r/Firefighting • u/Humble_Warthog_7172 • 2d ago

General Discussion MSA G1 SCBA and cardio fitness.

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.

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u/firestuds 2d ago

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.

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u/Humble_Warthog_7172 2d ago

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

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u/firestuds 2d ago

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