Motor Vehicle Accidents

[postal79]

Our department SOG's require us to wear SCBA, not be on air just have it on our backs at all MVA's till told to dress down.
this stands whether just spreading speedy dry or cutting battery cables etc, and i think its a bad idea. What do your dept's do?

[DFDco18]

we don't. i really don't find it necessary to wear SCBAs on a MVA. I would think it would prevent mobility, something that is vital for dealing w/ a MVA.

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DFD Company 18
"The Clubhouse"

[postal79]

dfdco18..this is my feeling.. i feel if your not on air what good is the pack if something does happen your not able to get on air in that split second, so to me it is useless,, i would rather have the mobility and less weight while working

[jdm2267]

I believe there should be at least two FF (the hose person plus one other) that should be ready to go with SCBA. If leaking gasoline finds an ignition, your going to have one fast and furious fire, leaving no time to don SCBA.

[flash32]

we have at least two guys put on packs and stand by with a charged hose line for just about all mva's. those two guys are the only ones with them on unless the OCI tells others to do so. The rest of the crew is doing other tasks.

[Engine 101]

We wear our SCBA on car fires, We've never worn it ona MVA, Said earlier its prevents mobillity

Engine 101

[MFFJoe]

I agree with not wearing SCBA on MVC's. Look at the LODD deaths--there are several from FFs being struck on highways. I've not heard of one from a FF needing an SCBA due to some anomaly with a car battery or while spreading absorbent. (The obvious exception is a car fire.)

I would rather have the mobility to get out of the way of that speeding,out of control car. I especially wouldn't want to land on an SCBA while dodging that same car (I had a FF jump over a guardrail last winter to avoid a car, so that I can vouch for). It's like everything else-you're playing the odds. Just try to stack them in your favor.

[gicci]

My stations sop's in PG allow the squad crew to wear duty pants or jeans(as a substitute for bunker pants but steel towed shoes must be worn) a running coat, gloves,helmet, and eye protection. Engine companies normally wear turn out gear but no scba. Mobility, on the part of rescuers, is very important when providing good patient care. If everyone was wearing a bottle it could compromise patient care and speed of extrication.

[This message has been edited by gicci (edited 03-09-2001).]

[SBrooks]

I'm gonna have to go with the gicci on this one. Turnout gear as we know it is made for interior structural firefighting. PPE requirements for vehicle extrication include abrasion protection, hand, foot, eye, head, and hearing protection, as well as some flash protection. Other than that, go as light as possible. Ideally you'd have FR street clothes or a jumpsuit, a lightweight helmet, nice eyewear, nice gloves, some HPD when it got loud, and steel toed boots.

On the other hand...those companies tasked with providing fire protection and hazard control should be prepared to do so. I'm not sure that an SCBA is necessary if the car is not on fire and you are on the scene with a hoseline...fire can grow fast, but you are after all, outside, and present at the time of ignition, and should be able to extinguish the fire prior to it engulfing much.

[DED1645]

To wear an airpack on a MVA can be quite a inconvience. It will limit mobility if you should have to enter the vehicle to assist with C-spine. It also can prevent mobility trying to stabalize the vehicle. The only people that wear packs are the two on the knob that protect the rest as someone else stated if a fuel should ignite or grass in a field etc...

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David DeCant
Firefighter/NREMT-B
Barrington, New Jersey
Career or volunteer we are all brothers. Just feel good for the good you do for others.

[Fyresq50]

The NFPA requires a minimum of 200 GPM available, on a charged line, with 2 firefighters in turnout gear and SCBA, CONNECTED and breathing tank air on all active extrications. Not for the extrication team. Is it practical-No. Is it neccessary? - Not until the first time a car lights up with an extrication crew all around and inside the car and you have guys that were standing by with the engine without SCBA and a line ready scrambling to save the team. Not a slam-just my opinion.

Jim

[eng10drvr]

Our dept. SOG requires the backup FF to wear an SCBA on all MVA. They also are required to pull a line if we have an entrapment. We require all this for saftey. But it is also officers discretion on how long they must wear the SCBA. I usally tell my FF to take off once we determine the scene is secure of fire hazards.

[Firelover]

I don't think it such a bad idea depending how big your responding crew is. I know if we respond to a car fire, then obviously we'll be bottled up, but just for MVA's I don't think it's part of our SOG's.



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Joel

If you sent us to HELL, WE'D PUT IT OUT!!

**And of course these are only my opinion and only mine. Don't take it out on anyone else but me.**