Safety is precious, Rescue is Priceless. The word RESCUE is derived from Latin “RAS” means the course to take. RESCUE means course to take for Rescue of life and Recovery of Property.

1.In 1853 Professor Schwann developed Aerophor Apparatus.

2.In 1870, Henry Fleus an English Marine Engineer Developed the First Practicable self contained Breathing Apparatus.

3.In 1880, Henry Fleus first used self-contained Breathing apparatus in United Kingdom to explore Seaham Colliery where 164 lives were lost due to Explosion.

4.In 1902 the First Mines Rescue Station in the world was established in Tankersley Yorkshire England by the local coal owners Association.

In 1907 due to tragic loss of 1100 miners due to gas and coal dust explosion Henry Fleus in conjuction with Siebe Gorban developed the Proto Breathing Apparatus.

Another type of Breathing Apparatus was the invention of a breath-controlled dispenser, the so-called automatic lung. In 1917 the first truly automatic regenerative apparatus was developed by Dr. Gibbs in America in 1917.

The liquid Oxygen breathing apparatus is the third group of breathing protection devices.In 1906, otto seub, an engineer from Ostrava, developed a liquid air device using 60% Oxygen and named it the Aerolift.In 1923 Drager AG built its first liquid oxygen apparatus and named it drager’olith.

In 1960 Siebe Gorman introduced Aerolox liquid oxygen apparatus.The disadvantages of liquid Oxygen Breathing apparatus outweighed the advantages resulting in its phasing out in favour of closed circuit breathing apparatus.

In 1923 MSA Auer Developed the MR 11/32 In 1924 Dragerwerk AG developed the BG160 A.

Both the above had automatic lung valves. Operating time was 2 Hrs. Following the Grimberg Colliery fire in 1946, the German Mines Rescue Committee resolved that Oxygen Breathing Apparatus of longer duration was absolutely essential.

Drager developed the First long duration apparatus Model BG170/400.

MSA Aeur released a competitive product in 1954, the model MR54\400. In 1955 both Drager and Auer developed models Auer 56\400 and Drager BG-172. These new models, equipped with automatic lung demand and 1.5 liters/min constant feed became standard issue to mine rescue teams for over a decade.

In 1963 Drager developed BG-174 closed circuit breathing apparatus with lower overall mass and lower inhalation temperature. A redesigned housing pressure reducer and combined valve box with automatic lung demand brought the mass down to 14.5 Kgs. BG-174 was soon accepted and became the standard apparatus for mines rescue teams worldwide.

1996 it was decided to test all possible Long Duration Closed Circuit Breathing apparatus, which complied with EN standards.

The first apparatus tested was Biomarine Biopak 240. Trials were concluded on 10 Biopaks. The sets were subjected to a variety of situations and conditions in haulage and stopes in metalliferous mines during seven underground fires. While the teams reported positively on the overall breathing comfort, concern was expressed relating to the size of the apparatus when negotiating confined spaces.

The sets were also subjected to effort tests, the results of which proved that uses oxygen consumption was much higher than with BG-174.

During 1997 basic wearer tests were conducted on Aur Air Elite. This is a 2 Hour closed circuit, Chemical Oxygen Apparatus. Although tests revealed that ergonomics and breathing comfort were excellent, the apparatus would not be financially viable due to the enormous cost of replacing the chemical oxygen canister after each use.

The Drager BG-4 is the new generation of closed circuit breathing apparatus with a 4 Hr usage period and includes a Positive Pressure Demand system for Extra Safety and Protection when used in toxic environments.

The Drager BG-4 is the successor of the Drager BG-174 and it complies with EN 145 and Niosh CFR 30. Modern material plus microelectronics makes for a comparatively low mass. Breathing comfort is afforded by a flow sensitive Carbon Dioxide absorber with Soda lime and the integrated breathing air cooler reducing the inhaled breathing air temperature for maximum wearer comfort.

Conclusion: The Drager BG-4 has proved itself to be a worthy successor for the legendary BG-174.

In India the first Rescue Station was established at Kolar Gold Fields in Nov 1923.

A series of Disastrous Fires and Explosions shook the Indian Mining Industry in the year 1930 & the need of having well equipped resue stations was deeply felt.

Under mines act 1939 the Mines Rescue Rules were promulgated and two central Rescue stations were established in August 1949.

– Dhansar in Jharia Coal field.

– Sitarampur in Raniganj Coal field.

Mines Rescue Rules were modified in 1959 and Central Coal Mines Rescue Station Committee (CCMRSC) was formed and rescue stations brought under its control.

Thirteen Additional Rescue Stations was established including two in Singareni at Kothagudem and Bellampalli.

The major metalliferous underground mines established Six Rescue Stations

The Mines Rescue Rules were again amended in 1985.

CCMRSC was made defunct and all the Mines Rescue stations were handed over to the Respective Coal Companies.

At present 46 Rescue stations in Coal Mining Industry and 6 Rescue stations in Metal mining Industry are functional in India.

The Self-contained breathing apparatus used in Indian Rescue Stations underwent a progressive transformation as given below:

Proto Mark-IV manufactured by M/s Siebe Gorman - UK was used till 1955.

Drager BG-172 Breathing Apparatus was introduced in 1958. This was found more efficient than Proto Mark- IV.

One set of BG-172 apparatus was presented by M/s Drager Germany to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (Late Prime Minister of India) and was used at Dhansar Rescue Station (Bihar)

Drager BG-174 was introduced in India in the year 1992.

The latest Generation Breathing Apparatus BG-4 was introduced for the First Time in India at Singareni Collieries Company Limited in June 2002.