Firefighter Safety and Self-Survival
Firefighter Safety and Self-Survival tests your ability to prevent, recognize, and survive a Mayday: air management, accountability, RIT, and self-rescue. Houston's heat and long response times make early Mayday calls and rehab discipline exam favorites.
Core rules and concepts
- NFPA 1500 sets the fire department safety and health program; NFPA 1403 governs live-fire training; NFPA 1982 covers PASS and SCBA alarms.
- Air management uses thirds: one-third to work, one-third to return, one-third as reserve. Treat the low-air alarm as an emergency, not a warning to finish the room.
- Call MAYDAY for: lost, trapped, entangled, out of air, injured, or collapsed. Use LUNAR: Location, Unit, Name, Assignment, Resources/air remaining.
- Activate PASS, stay low, control breathing, and follow a hose line or wall. If the exit is blocked, breach a wall to an adjacent space or use a window.
- RIT/RIC stands by with a radio, TIC, forcible entry tools, spare SCBA, and stokes basket. Two-in/two-out applies until RIT is on scene.
- PAR is a roll call at benchmarks: arrival, primary search complete, fire knocked down, and before release.
Worked example
A firefighter searching a basement reports 25% air and cannot find the stairs. The correct sequence is to activate PASS, radio MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY with LUNAR, stay low, and move along a wall toward the last known exit. If the stair is blocked by heat, the firefighter should enter an adjacent room, close the door, and breach or exit through a window while conserving air. Reasoning: the Mayday is called before air reaches zero; the wall gives orientation; the reserve air supports the RIT or self-exit. Waiting until the alarm sounds removes options.
Traps that cost marks
- Delaying MAYDAY to avoid embarrassment.
- Removing the facepiece in smoke.
- Not activating PASS or not giving a location.
- Freelancing away from the hose line.
- Skipping rehab or hiding an injury during heat stress.