By: Mark Gregory
As an officer of a Truck Company, your job is to constantly maintain that your members are on their “A game” as far as operational proficiency is concerned. We have many different tools to choose from in our arsenal but, one tool that is highly overlooked is the Rapid Intervention Pak (RIT Pak).
The RIT Pak was designed to provide a firefighter “breathable air” when they are low or completely out of air in an IDLH environment. This portable breathing station is lightweight and can provide assistance to a fellow firefighter that is in the process of being removed from the IDLH area or one that is trapped and is involved in a prolonged extrication (e.g. collapse).
Components of the RIT Pak
The RIT Pak (figure 1) is composed of the following components:
• SCBA cylinder (generally 45-60 mins depending on Dept S.O.P.)
• Low/High Pressure Assembly
• High Pressure Hose with UAC (Universal Air Connection)
• Low Pressure Hose with a Schrader and Hansen Fitting
• Non CBRN Regulator and Facepiece
• Equipment Bag with Shoulder Sling
Firefighters are always looking to add different features to enhance the operations of our equipment. My Company’s RIT Pak also consists of medical scissors, a 20′ piece of tubular webbing and a steel carabiner. These additions provide necessary tools to aid in the disentanglement and removal of a downed firefighter. The scissors have endless uses for removing obstruction. They cut easily through cable and electrical wires which are a common cause for firefighter entanglement. The webbing is used to create a retrieval harness in removal operations. The carabiner can be used as part of the retrieval harness or to tether the RIT Pak to the injured member during their rescue.
Checking the RIT Pak
The RIT Pak should be inspected at the beginning of each tour and after each use. All components of the system should be checked for cleanliness and proper operation. All hoses should be checked for cracks and abrasions. The couplings should be examined for damage and operability. The air cylinder should read “Full”. If not, the cylinder will need to be changed. Upon completion of the RIT Pak check, the system will require to be bled down. This is a 3 step operation. First, the cylinder must be fully closed. The high pressure supply line is bled by pushing on the center of the rubber cap for the UAC Coupling. Finally, the low pressure side is bled by using the purge valve on the regulator. If any malfunctions are observed, the RIT Pak should be placed Out of Service.
Air Management Methods
The RIT Pak can provide air to a firefighter in several different ways. The first method we will discuss is using the UAC (Universal Air Connection).
The UAC (figure 2) allows the RIT Company to replenish air to the SCBA of the member in trouble (as long as their SCBA is equipped with a UAC) in approximately 1 minute. This system is connected to the RIT Pak with a 5ft length of high pressure hose. The UAC equalizes the pressure of the RIT Pak with the SCBA of the downed member. If further air is required such as in a prolonged extrication, the RIT Pak will continue to equalize its pressure, ½ in each cylinder. Although this sounds like a “cureall”, there are downfalls to this method. The first consideration in UAC use should be whether or not the member’s protective rubber housing is intact on their UAC. If not, the potential for debris being in their UAC is great and this operation should be aborted. The rubber housing should be checked during SCBA tour checks and after all SCBA uses. What was the cause of the firefighter to go down (e.g. SCBA emergency)? If we can’t communicate with the firefighter, we should consider possible damage to the SCBA and pursue another method of air replacement.
The Low Pressure Hose offers us several options for air supply. The Low Pressure hose can come in different lengths depending on the manufacturer and Department. The FDNY uses a 20 ft Low Pressure hose. While this length offers the ability to conquer air replacement in restricted spaces, it also makes air line management paramount. Some Departments have opted for the Low Pressure hose in 10ft lengths. The storing of the Low Pressure hose (figure 3) is also important. An “inside out method” of packing prevents the air-line from becoming tangled and plays out in an orderly fashion. The Low Pressure hose can be used to replace a firefighter’s regulator. By removing the regulator of the downed firefighter and replacing it with the RIT Pak regulator, air can be supplied to the firefighter. The advantage to this method is that the facepiece, helmet, and hood of the member do not need to be disturbed.
The Hansen Low Pressure Fitting (located on the member’s low pressure hose) can also be replaced with the Hansen Fitting of the RIT Pak. This method can be applied in seconds and makes for a great drill. Once again, the facepiece, helmet and hood of the firefighter in trouble do not need to be disturbed. Replacing the firefighter’s facepiece with that of the RIT Pak’s is our last option. This procedure is the most involved out of all of the Low Pressure Air Replacement Procedures. RIT members must constantly assure that the purge valve is not left in the open position on the regulator of the downed firefighter as this will lead to rapid air depletion.
Disadvantages to the RIT Pak
As with all fire service equipment, there are drawbacks to the RIT Pak. Some of these drawbacks must be monitored while others can be overcome. The RIT Pak, unlike a regular SCBA does not have a remote air gauge, a vibra-alert in the regulator or a “heads-up display” in the facepiece. If you look at the regulator that is assigned to your RIT Pak, it maybe falsely marked and states “vibra alert”. Pass this important information on to the other members of your Company.
The only way to monitor air usage is by reading the SCBA cylinder gauge. A member of the RIT Company must be assigned this important function.
The facepiece may be difficult to don on a downed firefighter. The use of a “pull grip” through the rear mesh of the head netting along with 2″ key rings inserted on the pull straps (figure 4) can make donning the facepiece on the downed firefighter (while still wearing full PPE) easy. The “pull grip” can be easily made using a piece of tubular webbing and the 2″key rings can be purchased at any hardware store.
While removing the member from the IDLH, how can we insure that the facepiece remains in place on the downed firefighter? A short “tag line” with a “key chain type carabiner” is a great solution (figure 5). Once put on air, attach the carabiner to the downed firefighter’s SCBA in the vicinity of his shoulder strap alligator clips. This will provide a buffer if there is tension (caused by air management member falling behind or temporary snags) and will assist in the facepiece from being dislodged.
A question often asked is “upon deployment of the RIT Company, should the RIT Pak be turned on outside the IDLH”? Some Departments are in favor of this practice but, use caution. As you are proceeding towards the downed firefighter it is possible to accidentally “charge” the system which would cause a waste of air. Firefighters should be guided by their Department’s SOPs pertaining to this procedure.
Thinking “Outside the Box”
As stated, the RIT Pak is an asset for firefighters experiencing air issues / emergencies but, what about using the RIT Pak for civilian use?
The RIT Pak can be used for civilians but, the Pak assigned to the RIT Company should only be used for firefighter use. Firefighter emergencies can occur at anytime. If a RIT Pak is required for civilian use, it should be taken from another rig for that purpose. The RIT Pak has been used for victims requiring extended extrications in IDLH areas involving both fire and confined space situations.
The RIT Pak has a tremendous value on the fireground. All members, not just those assigned to RIT should be well versed in its’ operation. The lives of your fellow firefighters may one day depend on it.
