SCBA

Self Contained Breathing Apparatus IMO, the best invention created for firefighting operations. While there are other great tools that have come down the pike, Thermal Imaging cameras being one, is there any thing which ranks with the SCBA ? Local lingo has several names for it.

I can remember when I first came on and the mask seemed to be more of a decoration than an actual piece of equipment. You were "discouraged" from using it by senior members. Epic tales of fires, leather lung lore, or "war" stories abounded. Didn't a day go by without one. The stories almost always started off with the statement of how masks were not needed or only cowards wore them. I can remember the first fire I responded to where after the main body of fire was knocked down, I was "encouraged" to take it off to perform overhauling. My eyes immediately started burning and I could not stop coughing but I did it anyways. What was amazing was the number of guys smoking. It didn't seem to bother those guys and I swore these were the toughest guys I ever met.

Not using your mask has got to be the most idiotic thing which you can do on this job. Know your mask, keep it clean and well maintained. Never respond without knowing it is fully functioning.

When you report for duty and before any cup of coffee and/or the latest firehouse bs, make sure you check your personal equipment. With the mask being the first priority. Do not allow yourself or men to respond to any incident without knowing their equipment is in top order.

I once had a Captain who would stand right over me when I checked all my gear. It was like he knew when I would come in and he would appear at the truck as soon as I exited the locker room. These daily inspections would drive me crazy and had me feeling that he didn't like me. I thought the guy was a prick and didn't get laid enough.

Now it's a couple of decades later and I have to tell you that, every time I run into him I can not thank him enough. I never developed the habit of not using the mask and not experiencing unnecessary nights in the hospital coughing up black stuff is/was the outcome of those daily inspections.

I think about those leather lung guys from time to time. Fond memories always make me smile when I think about the good times we had. I also wonder what they would be doing if they were still alive. Far too many of them are dead and I always wonder if limiting their use of the mask contributed to their early demise.

So, I don't know about you but I plan on getting back way more money from the pension than I contributed. Old age and more years retired than I worked is my goal. I'm known to be ambivalent about a lot of things but the mask is not one of them.