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Awkward_Dragon25 t1_iy66i7a wrote

Reply to comment by Oldbayistheshit in D.C. Firefighters And Paramedics Sue City Over Policy Banning Beards by zsreport

You are thinking of escape hoods, which as the name implies are only for escape and not suitable for entry into an IDLH environment. PAPR similarly is not suitable for entry into an IDLH environment because it requires that the atmosphere still have normal ratios of oxygen and carbon dioxide: they are only designed to filter out airborne contaminants like certain chemical, biological, and radiological agents.

SCBA is the only acceptable respiratory protection for entry into a fire. It is positive pressure in the event of a failure to keep out superheated and/or lethally toxic gases, and provides sufficient oxygen in what is otherwise an oxygen-deficient environment due to the fire consuming all the available oxygen. In order to wear SCBA properly, you MUST be cleanly shaven or it will leak air continuously which will greatly shorten your usable air supply and put you and your entire team at risk. Additionally, if you experience sudden flow failures you might inadvertently inhale superheated/toxic gases whereas for a sealed mask it will suck down against your face and give you at least a chance of diving out a window to safety.

I never had a beard my entire adult life until I retired from firefighting because my safety is more important than any religious or aesthetic requirement, and also because I knew how to follow orders. I signed up to wear a uniform exactly as prescribed by safety experts, just like these people did, and if they can't follow the rules they need to quit and do another job.

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Introverts_United t1_iy72g7u wrote

I always learn so much from you guys. Ya’ll never fail to disappoint.🙂

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ImAMistak3 t1_iy9bk2f wrote

Fuckin nailed it. You chose the job, at a minimum follow the rules that affect yours and your crews safety.

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[deleted] t1_iy6ltg8 wrote

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Ninjroid t1_iy6px7p wrote

I think you just answered your own question.

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Quelcris_Falconer13 t1_iy81tbt wrote

  1. prevent verbal communication

  2. no thermal protection

  3. no eye or nasal airway protection

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Awkward_Dragon25 t1_iy858be wrote

Also it catches on any debris and is ripped out of your mouth and then you're fumbling around in complete darkness in a smoke-charged room.

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[deleted] t1_iyb8ewt wrote

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Awkward_Dragon25 t1_iybgk2r wrote

Face shield is irrelevant. The hose goes from the mouthpiece to the air pack. Doesn't matter how good your gear is, entanglements happen to firefighters and cause fatalities. That's why they drill disentanglement procedures so thoroughly throughout firefighter training. And again, the inability to verbally communicate with a mouthpiece makes it a moot point. You're worthless if you can't talk to your crew during an incident, and you're dead if you can't call a mayday on the radio if the shit hits the fan.

There is literally no solution other than to shave your beard. This is utter foolishness. Either shave the beard or find yourself another job. There is no place in this industry for people who put their personal religious beliefs before safety. There are so many ways to get yourself and your crew killed in a fire I have zero patience for someone who can't respect the safety rules and do the job right, and if these religious liberty nuts had ever served as firefighters they'd never have taken the case to begin with.

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