3. Self Contained Breathing Apparatus A self contained breathing apparatus or SCBA is a device worn by first responders, firefighters, industrial worker and others to provide breathable air in environments that are Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH). SCBAs when properly used, prevent respiratory contact or contamination with the products of combustion, super heated gases, toxic gasses, and all other potentially injurious atmospheric contaminants.
4. History Before the SCBA fire service folklore recounts the practice of firemen growing long beards to help them breathe heavy smoke. The theory was a fireman would dip his whiskers in a pail of water, then clinch his wet beard between his teeth and breathe through his mouth, using the wet beard as a filter. Between the years 1824-1945 there were numerous breathing apparatus prototypes. During the first decade of the twentieth century, mine rescue teams across Germany, England and Mexico and even mountaineering rescue squads in England, became accustomed to the reliability and performance of using their Dräger breathing apparatus. Word spread quickly about the great success of the breathing devices due to their use in the harsh environments of underground mines and in high altitudes. One industry taking notice of the Dräger apparatus was the American fire service because they too could use dependable breathing protection against smoke and fumes when fighting fires and Dräger’s technology was deemed revolutionary. From 1913 through 1918, two American - New York and Pittsburgh - city fire departments began equipping their firefighters with the Dräger breathing apparatus. Today, both cities are stillusingDräger self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
