Improved radio communications within SCBA
Effective communications, a main concern during fireground operations, is particularly difficult between fire fighters wearing SCBA.
Although the SCBA masks that are equipped with audio speakers are good for communicating within the normal voice range, it’s difficult to transmit messages through these amplifiers via portable radios.
This problem of improving radio communications within SCBA was tackled by Lieutenant Gary Trent and Fire Fighter James Schrepfer of the Normal, Ill., Fire Department. They designed a simple, inexpensive communications chord that connects between the SCBA facepiece’s amplifier and a portable radio equipped with an external connector for remote speaker/microphone assembly. A radio pocket was added to the turnout coat to make the radio more accessible than it is when clipped to the hip, and to get the radio closer to the fire fighter’s ear.
The chord assembly is designed so that when it’s attached to the radio, it will not disconnect the audio speaker built into the portable radio itself. This allows the fire fighter to listen to the radio without having to wear an additional earphone.
To operate the communication system, the fire fighter simply plugs the speaker chord into the radio’s connector and into the SCBA facepiece socket, activates the radio’s transmit switch, and the microphone built into the SCBA picks up the voice transmissions.
This system has been tested and used in both training drills and under actual fire fighting conditions, and voice transmissions have proved to be very clear and understandable.
Trent and Schrepfer are presently exploring ways to adapt this system for use in all types of SCBA.
Photo by Kay Cermak.
