In order to conserve air while using an SCBA, what is the recommended breathing technique?

Inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth is considered the recommended breathing technique while using a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) to conserve air. This technique is beneficial because inhaling through the nose allows the user to filter, warm, and humidify the air before it enters the lungs. This process can enhance comfort, especially in hazardous environments where the air quality may be compromised.

Exhaling through the mouth can facilitate a more effective and complete release of the used air, which is crucial in conserving the precious air supply contained within the SCBA. Maintaining a slower, more controlled breathing pattern through this method can help ensure that the air supply lasts longer, which is vital in emergency situations where every second counts.

In contrast, rapid shallow breaths are inefficient, as they do not optimize the use of the air supply and can lead to quicker exhaustion of the SCBA air. Normal breathing patterns, while generally helpful outside of emergency situations, may not fully take advantage of the benefits of nasal inhalation in a high-stress, hazardous environment.