46 S.O.G. 

SECTION: Equipment

SUBJECT: Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Qualifications & Use

REVISED: 05/2002

A. To help prevent the occurrence of a fire fighter being in distress, missing, lost, injured, trapped, or unconscious and not being able to summon assistance.

B. To provide each firefighter with a device to be worn as a part of the SCBA which emits an audible alarm signal in order to summon assistance in the event that the fire fighter becomes incapacitated or needs assistance.

C. To provide each firefighter with training, which when complete will give the firefighter the knowledge and skills necessary to inspect, use, search for, locate and maintain in working order the PASS device.

A. Each Town of Watertown Fire Department SCBA, which is placed in service on any piece of apparatus, shall be equipped with a PASS device.

B. Firefighters will not be permitted to operate in any hazardous environment without a PASS device in operation.

C. The PASS device will be located on the right shoulder strap. PASS device is integrated into the SCBA and will arm itself whenever the SCBA is charged.

D. The PASS device shall not be removed from the SCBA by any personnel other than those authorized to perform repairs and maintenance on the device.

E. The device shall be checked for proper functioning during the monthly truck report performed by the captain.

F. The SCBA and PASS device are considered to be, as one unit therefore if one or the other is found to be malfunctioning both units will be removed from service.

G. The Chief, once notified of the defective equipment, will arrange immediate replacement and/or repair of the unit.

H. Batteries will be replaced when needed. The unit requires 1-9 volt battery and 2-lithium batteries.

I. Training utilizing the PASS devices will be conducted to maintain both the knowledge and skills necessary to use, search for, locate, and maintain in working order the PASS devices. This training is highly recommended for all suppression firefighters and mandatory for all FAST team members.

A. PASS device inspection

1. Check for visible damage to the device

2. Push the red alarm button, a loud pulsating distress sound should sound, let the device sound for a minimum of 5 seconds.

3. When test is complete shake the device which shall place the device in the armed mode, green lights should flash, let the device stand for 1 minute, the alarm distress sound should start, let it sound for 5 seconds.

4. Depress gray button on the side of the device 2 times to shut the device off and return it to the stowed condition, test complete.

                    B PASS Device Malfunction

1. Whenever a Pass device is found to be malfunctioning, the SCBA will be placed out of service, and the Chief notified.

                    C. PASS Device Use.

1. The Pass device may be manually activated by a firefighter in distress by depressing the RED button on the device which will produce a loud pulsating distress sound.

2. When in the armed position the device will start to sound a low volume distress signal, if the firefighter is not in distress simply tap the device to re-arm it.

3. The device and the redundant alarm will sound a low volume beep sound as a low battery is detected, replace the battery.