As the latest in our weekly company drill programs on Firefighter Survival, the session on Monday night Sept 9 focused on emergency breathing techniques. Emergency breathing techniques are employed during times of high stress--such as when the firefighter is trapped or otherwise in distress---to conserve air, focus thinking and plan an escape.

The drill started with a review of the new Crew Force radio system that is being implemented by TSFR. Crew Force allows the officer of a responding unit to communicate several standard, routine unit status changes via the onboard laptop instead of tying up valuable airtime.

The drill continued in the classroom with a brief power point session on several different emergency breathing techniques that have been developed within the fire service. Personnel donned breathing apparatus in the classroom to get practice in using the protocols. After this, personnel adjourned to the apparatus bay, donned full PPE including SCBA and then engaged in hands on firefighting operations including forcible entry and search and rescue. Operating in teams of two the firefighters completed tasks and then were placed into a MAYDAY situation. They then were expected to transmit their location, situation and needs, followed by execution of one of the emergency breathing techniques.