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Jack Reilly

 

The Reilly Emergency Breathing Technique (REBT) is named in honor of my grandfather, Jack Reilly.

 

Jack was a member of 4 Truck, 22 Engine, on Dwight and Ocean Avenue with the Jersey City FD, back in the late 50's through the 70's.

 

Jack was also JCFD's IAFF union president (6 years), as well as a Fire Instructor at the 'original' Jersey City Fire School, at Roosevelt Stadium on Danford Avenue.

 

Jack is certainly missed and will never be forgotten...



The Procedure for Evaluating any Breathing Technique used with SCBA

 

This article outlines the items that you need for evaluating SCBA breathing techniques as well as how to prepare for the tests and the steps necessary to do the evaluation.

Items needed for each individual:

  • Digital Air Gauge (DAG)
  • (2) SCBA air bottles
  • (1) SCBA pack
  • Stopwatch
  • Pulse-ox monitor
  • Blood Pressure Cuff
  • Treadmill
  • Pad and pencil
  • Duct tape

Preparation:

First you need to prepare the SCBA air bottles to identical pressures. This can be a tricky process because of varying air friction when filling the test bottles. An ideal time to fill bottles would be the night before and allowed to relax to room temperature.

In order to conserve test time, target pressure should be 1000 psi or less. Bottles should be filled slowly and filled at least 200 psi above target test pressure (fill to 1200+ psi).

After bottles have cooled to room temperature, use the DAG to bleed bottles down to identical pressures and identify bottles (on duct tape, not bottle) as A/A; B/B; C/C; etc., for each participant.

Take and log vitals of each participant and set treadmill at 3 mph –
Zero incline (mild pace is to compare breath methods, not a cardiac workout)

Steps:

  • Pre-record individual’s vitals (BP, pulse, respirations, pulse-ox reading)
  • Set treadmill to 3 mph
  • Don SCBA with first bottle
  • Breath normally and record time on treadmill until bottle is completely empty, while wearing pulse-ox monitor
    (Note: Vibralert will deactivate when bottle is below 100 psi)
  • Record vitals
  • Rest until vitals return to normal level (approx. 15-20 minutes)

During rest period, review breathing method to be evaluated.

  • Repeat sequence with second bottle using breathing method of choice and compare times.