How Long Can You Hold Your Breath?

I am a bona fide Baby Boomer and grew up on B&W TV programs like Sea Hunt starring Lloyd Bridges. I remember episodes where he was under water and his air tank malfunctioned. You could see desperation on his face through the diving mask and yet miraculously, through the power of TV magic and creative writers, he survived to bring another adventure the following week.

Sometimes as firefighters we find ourselves in tight places that are just down right unpleasant. We call these places IDLH's or Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health. When faced with an IDLH environment we put on our SCBA's (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus). Most situations involving fire are IDLH and vehicle fires can be the most atrocious offenders with a full load of synthetic materials, special alloy engine blocks that give off toxic fumes when heated under flame, batteries and of course fuel.

Imagine now you are a firefighter and have responded to a fire in a store with lots of merchandise and many isles that zig zag through the interior. The officer in charge directs your team to start an interior fire attack. Your team of three firefighters advance the hose and carry tools to the fire location in total darkness due to heavy smoke and extreme heat. You are exhausted and breathing heavily before the water is directed toward the fire. In just a few minutes the low level alarm of your SCBA sounds and you have about 5 minutes of air left in your tank. All three firefighters begin the journey out of the smoke black interior in hopes that they reach outside air before the tank is empty. Your pulse and respiration's increase as you know you are nearing your last breath all the time searching for your exit. A Lloyd Bridges look of desperation comes across your face until at last a glimmer of light and then your are outside.

Firefighters don't have the backup of TV magic or scripted scenarios to help us out of a tight spot. We do however have training and recently seventeen Buckhannon firefighters participated in an air management training exercise, where members were carefully monitored during a variety of stress and exercise levels, all while wearing full gear and SCBA's. The results of the training provided participants with a realistic measurement of air usage under simulated fire conditions. Understanding air management is critical for firefighters and fire ground officers to assure firefighters have sufficient air to execute their duties and most importantly have enough reserve air to exit a burning building.

What's your answer to the question, 'How long can you hold your breath?' Probably not long enough in an IDLH.