What is the purpose of the Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) and when should it be activated?

• A. It emits a loud alert when a firefighter stops moving, and should be activated whenever entering an IDLH environment or hazardous scene.
• B. It records air consumption and should be activated only during search-and-rescue operations.
• C. It provides voice communication to the team and should be activated during routine checks.
• D. It powers down all equipment to save battery and should be activated at the end of a shift.

Answer: (B)

PASS is a safety beacon that helps teammates locate a firefighter who is in trouble by emitting a loud alarm if the wearer stops moving. It is not used to record air consumption, nor does it provide voice communication or power down equipment. Activation happens automatically after a set period of inactivity, and it can also be manually turned on to signal distress. Because operations in hazardous environments—such as inside IDLH atmospheres—can change rapidly, it should be worn and activated whenever a firefighter is working in such conditions or performing high-risk tasks, so rescuers can quickly find and assist them.