gauge.
• Regulator Assembly Includes high-pressure hose
  and low-pressure alarm.
• Facepiece Assembly Includes facepiece lens, an
  exhalation valve and a low-pressure hose
  (breathing tube) if the regulator is separate
  also includes head harness or helmet mounting
  bracket.

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Air Cylinder Assembly
The waist strap helps to distribute the weight of
the cylinder.
The air cylinder constitutes the main weight of
the SCBA.
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Regulator Assembly
The regulator controls the flow of air to meet
the respiratory requirements of the user.
The mainline valve (bottom) and the bypass valve
(top).
This regulator connects directly to the facepiece.
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Typical SCBA

• Backpack cylinder mount
• Facepiece lens
• Facepiece straps
• Low-pressure hose
• Facepiece assembly
• Bypass valve
• Mainline valve

• Regulator
• High-pressure hose
• Alarm bell
• Cylinder gauge
• Waist strap
• Shoulder strap
• Cylinder

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Cylinders

• Weight depends on cylinder composition
  composite, steel or fiberglass-wrapped
  aluminum
• Different cylinder sizes
• 30-minute 2,216 psi (15 290 kPa), 45 ft3 (1
  270 L)
• 30-minute 4,500 psi (31 000 kPa), 45 ft3 (1
  270 L)
• 45-minute 3,000 psi (21 000 kPa), 66 ft3 (1
  870 L)
• 45-minute 4,500 psi (31 000 kPa), 66 ft3 (1
  870 L)
• 60-minute 4,500 psi (31 000 kPa), 87 ft3 (2
  460 L)
• Variety of high-pressure hose connections
• Low-pressure alarm operation and function
• Preset pressure level at which the alarm
  sounds
• What team members should do when one members
  alarm sounds

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Facepiece Assembly
Facepiece assembly includes the facepiece lens,
an exhalation valve and a low-pressure hose
(breathing tube).
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Breathing

• Controlled Breathing a conscious effort to
  reduce air consumption by forcing exhalation
  from the mouth and allowing natural inhalation
  through the nose.
• Skip Breathing inhaling, holding the breath
  as long as it would take to exhale and then
  inhaling once again before exhaling.

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FIREFIGHTER EVACUATION
Firefighter evacuation from within a burning
building? Broadcast radio message, sounding
audible signal
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Pre-Donning Operational Checks

• Cylinder gauge (full)
• Remote and cylinder gauges (within 100 psi 700
  kPa of each other
• Regulator valves (right position)
• Harness assembly (fully extended)

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Methods of Donning/Storing SCBA
Use either the over-the-head or coat method to
don SCBA stored in the case, or seat-mounted,
rear-mounted or compartment-mounted SCBA.
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Basic Guidelines for Obscured Visibility

• Operate in teams of two
• Crawl or crouch
• Remain in constant contact with partner
• Feel in front with arm or tool for holes,
  stairways, etc.
• Use a guideline (hose, rope or electrical cord)

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Constricted Opening Exit Guidelines

• Maintain contact with regulator
• Loosen straps to reduce your profile
• Remove harness strap(s) to further reduce
  profile is absolutely necessary
• Push SCBA in front of you, maintaining control
  of SCBA at all times

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Refilling Cylinders

• Use a shielded fill station
• Fill slowly to prevent overheating
• Make sure that the cylinder is completely full
  but not over- pressurized

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Questions

• Minimum cylinder capacity
• (90)
• How many pounds per square inch should the
  cylinder and regulator gauges be of each other?
• (100 psi)
• Low pressure alarm
• (Test to see if it sounds briefly when the
  cylinder valve is turned on and again when the
  pressure is relieved.)
• Hose connections
• (Tightness, leaks)

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Questions

• Facepiece Inspection
• (Clean, good condition)
• Harness straps
• (Good condition, fully extended)
• Mainline and bypass valves
• (Open and close)
• Bypass valve
• (Fully closed)
• Daily/weekly inspections
• (facepiece seal and exhalation valve function)

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TEST

• 1. To Comply with NFPA standards, protective
  coats must have?
• A. An outer shell, a thermal barrier, and an
  inner shell
• B. An outer shell, a moisture barrier, and a
  thermal barrierl
• C. An outer shell, a thermal barrier and an inner
  shell
• D. An outer shell, and a thermal barrier

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• 2. Which material is recommended for wear under a
  firefighters protective clothing?
• A. Nylon
• B. Cotton
• C. Polyester
• D. Cotton/polyester
• 3. Remove chemical, oil, and petroleum products
  from a helmet shell as soon as possible. If
  allowed to remain
• A. The absorption of heat will increase
• B. The helmet will become brittle
• C. The suspension system will deteriorate
• D. The shell may soften

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• 4. When oxygen in the atmosphere drops below
  percent , the human body responds by increasing
  the respiratory rate
• A. 9
• B. 14
• C. 18
• D. 21
• 5. More carbon monoxide is present if
• A. There is efficient burning
• B. The smoke is light in colour
• C. There is inefficient burning
• D. There is good ventilation

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• 6. When is a SCBAs bypass valve used?
• A. When the regulator malfunctions
• B. When high heat is encountered
• C. When ay incidents involving chemicals
• D. When changing cylinders
• 7. The face piece of a SCBA should be cleaned by
• A. Washing with warm water and mild disinfectant,
  and air dried
• B. Washing with warm water and alcohol, and dried
  with a paper towel
• C. Washing with warm water only and dried with a
  paper towel
• D. Washing with hot, soapy water and air dried.

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• 8. A PASS alarm should be
• A. Turned on and tested before entering a
  hazardous area
• B. Turned on when donning turn out gear, tested
  weekly
• C. Turned on when a fire fighter needs help, and
  tested before use
• D. Is always on, but needs to be tested before
  use
• 9. Steel and aluminum air cylinders must be
  hydrostatically tested
• A. Three years
• B. Five years
• C. Seven years
• D. Ten years

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• 10. All SCBA facepiece assemblies consist of
• A. A nose cup
• B. A high pressure hose
• C. A pressure gauge
• D. A valve
• 11. A room protected by a total-flooding carbon
  dioxide extinguishing system could create a
  potential hazard.
• A. Smoke
• B. oxygen deficiency
• C. toxic atmosphere
• D. elevated temperature

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• 12. The waist strap of a SCBA is designed to
  distribute the weight of the pack to the
• A. Back
• B. Legs
• C. Hips
• D. Shoulders

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ANSWERS TO TEST

• 1. To Comply with NFPA standards, protective
  coats must have?
• B. An outer shell, a moisture barrier, and a
  thermal barrier
• 2. Which material is recommended for wear under a
  firefighters protective clothing?
• B. Cotton
• 3. Remove chemical, oil, and petroleum products
  from a helmet shell as soon as possible. If
  allowed to remain
• D. The shell may soften

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• 4. When oxygen in the atmosphere drops below
  percent , the human body responds by increasing
  the respiratory rate
• C. 18
• 5. More carbon monoxide is present if
• C. There is inefficient burning
• 6. When is a SCBAs bypass valve used?
• A. When the regulator malfunctions
• 7. The face piece of a SCBA should be cleaned by
• A. Washing with warm water and mild disinfectant,
  and air dried

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• 8. A PASS alarm should be
• A. Turned on and tested before entering a
  hazardous area
• 9. Steel and aluminum air cylinders must be
  hydrostatically tested
• B. Five years
• 10. All SCBA facepiece assemblies consist of
• D. A valve
• 11. A room protected by a total-flooding carbon
  dioxide extinguishing system could create a
  potential hazard.
• B. oxygen deficiency
• 12. The waist strap of a SCBA is designed to
  distribute the weight of the pack to the
• C. Hips