How often does the PASS alarm activate?

The PASS (Personal Alert Safety System) alarm is designed to activate after a set period of inactivity to alert others of a potentially incapacitated firefighter's presence. The specific interval at which the PASS alarm activates is every 20 seconds. This feature is critical for safety in hazardous environments, ensuring that if a firefighter becomes unresponsive, their location can be determined quickly.

The 20-second interval is chosen to provide a balanced time frame: it is long enough to allow for moments of stillness during operations but short enough to ensure rapid response if an emergency arises. Understanding this timing is essential for firefighters to maintain situational awareness and safety protocols while using SCBA equipment.