The Rule of Air Management (ROAM) states: “Know how much air you have, and manage that air, so that you leave the hazard area before your low-air alarm sounds.”
For years firefighters have been working in hazardous areas until their low air alarm activates. What many firefighters don’t realize is that the low air warning is telling us we are using our reserve air. Self Contained Breathing Apparatus cylinders should be managed in quarters or percentage of supply. The last quarter (25%) is considered reserve air. The final 25% should be considered emergency air supply, not routine use supply.
The rate at which we consume our air supply is different for every firefighter. Air consumption rate (ACR) depends on several factors, but primarily based on two; work load and fitness level. Essentially, the harder you work, the faster you breathe. Without the presence of a stop watch while you work, there is no way of determining the rate at which you are consuming air during an assignment. This makes air management even more important. Firefighters must manage their air supply and plan to exit hazardous areas before reaching reserve air levels.
Unplanned events can and do occur. An equipment failure or collapse of building materials can quickly cause a firefighter to become disorientated or trapped. Working too long into your air supply and not properly planning for your exit of the hazardous area can lead to depletion of your air supply and possibly mean the difference between life and death.
By properly managing your air as you work, you can identify the Point of No Return and ensure you safely exit the hazardous area. The Point of No Return is the period of time or distance into a hazardous area when a firefighter must stop, reverse their progress and begin to exit. This point will be determined by your ACR and can be identified by properly managing your air supply.
Here are some ways you can manage your air in a hazardous area:
1. Check your air at regular intervals. For example, when changing levels, after completing a task and during progress reports to the incident commander or a supervisor.
2. Utilize air conservation techniques during rest periods. For example, skip breathing or Reilly breathing.
3. Monitor how you are breathing while performing assignments. During heavy workloads, breathe in through the mouth and out through the nose. During light workloads, breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. Properly breathing will ensure good rate and volume.
4. Know your limitations and don’t over extend operations. Pushing yourself beyond your limits or working too long can lead to trouble.
Conduct an Air Consumption Rate drill on the company level and then practice identifying your Point of No Return at all of your future drills. Enroll in our next Advanced SCBA & Air Management course and expose yourself to a higher level of training. Stay safe, keep training.
