!"#$%$'()*+ The BLASTMask By Raul A. Angulo May 4, 2015 for Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Magazine The Breathing Limited Air Situational Training Mast - The BLASTMask is a training device that attaches to a SCBA face piece. It looks, feels, and weighs about the same as an actual regulator. Most drills do not require a firefighter to be on air, though it is beneficial in realistic training. This device gives the firefighter all the sensations and sounds of being "on air" without actually being on air. This eliminates the need for time consuming, labor-intensive air refilling support operations. The BLASTMask requires the same deliberate breathing efforts as a regular SCBA, except you're not "on air". The firefighter still has to deal with limited visibility, restricted breathing, noise, muffled communication, fogging, and claustrophobia. Carrying hose or advancing a charged hose line up stairs with full bunker gear and SCBA is hard work. It's even harder on air. Working on air physiologically stresses the body differently than normal breathing. The BLASTMask effectively simulates the "on air" stamina required to perform these tasks without actually using up the air bottle. This allows your SCBAs to remain in a state of readiness for an actual fire while still conducting realistic training. Cross-Fit training and The Fire Fighter Challenge have really raised the awareness of health and wellness in the fire service. The term "industrial athlete" is starting to make sense to firefighters. Being safe on the fire ground starts with being fit. Training "on air" is always curtailed with the logistics of exchanging and refilling air bottles. The BLASTMask is a perfect solution to this challenge and may even inspire others to practice and train "on simulated air" Except for IDLH training, The BLASTMask will allow realistic "on air" training without using or refilling SCBA bottles. It will increase fitness and stamina levels required for strenuous fire ground tasks while increasing the firefighter's self-confidence in the application and uses of SCBA. !"#$%$'()*+