When providing air to a downed firefighter from a rapid intervention pack, when should the high-pressure hose be disconnected?

When providing air to a downed firefighter from a rapid intervention pack, when should the high-pressure hose be disconnected?

• A. After pressure in the two cylinders has equalized
• B. When the victim's air cylinder is full
• C. Once the victim's low-air alarm deactivates
• D. Once the victim is breathing off the rescue cylinder

Answer: (D)

The main idea is to stop the air transfer as soon as the downed firefighter is actually breathing from the rescue cylinder. The high‑pressure hose from the rapid intervention pack is used to deliver air until the victim’s own or rescue regulator can supply them directly. When you observe the victim breathing off the rescue cylinder, the transfer has succeeded and you can disconnect the hose to conserve air and avoid unnecessary tethering. Other conditions like equalizing pressures, the victim’s cylinder being full, or the low‑air alarm turning off don’t reliably indicate that air is now being drawn from the rescue cylinder, so they aren’t the cue for disconnecting.

The main idea is to stop the air transfer as soon as the downed firefighter is actually breathing from the rescue cylinder. The high‑pressure hose from the rapid intervention pack is used to deliver air until the victim’s own or rescue regulator can supply them directly. When you observe the victim breathing off the rescue cylinder, the transfer has succeeded and you can disconnect the hose to conserve air and avoid unnecessary tethering.

Other conditions like equalizing pressures, the victim’s cylinder being full, or the low‑air alarm turning off don’t reliably indicate that air is now being drawn from the rescue cylinder, so they aren’t the cue for disconnecting.