More Shortcuts? Three out of four in the photo can't use a SCBA to rescue you...
The chief a LMRFD firefighter and one volunteer in this photo couldn't get a good seal on their SCBA breathing apparatus if they needed to enter a burning building. This puts your life at risk as well as their life!
NFPA 1500 clearly states in 5-3.8, "A growth of beard or facial hair at any point where the SCBA facepiece is designed to seal with the face shall be prohibited for members required to use SCBA."
Occupational Safety and Health Standard 29 CFR 1910.134 – “…shall not permit respirators with
tight-fitting facepieces to be worn by employees who have:” Facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that
interferes with valve function; or Any condition that interferes with the face-to-facepiece seal or valve function
Much of the equipment the LMRFD uses is outdated. I was issued a SCBA mask made in 1984 that's a 36 year old mask that your life depends on in a structure fire. Also a fit test is REQUIRED but not done.
I'm not trying to be rude, but four out of the five men in this photo seem morbidly obese to me. How can men who are so overweight expect to be able to be dressed in full firefighting gear on a hot summer day out here, carry a fire hose up an embankment or through a deep sandy area to fight a fire? I don't think it IS possible. Do these firemen have to take a yearly physical and go through some sort of obstacle course to show they have the stamina and strength for such a physically demanding job? What if they had to climb over a fence? Could they? I bet not. Why are all of them so HUGE?
ReplyDelete