CIBOLO FIRE DEPARTMENT

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

PASS DEVICES

Purpose

A. To provide equipment that will enhance the safety of every firefighter entering a visually obscured toxic atmosphere by means on an audible alarm.

Policy

All members shall be trained and tested by a certified instructor, recognized by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection, in proper use, selection, care and maintenance of a Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) per NFPA 1982,and HB 382 Section 419.042, and manufacturer specifications through either an integrated on non-integrated PASS system.

Procedure for Proper Use, Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS)

A. PASS Alarms shall be used in accordance with the following:

1. The PASS alarm will be attached to the harness waist belt of the SCBA in easy reach, or shall be an integrated system as on the Pantherä SCBA models. The PASS alarm shall be in the “on” position any time a fire fighter enters a hazardous environment.

B. Integrated PASS device systems (Compassä):

a. The Pantherä SCBA models are equipped with the Compassä integrated PASS device.

b. The Compassä PASS device shall not be removed from the Pantherä SCBA and used as a Personal Alert Safety System device independently from the Pantherä SCBA

1. Maintenance of Integrated PASS device systems (Compassä)

a. Battery requirement for the Compassä PASS device, per the manufacturer, is a 9-volt battery.

b. The battery is encased in the Compassä PASS device.

c. The battery is reached on the back of the Compassä PASS device.

d. The battery is to be replaced, per manufacturer, every 1000 hours of use.

e. To ease record keeping the battery shall be replaced twice per year, using daylight savings time as a guide. The records shall be maintained by the Training Officer, or designee determined by the Fire Chief.

f. Instructions for replacing battery (twice yearly):

1. Unfasten Compassä PASS device from backpack.

2. Turn Compassä PASS device over, where the rear of the unit is facing you.

3. Using an Allen Wrench remove the two screws holding the faceplate for the battery compartment.

4. Remove the faceplate.

5. Remove the battery from the Compassä unit and replace with a new battery.

6. Discard the battery in an acceptable manner.

g. Daily check of unit

1. Turn the Compassä unit on by:

2. Depress the red button located on the right side of the unit. Listen for an audible alert and visualize that the lights on the front of the unit are flashing green. Leave the unit on until it begins to alarm. Turn the unit off by depressing the red button on the right side of the unit.

3. Turn the SCBA cylinder so that it charges the Pantherä SCBA pack system. Check the Compassä unit turns on automatically when the SCBA pack system is charged. Listen for an audible alert and visualize that the lights on the front of the unit are flashing green. Leave the unit on until it begins to alarm. Depress the red button on the right side of the unit to reset it.

4. With the Compassä unit on depress and hold the red button located on the right side of the unit until the alarm begins to sound, visualize that the lights on the front of the unit are red.

5. After the alarm has begun to sound and visual check is complete depress the red button on the right side of the unit to silence the alarm.

6. Turn the SCBA cylinder off, and bleed the air from the Pantherä SCBA system by turning the red knob located on the side of the regulator return the knob to operating position once the system is purged.

7. Once the system is purged depress the red button on the right side of the Compassä unit and turn the unit off.

8. If any part of the Compassä unit should be found not to be in working order remove the SCBA from service and report the discrepancy to the shift officer (Lieutenant or senior fire fighter) so that they may report the problem to the Shift Captain.

9. The Shift Leader shall report all discrepancies to the Training Officer who shall correct the problem and return the unit to service as soon as possible.