regulator issue

[LtBlondie]

ok this is our problem, I wonder if anyone else out there has to deal with this kind of severe safety issue , we are now using not 1 not 2 but 3 different types of regulators for our msa scba's. We have the belt mounted and the new quarter turn mask mounted and NOW a new firehawk mask mounted "pop" in type so, from a safety point of view, you as the RIT team come upon a firefighter that has a facepeice that is comprimised in some way what do you do?? flip a coin to guess which kind he is wearing so you can change it for him and save his life....just looking for help in how to approach this with management, any thoughts??

[Red_Devil]

I would bring it up from a health and safety issue, contact health and safety rep and bring up the issue with them, if there doing their job they will bring it to the upper brass desk

[colin911]

Yes, definitely get your H+S union reps about it. That sounds like a tragedy just waiting to happen.
Makes me wonder who came up with the idea to do that, and what was the reason they saw fit to issue 3 kinds of regulators.

[LtBlondie]

Money!! they want the "newest" in technology but don't want to buy all 240 of us the"newest" so some, suffer and use the "old" belt mounted that FREEZE in an instant, now that's another problem in itself.

[FFWannabe]

It never ceases to amaze me that money would be at the root of putting people's lives in danger. The city wants the fire department to be well prepared to handle every situation and protect the city and it's people, but they won't make sure everyone has the same regulators? It sure does seem like tragedy waiting to strike. Is there a way you can draft up a scenario or two and have them submitted as a safety issue? I'm not sure what the procedures are for something like that, since I am on the outside looking in, but there must be something you can get started.... since it could be a life or death issue, I bet many would fall in behind you to see the right changes are made.

Hmm, just doesn't seem right....

Sue :confused:

[WFD999]

Had the same problem. We were in the process of updateing our BA with MSA's with the 97 regs then the NFPA upated reg and the next fiscal year for us the 97's were no longer availible. Had to do a bunch of horse trading with other dept's in the area to get a standard in our hall. It sounds like your in a situation with multiple halls. Dedicate one type of reg per hall. and as folters come in for sick days etc do a HSE orentation. this solves the problem even with multiple halls working one incident. Your running all MSA the bottles will interchange only wrinkle is if your running 4400's along with 2216's.

[LtBlondie]

we don't use 2216's at all anymore but my issue would be with RIT what if the FF in trouble has one type the the RIT bag is carrying another!! Do we flip a coin? Do we carry 3 different masks in with us ?It's just frustrating, were not talking about a ton of money here!!

[WFD999]

What about a standardized RIC.

[colin911]

You can't standardize a RIT bag when the department is using 3 different models of regulator and facepiece. As Blondie said, you can't take in three different masks, fumble around in the smoke and darkness and try out each one and guess which one the downed FF has on.

Blondie, I know when we buddy breath on our SCBA's, the place that we make connection is below the low-pressure reducer. Is that not a standard connection or are they all different sized low-pressure hoses??? Does that make sense???

[LtBlondie]

well we don't "buddy" breath, but we transfill, so one of us in the back will have a pouch on our belt and if need be we can equalize the other unitl RIT arrives, however sometimes you get mixed up with the tactical jobs your performing and you may end up with someone who TOO doen't have the transfill line, the "nipple" is located on the dragonfly, but apparantley now they all have to be built at the rear of your bottle near the "bell" becasue with them all over the place some guys were not able to find them in a pinch so now they will all be in one spot..whew ok does that make sense?

[WFD999]

Ah crap!!!!!!! Sorry guys I guess I should read a little more carefully. Missed the part " With the face piece comprimised" OOOOPPS. I Keepem Mcfingers parked until readem more carefulum.


Maybe Duct Tape:eek:

[FLASHOVER05]

Even at my college we use a standard mask... full time use the newer 2216 face sheild regs. while the part time students use the 2216 beltbuckle regs. it may not be the best but at least their constitent... Call up your Health and safety rep. or union rep... don't put up with your life being placed in Jeopardy for in consistencies... worse comes to worse... form a petition to have the problem fixed... Make the problem as public as possible

[no-post]

Our RIT teams have a bag with a complete bottle and mask ready to go. Our SOP is that the rit team will take off the mask and backpack/bottle of the down firefighter and replace them with the RIT pack, then that gives the RIT team extra time to deal with the rescue without having to worry too much about air. It is pretty quick to change out bottles and mask. After the mask is on, the bottle is snap linked to the front of the down firefighter, and then the RIT team can effect the rescue. This might be something to look into.

[mutts252]

Our RIT teams have a bag with a complete bottle and mask ready to go. Our SOP is that the rit team will take off the mask and backpack/bottle of the down firefighter and replace them with the RIT pack, then that gives the RIT team extra time to deal with the rescue without having to worry too much about air. It is pretty quick to change out bottles and mask. After the mask is on, the bottle is snap linked to the front of the down firefighter, and then the RIT team can effect the rescue. This might be something to look into.

when you think about it, that sounds like an extremely efficient way of doing things... especially if neighbouring departments are involved on a mutual aid, for instance - no worrying about whose RIT team has what attachments for whose equipment. sounds like a great system :D

[mcleodkent]

Luckily Scott has not changed their face mask. One hall I was in had all nice new 4.5 bottles and then we had to do a retro fit back to 2.2. The other halls in the department where staying with 2.2 (for whatever reason). So instead of up grading everyone to 4.5 we went to 2.2. But I will have to admit that they had a rhyme to their reason. The standardized all the packs, so there was no confusion.