A firefighter uses many gears including helmets, masks, flashlight, turnout jackets, turnout pants, boots, gloves, oxygen tanks, radio, pocket tools, etc. All of those turnout gear can weigh up to 80 pounds. But depends on the accident situation gear may be added or removed.
What is the turnout gear that firefighters use?
At first, we must know what is turnout gear? A turnout gear are also known as firefighter bunker gear. It’s all about some clothing and other important tools that are worn by a firefighter. It not only protects a firefighter from any dangerous conditions but also maintains standard thermal conditions inside the clothing. Turnout gear is very important for a firefighter. It plays a vital role in the time of firefighting. Also, it must have some additional features such as doffing, provision easy donning, water repellent, etc.
Turnout gear or bunker gear is the most important tool for a firefighter. Those gears protect a firefighter in the time of duty. A firefighter’s turnout gear must be durable and tough, but also it must be comfortable and enough breathability. It must have enough flexibility to fight a three-alarm blaze. Though a firefighter turnout gear little much weight but a firefighter must wear turnout gear for their personal safety. Turnout gear will minimize fatigue and heat stress. Here in this article, you will also know about how much does a firefighter’s gear weigh?
Firefighter turnout gear
Fire helmet:
A fire helmet is one of the most important turnout gear for a firefighter. It made of durable materials to protect a firefighter from falling objects. It should be heat-resistant. These helmets have the ability to carry some other tools such as goggles, flashlights, wedges, etc.
Turnout clothing:
Turnout clothing like Pants and Jacket are another important gear for a firefighter. You may ask, what a turnout clothing looks like and what would be its constructions. Turnout clothing is a point of protection for firefighters. It provides adequate protection against burn injuries and minimizing heat stress.
According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1971 for the USA and similar standards in other countries, Turnout clothing is designed of three individual layers such as moisture barrier, thermal liner, and the outer shell. Each layer provides specific functions.To make firefighters more easily visible in the smoke, those materials usually come three colors yellow, bright orange, and reflective silver stripes.
Breathing Apparatus:
A firefighter must carry a breathing apparatus that includes a mask that must be connected to a tank with breathable air. It keeps on the firefighter’s back. It must contain at least 30 minutes of oxygen. And it allows a firefighter to search unconscious victims safely from the smoke-filled spaces.
Fire extinguisher:
A firefighter must carry a small fire extinguisher. It is one of the most important turnout gear. It needs while rescuing the people from inside the building.
Firefighting Gloves:
Without a firefighting gloves a firefighter can’t do anything on the fire. They need to wear a thick leather glove. A firefighting glove provides firefighters the ability to safely handle hot objects while they working through a burning structure. A firefighting glove must be heavily insulated and stretch past the wrist to give extra safety.
Safety Boots:
Firefighters use waterproof boots. That is thick and made of natural rubber with rubber soles. Those boots function well on wet or hot surfaces.
Personal Safety Alert System:
Most of the fire departments have this Personal Safety Alert System. It also called PASS. It is a device that monitors the firefighter’s position via GPS or the global positioning system and keeps them in touch for any emergencies. When a firefighter gets trapped or needs help, they can activate the transmitter.
Radio:
Radio is another important tool from the firefighter turnout gear. It allows the firefighter to communicate with their other members while they working in the team rescue operation.
Flashlight:
Flashlight is must needed for a firefighter. It is a very important turnout gear. It plays an important role in making your duties. A flashlight not only rescuing potential victims but also it helps to rescue your fellow firefighters and to do an efficient job.
Firefighter pocket tools:
Firefighter pocket tools are one of the most important turnout gear for a firefighter. Those pocket tools help you to get out of the fire. A firefighter must have those pocket tools in their turnout gear. If you like to know more about the Firefighter Pocket Tools then click here.
History of firefighter turnout gear
You already know that a firefighter risks their own lives to protect people and property from the damage of the fire. They are professionals and they always play with the danger.
Every year fire destroys billions of dollars private and public property as well as many life. A firefighter not only fights with the fire but also they risk their own life and fights with smoke, water, collapsing floors, hot embers, falling objects, and saves the property, lives.
It is an incredibly dangerous occupation. They do their job under stressful time constraints. They know that they have a few minutes or perhaps seconds to rescue the victims out of the burning place.
Today a firefighter has all firefighting gear to fight with the fire from the outside of structures and inside of the structures. But one time it wasn’t. The old firefighter protective equipment only provided warmth and dryness against fire and its components. During the nineteenth century, firefighting gear designed only for a decorative purpose than for protection. But those decorative firefighting gear never offered any form of protection against heat.
Nowadays the functionality of turnout gear for firefighters has undergone a lot of positive transformations. Now they have equipped with many advance technology and highly effective equipment to fight with the fire with safety. Those turnout gear are durable and comfortable. It not only provides a comfortable during tough fire rescue operations but also it allows to enter the burning building easily to rescue the people.
Care and Maintenance
A firefighter must maintain its turnout gear within every short time or after finished every rescue operation. According to the manufacturer’s recommendation, washing your gear. It will prevent any unwanted chemicals and shortening the lifespan as well as protects you from absorbing carcinogens. NFPA 1851 states that inspect all of the gears on a regular basis and clean it annually. But a firefighter should take care of their all gears a lot more frequently than the recommendation of NFPA 1851.
If you take a good care of your turnout gear then it will protect you in every fight but if you don’t take of it than it will cost more to you.
Final word
A firefighter turnout gear not only protects the firefighter from the flame but also it helps the firefighters to protect themselves from the tough situation. Mainly without turnout gears, a firefighter can’t do their rescue operation well. The important factors are to know about the firefighter turnout gear. Without a proper knowledge of turnout gear, you can’t select them and can’t decide which one you must keep with you. To know details about the turnout gear you must read the full article.
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