MSA G1 SCBA and cardio fitness.

[u/Humble_Warthog_7172]

I am not confident about my abilities wearing an SCBA. I feel I use my air too quickly. I go from a full tank to the bell going off in 15:33 while climbing stairs at a moderate pace. I want to improve. If you have any suggestions let me hear them. I am fairly new to fire service.

[u/firestuds]

In my SCBA training, the first time I went on air I had the exact same problem. I kinda panicked afterwards bc I was like “how can I catch up in just a couple weeks” and I also wondered how all the smokers were doing better than me. The next time I showed up I put the majority of my attention on my breathing to make sure I don’t waste any air. Keeping calm keeps your heart rate low, and using the right breathing technique (google pursed-lip technique) can help you use the available oxygen more efficiently.

That was literally the only thing I changed, and it made me last 50% longer. Passed the rest of the course with ease.

[u/Humble_Warthog_7172 → u/firestuds]

Thank you. What is a good goal to shoot for as far as time to make a tank last?

[u/firestuds → u/Humble_Warthog_7172]

We calculate with 20-25 mins of work time, if I remember correctly our then-training course was pretty close to that (smoked up crouching labyrinth thingy, gym room with bike, infinity ladder and some other contraption, and then back through the labyrinth one more time. I think the average got out with 70-80 left of a full 300 bars. Climbing flights of stairs on end can obviously be more taxing on your cardiovascular system, so if you want to get better at that long term the best way is climbing lots of stairs in training. Also don’t need an SCBA for that.

But I reckon if you haven’t really payed attention to your breathing before that might make a huge difference already, especially if you’re already fit and were wondering why you’re running out that fast

[u/Icy_Turnover_2390]

I was fortunate in that I worked both for a station that had a compressor and a training tower. Try to get a few air aware drills in a shift. For me it was the repetition that improved my working times . Wear the pack frequently and perform work drills, you will become more accustomed to working on air and be able to regulate your breathing. Only caveat is that using a SCBA can leave you feeling gassed, allow appropriate time for recovery and you've got this!

[u/Humble_Warthog_7172 → u/Icy_Turnover_2390]

Thanks. We also have a training tower and an air fill station for our bottles. I will keep at it.

[u/Left_Afloat]

I would avoid working out in gear, but wearing the BAs and your mask on air completing “CrossFit” style functional workouts will help you. You can also buy a blast mask attachment for the G1 masks and utilize that during other workouts to get you more comfortable working and breath with a mask on.

[u/Humble_Warthog_7172 → u/Left_Afloat]

Thank you. I will look into the blast mask. Why do you sugest no turnouts during workouts?

[u/Left_Afloat → u/Humble_Warthog_7172]

Unless they are brand new, turnouts will never be 100% clean. Opening up your pores by sweating allows absorption into the skin. You already do enough while training, we need to minimize our time in our gear. The new thing is PFAS, which is carcinogenic…:like most things. Just forever chemicals.

If you have a chance, find a place that does infrared sauna workouts. That can at least help with heat acclimation and sweating it out.

[u/Humble_Warthog_7172 → u/Left_Afloat]

Makes sense. Thank you.

[u/mojored007]

Slow down …breath in breath out..relax..it gets easier..steady state 30 min pace n a bike or treadmill will help

[u/username67432]

Start smoking cigarettes.