HOMEPAGE PERSONAL PROFILE HISTORICAL REVIEW HOWEBRIDGE MRS BOOTHSTOWN MRS PURPOSE OF A MRS MOBILE WINDING ENGINE AMPUTATION KIT OFFICERS AND STAFF SELECTION OF RESCUEMEN BREATHING APP PRIME FEATURES OF BA GENERAL CONDUCT OXYGEN RESUSCITATORS HEAT AND HUMIDITY RESCUE COMMS CANARIES AND LAMPS SELF RESCUERS SEFA BREATHING APPARATUS PROTO BREATHING APPARATUS AERORLOX BREATHING APPARATUS SALVUS BREATHING APPARATUS SAVOX BREATHING APPARATUS MINOX BREATHING APPARATUS ANTIPOYS TUBE APPARATUS

The Lancashire Mines Rescue Service "SALVUS" SELF CONTAINED COMPRESSED OXYGEN BREATHING APPARATUS. THE "SALVUS" SELF-CONTAINED COMPRESSED OXYGEN BREATHING APPARATUS. (Diagrammatic View). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This apparatus was never approved for use underground in mines, due to the vulnerable location of the breathing bag on the left thigh. In the crawling position the bag would be in contact with the floor. 10 sets were kept at Boothstown for surface use at Altham Coke Works in the Burnley Area. Worn wholly at the front, supported by a collar type harness. Total weight, fully charged - approx 18 lbs. (8 kgs). Duration - 30 minutes. Used by various Fire Brigades in the 1950's. Manufactured by Messrs Siebe Gorman of Chessington in Surrey. SPECIAL NOTE :- An incident occurred at Knockshinnock Castle Colliery, Scotland in 1950, where, due to an inrush of alluvial material (mud, silt, sand etc) 132 men were trapped in an underground district. Although the trapped men were in a fresh air zone, the roadways leading to the shafts were blocked, making their escape impossible. Over a period of 3 days, workmen tunnelled through some old workings that connected to the area were the men were situated. The old roadways were filled with firedamp and that meant that the trapped men would have to travel a considerable distance in an irrespirable atmosphere to reach safety. To achieve this, it was necessary for them to wear some form of breathing apparatus. At that time, the Fire Brigades in Scotland were using "Salvus" and a Special Exemption by the Mines Inspectorate was granted, for this apparatus to be used underground on this occasion only. Relays of rescue men, wearing the Proto apparatus, escorted small groups of trapped men, who had been fitted with the Salvus apparatus. Eventually, 116 men were escorted to safety. Later it was discovered that the other 16 men were buried under the accumulated matter. Although these notes were intended to be solely about Lancashire, the use of the Salvus at the Knockshinnock incident could not be ignored. It was a tough assignment, magnificently performed by the Scottish Mines Rescue personnel and must go down as the greatest moment in the history of the Mines Rescue Service, in this or any other Country. Securing the confidence of the trapped men to wear the Salvus, whilst travelling outbye along the gas-filled roadway was a fantastic achievement in itself. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------