It is a sound that no firefighter wants to hear---the beeping of a fellow firefighter’s personal alert safety device, also known as PASS. The PASS device is most vital piece of personal safety equipment a firefighter wears. In most fire departments, firefighters turn on their PASS when he or she turns on the self-contained breathing apparatus. The firefighter activates the PASS if he or she is trapped or it can be programmed to sound automatically when the firefighter ceases to move for more than 30 seconds.
If these devices are not working properly, the results can be devastating. In December 2003, 30-year-old firefighter Thomas Brick was battling a fire at a mattress warehouse in New York City. When his fellow firefighters could not find him, they searched for 30 minutes. His PASS alarm was barely audible. Two small children survive Brick, who was one of the first New York City firefighters to join the department after September 11.
MSNBC investigated PASS devices and found that 15 firefighters died since 1998 when the devices failed or were to quiet for rescuers to hear. The report revealed that many of the devices failed when they became too hot or wet. The MSNBC report criticized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which investigates firefighter’s deaths. According to MSNBC, the CDC ignored warnings that the devices were failing and did not take action to implement changes in the PASS device. Fire departments were not aware of the CDC’s concerns.
The National Fire Protection Association recognized flaws in the PASS system and warned firefighters in 2005 that the system could fail in extreme temperatures. In 2007, the association issued tougher standards for the PASS system. Now the devices must be able so sustain changes in temperature and should be able to pass a water immersion test. The devices will also undergo a series of tests to make sure that basic fire noise does not muffle the PASS sounds.
National lawmakers also took notice of the MSNBC report. In Feb. 2007, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) asked the Department of Health and Human Services to investigators. Kerry told MSNBC, “Nearly 1 million brave men and women risk their lives every day; we owe it to them and to the families of the deceased firefighters to get answers and hold the negligent parties accountable.” Firefighters who want to express their concerns to Kerry can contact the senator through his website, kerry.senate.gov.
Article provided by Kim Berly
