Firefighters to use breathing apparatus for patient contact calls

OTTAWA – Ottawa firefighters will now where their self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) while responding to a variety of calls – not just fires.

“During this difficult time, Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) wants to do our part by conserving valuable medical supplies for our hospitals: doctors, nurses and frontline healthcare workers,” OFS public information officer Jen McNeely released in a statement. “As emergency responders, we are equipped with SCBA which uses compressed air. The public usually sees us wear this gear when we fight fires, and now we may use this same equipment for calls requiring patient contact. This is not necessarily a new look, just a new use of our same equipment.”

The OFS have prepared this video to inform Ottawa residents on what firefighters may look like at various incidents in the upcoming weeks and months.