Firefighter #1, Firefighter #2, and Firefighter #3 were participating in a training drill. All three (3) Firefighters were assigned to the decontamination team, which is responsible for decontaminating hazardous materials response members. The team was suited in LEVEL B protective gear and was utilizing Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. The team was using a “buddy breather” system, which allowed the team to switch from breathing air from their cylinder(s) to an airline drawing air from Air Utility-21 air tanks. The Air Utility-21 airline system consisted of 300 ft of Synflex hose (an internal part of the system), a manifold, and three separate 75-ft portable Gates Premoflex airline hoses. The manifold was capable of splitting the compressor’s airlines into five 50-ft lines; however, for the purpose of this drill, three 75-ft lines were used.
Employee #1 was the first of the three-team members to switch to breathing air from the Air Utility-21 airline. Employees #2 and #3 switched onto the airline a few seconds later.
Employee #1 reported that after approximately 10 seconds, he began to feel dizzy…