How to buy breathing apparatus

By Greg Friese

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Accessing patients in dangerous environments requires the proper personal protective equipment, which for appropriately trained EMS professionals may include a breathing apparatus. Here are important considerations when making a breathing apparatus purchase:

1. Shop around. Your department will likely own this piece of equipment for 15 to 20 years. Talk to reputable and experienced manufacturers and their dealers.

2. Ask for references. Contact satisfied (and even unsatisfied customers) of several suppliers. Ask those references about breathing apparatus performance, service after the sale from the manufacturer and/or dealer, and ongoing maintenance and care costs.

3. Know what you need. Every department has different needs based on its call volume, number of personnel, frequency of training, and health and fitness of members. A volunteer department with a low call volume may want to select a basic setup for rapid and easy donning.

4. NFPA Currency. Make sure your equipment selection is compliant with the NFPA Standard 1981. This is especially important for grant funding eligibility.

Like any piece of equipment, the lowest price is not equivalent to the best product. Understand your needs, talk to other departments, and compare product features with your needs and wants before purchasing a breathing apparatus.

What are your other suggestions? Anything we missed in the list above? Leave a comment below or email products@ems1.com with your feedback.