Anyone may conjure up an image of a firefighter in their minds. Probably wearing a bulky yellow or tan outfit, an odd mask, and a silly-looking helmet. Oh, and you undoubtedly saw the diving tank-like item on their back as well.
But what exactly is all of this, and how does it help them? That, my friends, is bunker/turnout gear for firefighters. It’s the personal protective equipment, and while it’s huge and heavy, it’s for a cause.
The job of a firefighter is exceedingly hazardous. Firefighters must contend with dust, water, scorching embers, falling objects, and crumbling floors in fighting actual fires.
They work under pressure since they only have a few minutes to remove residents safely out of blazing structures. Modern firemen wear a variety of personal protective equipment to assist them to stay safe while performing potentially hazardous tasks.
Personal protective equipment
As technology and experience bring new and better ways to manage flames, firefighting equipment, and clothes continue to evolve. The clothing that firemen wear protects them from the many perilous circumstances that they face on the job from head to toe.
Firefighters did not always wear the same safety gear that they do now. As a result, most flames were tackled around the outside of burning structures, with only a few exceptions.
Let’s cover some essential components of personal protective equipment for firefighters. Keep reading!
- The coat and pants
- The SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus)
- Helmet and gloves
- The boots
- Accessories
The coat and pants
The firefighter’s coat and pants are the most visible piece of protective gear. This is something that firemen wear on almost every dangerous call. This includes things like fires, recoveries, and car accidents.
Others will even have a rappelling rescue harness incorporated into the pants. The material has three layers: a thermal liner, a moisture barrier, and an outer shell.
Shell on the outside
Is the material visible to everyone? The material is thick, heavily loaded, cut-resistant, and flame-resistant. They provide approximately 20% of the heat shields.
These come in a variety of hues, but the most common are black, brown, or yellow. These outer shells are usually embroidered with luminous material for better visibility in dark places and on the road during traffic accidents.
Moisture barrier
This material is in the lamination to keep moisture and dangerous substances from coming into contact with the firefighters’ skin. For ventilation, it’s usually sewed into a moisture-wicking textile.
The SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus)
Do you know how firefighters wear a funny-looking upside-down diving tank on their backs? That’s what’s known as an SCBA. However, most firefighters simply refer to it as an air pack. It consists of several parts that each serve a different role.
The most noticeable feature is the massive container on the back. That container contains air, not oxygen. This is what firemen breathe in low-quality situations, which is why this piece of equipment is essential. The air pumps into the firefighters’ mask via a regulator attached to the bottle.
The mask
The Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus is useless without a mask. A regulator and tube connected the firefighters’ mask to the air pack, creating a sealed airway.
This is also the component of the protective gear that most children are afraid of. So, just in case they ever need us, make sure you tell your children what a firefighter looks like!
Masks are rapidly changing, with more technology and accessories like built-in thermal indication cameras and speech modulators being added.
Helmet and gloves
The most traditional cost of a firefighter’s equipment. The helmet. I’m going to speak especially about helmets in the United States.
Most people think firefighters wear helmets backward, like a ball cap. When they are fighting a fire, the broadbill on the back prevents heated air and damp insulation from flowing down our backs.
Firefighter gloves are frequently mistaken for everyday labor gloves. These are a combination of leather gloves and oven mitts. Inside the glove is a thin layer of insulating material to keep your hands cool in hot weather.
For durability and cut protection, gloves have the texture of leather and synthetic materials.
The boots
These have insulation and heavy training boots which are mostly water-resistant. To ensure protection while maintaining dexterity, these usually comprise a mixture of leather and rubber material. We are not, however, running a race in these.
These boots are thick, loud, and don’t curve with your foot very well. However, they safeguard the feet against sharp things, falling dirt, and, of course, heat.
Accessories
This is the section that is largely unique to each fireman. These additions will frequently act as both a safety and a utility feature. This is not an exhaustive list, but rather a selection of common goods.
Wedges
A block of triangle-shaped wood is frequently seen affixed to the outside of a fireman’s helmet. This is a wedge that they use for coercive entry or to hold a door open if necessary.
Pliers for linemen
These are common in the electrical industry, and firemen have adapted them for use on the job, as they have with other tools. While having a set of pliers is handy for a variety of reasons, firefighters also carry them for safety concerns.
Flat webbing
In the fire service, this is something of a trade secret. A piece of webbing, often with a carabiner attached, is mostly available with most firefighters in their pockets. Depending on your imagination, the possibilities are nearly unlimited.
The most common scenario is if a downed firefighter needs to be dragged out of a structure.
Conclusion
To conclude, this is merely a basic list of the protective gear that firemen wear and keep on them. This is to safeguard both victims and perpetrators. After all, it’s the responsibility of the organization to provide good quality equipment such as purchasing from authentic protective gloves suppliers or bodysuits.
However, If a firefighter is hurt or in danger, he or she is useless. Hopefully, this clarifies things the next time you see a firefighter heading to a burning building.
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