Situations Where You May Need a Breathing Apparatus

When you think of safety gear, you likely think of things like gloves, protective suits, and fire extinguishers. However, one piece of safety equipment is very important and often overlooked: A breathing apparatus.

What is a Breathing Apparatus?

A breathing apparatus is designed to provide you with breathable air when it is too dangerous to breathe in your surrounding environment. It gives you enough to get away from the situation.

There are several different types available to you, including wearable, self-contained units that you can put on and use to leave the area. These are useful for situations where there has been a spill or a leak. In spaces that may be dangerous, but where you cannot immediately evacuate, you may have a system that is connected to a central air provider where one or more people can use mouthpieces to breathe.

Why You Need One

There are multiple situations that require additional pure air. If you work in one of these areas, you’ll need to ensure there are protective options nearby and should be aware of how to reach the nearest breathing apparatus in order to get to safety.

Toxic or Potentially Hazardous Environments

Factories or other situations where there are hazardous materials that may contaminate the air will require options for breathable air. If a toxic chemical spills in your workspace, you cannot breathe it in without dangerous consequences. Be sure to have enough units for everyone who is in the space.

These units are often used in a space where there has been a spill.

Lack of Oxygen

Sometimes, there is simply not enough oxygen in the air and this can cause people to lose consciousness and even die. To prevent this, a source of oxygen is necessary, often in the form of a drop-down mask that is connected to air.

A good example of this is in an aeroplane when it loses pressure. The masks drop from the ceiling and everyone can use them to breathe until the plane is able to land.

Smoky Environments

In a fire, you need to have a way to breathe if you’re going to get through the smoke. Most casualties in a fire actually die from smoke inhalation, not burns. This is why firefighters frequently use wearable air devices so they can ensure they have breathable air while moving through the fire, but in the event of an emergency in your building, you may also want to have a breathing apparatus available.

As you can see, there are many situations where you may need to have access to clean air. To learn more about breathing apparatus, contact Thameside Fire Protection.