Fire fighting training: The Uniform And Equipment

• 7 April 2021

Becoming a fire fighter is one of the most incredible ways to serve society and to ensure that your occupation is a meaningful one. Before you embark on fire fighting training, you may ponder what it entails, what is needed from you and how safe will you be, including the uniform and equipment, which you will learn all about from the trained professionals and proficient training courses offered by Emcare, a pioneer training academy. This quick guide will answer that final question and give you all of the details and on fire fighting equipment as well as what uniform you will be wearing.

If you will be putting your life on the line, protecting others and running headfirst into burning buildings, then you deserve to have the very best equipment and protection available. Understanding how each piece of equipment operates to save lives and how your uniform is designed to protect you while you embark on saving lives, is a great first step in fire fighting training. If you are joining a state fire service, then your uniform and equipment should be provided to you, but if you are in a private fire fighting team or are looking to gain equipment for your property, then you need to do your research into the best equipment and ensure that everything is made with the correct protective gear and that it is good quality.

Fire fighting training: The Uniform

Emcare offers a range of fire fighting training options and courses, which will also educate you on the importance of the correct fire fighting equipment and uniform. Because fire fighters are often exposed to extreme heat, fires, toxic fumes, uneven ground, chemicals and electricity, it is of paramount importance that fire fighters are protected in the right attire. This presents itself in the form of personal protective equipment (PPE) which usually includes the following:

• Fire fighting training: The Tunic
  
  The tunic is the highly recognisable overalls that fire fighters wear which are usually yellow, beige or orange and are lined in reflective strips. In order to combat the heat and the various hazardous environmental aspects, the tunic is made out of synthetic fibre that is fire resistant and is also able to withstand tears and cuts. The material that the tunic is made out of is also not too thick that it weighs down the firefighter and therefore does not get in the way of them effectively doing their job.
  
  The tunic is usually split into a pair of trousers and an overcoat which is flexible with a long zip stretching to the collar of the coat, ensuring that the neck is also protected. The trousers are fitted with suspenders to ensure that they stay in position while climbing structures and heading into burning buildings. The whole ensemble is kitted with reflective strips in multiple areas to ensure that firefighters will still be able to see each other in the event that there is low visibility.
  
  

• Fire fighting training: The Helmet:
  
  The helmet that a firefighter wears is one of the most importance pieces in their gear because it protects the vital organ, the brain. It’s no secret that head injuries can be extremely dangerous and can lead to many other serious medical complications, it is thus vital that correct protection is worn. When a firefighter is attending to an emergency there are an array of potential hazards to the head, including debris, chemicals, falling structures, flames and more. This is why the standards for fire fighting helmets are continually being updated and analysed, insuring the best possible protection. The helmets are made of a sturdy material and are lightweight, durable, impact absorbent, long-lasting and protective. The helmets were historically created out of leather, and then metal (brass, nickel and aluminium), and are now made out of lightweight plastics and polymers.
  
  Most fire fighters wear yellow helmets however the colour of the helmet is actually a signal of ranking in some countries. In Britain, a watch manager is two grades above a regular firefighter and will wear a white helmet. Red is also an important colour and in Canada as well as in the United States, red helmets signify a senior position/command, usually a company officer. The Commissioner’s helmet will usually be black.
  
  

• Fire fighting training: The Flash Hood:
  
  The flash hood is a protective hood which covers the neck and the head during structural fire fighting, and provides an additional layer of protection.

• Fire fighting training: The Boots:
  
  Fire fighter boots are another important aspect of the ensemble and have the job of carrying and supporting the fire fighter while they launch themselves into danger. These boots need to provide both comfort and safety, and need to ensure that there will be no damage to the feet of the firefighter. The comfort factor aims to avoid ankle/leg injury and the boot is designed with a dual density cushioned rubber sole that makes the boot lighter, and also supports the ankle which reduces joint and skeletal impact injuries.
  
  The boots are usually made out of leather or rubber and are equipped with a steel toe insert. The boots are also fire and water resistant and the interior fabric is also lined with synthetic fire retardant which assists in breathability and radiant heat protection. The boots are sized as regular shoes, meaning you will not need to upsize and can opt for your regular shoe size.
  
  

• Fire fighting training: Gloves:
  
  As a fire fighter you will be going to buildings and emergencies where you will need to be removing obstacles and debris and clearing an exit path. Your hands will also be used to hold the hose and fire extinguishers while you put out fires, and will also be in direct line from any embers or hazardous debris, so they need to be protected. Luckily, fire fighters have a selection of different gloves that protect them from varying different hazards that they may encounter in the line of duty.
  
  For general firefighting and situations involving fire there are thermal resistant gloves, there are general purpose gloves, and there are also surgical gloves if the firefighter encounters biological hazards such as bodily fluids. While there are gloves available on the market that aim to meet all of a fire fighter’s needs, they are not able to ensure complete protection in all areas. This is why it is important to have the correct training and experience on what gloves are appropriate to wear to specific emergencies that you may be responding to.

• Fire fighting training: Wet weather Gear:
  
  While it may seem odd for a fire fighter to require gear for wet weather, fighting fire’s is not the only aspect of the job and fire fighters are often called to rescue scenes that may involve bad weather, including a flood or an extreme storm. In these instances, fire fighters are equipped with a multipurpose waterproof jacket that combats water, wind and cool temperatures, ensuring that the fire fighter is comfortable and protected when attending to an emergency in severe weather.
  
  
• Fire fighting training: Breathing Apparatus:
  
  If a firefighter is attending to an emergency inside of a structure that is/has been on fire, then they will need to be equipped with the correct breathing apparatus. This ensures that the firefighter is able to safely and comfortably breathe even in oxygen deficiency, smoke concentration, high temperatures, toxic substances/fumes, burning embers and heat radiation. The breathing apparatus will usually include a mask with a mouthpiece that is connected to a cylinder with oxygen.

• Bushfire Gear:
  
  With the recent Australian bush fires as well as Californian wildfires it has become increasingly clear just how much firefighters go through and what it takes to protect large areas. When fighting a bushfire or a wildfire it is incredibly difficult to predict how long it’ll take to put out the fire, and it depends on wind direction, the scale of the fire, vegetation in the area, and how many fire fighters are attending to the scene. This is why it is important that fire fighters have a bushfire jacket that is designed specifically for bushfires and is comfortable, lightweight and provides both thermal and radiant protection.

• Extreme Weather Attire:
  
  Another misconception about fire fighters, is that they do not work in snow and ice. Some firefighters are called to rescues on snowy mountains or on icy edges, where they require protective gear that is specifically designed for extreme cold conditions. When working in icy conditions, gear such as heavy weight socks, warmer coats, thermal pullovers, and even fur lined caps, may be worn. For fire fighters that are required to regularly work in the snow, they will often have fur lined snow gloves and fully lined raincoats.

• Overtrousers:
  
  Overtrousers are just that, trousers that go over the outfit, and they offer an additional level of protection for the fire fighter. Overtrousers are designed to be comfortable and to fit loosely so that airflow can still circulate between the garments. Overtrousers are usually made out of synthetic material that is heat resistant and that offers good thermal stability.

• High Visibility Safety Vest:
  
  A high visibility safety vest protects the firefighter by making them visible, either in a low visibility scenario or when it is incredibly important that they are visible to the naked eye from a distance away. For example, if a fire fighter is attending to a car accident scene and it’s late at night or early in the morning and there’s fog, they will need to ensure that they wear the vest so that other cars driving on the road can see them from a distance and will have time to react. This is especially important if the vehicle is stationary in the middle of the road and it has not been cleared from the path of other vehicles, who may be travelling at a significant speed depending on the stretch of road.
  
  These high visibility safety vests are usually made out of a luminescent or bright lime yellow/green material and have silver reflective strips. This ensures that they are highly visible in both daytime and night-time. High visibility safety vests are only worn in visibility scenarios and are not worn in fire fighting.

Testing fire fighting equipment

During fire fighting training you will learn the importance of regularly testing your fire fighting uniform and equipment. In general, fire fighting equipment needs to be tested in the following ways:

• Sizing: ensuring that all gear is the correct size for the fire fighter, including jackets, boots, helmets and gloves.
• Material: material of fire fighting equipment should be continually checked for holes or damages that may allow harmful hazards through the material. This includes regularly examining all personal protective equipment.
• Functionality: When assessing fire fighting equipment and uniforms, you need to ensure that it meets the standards that the product states it will. This includes ensuring that the helmet actually does protect against sharp objects, that the breathing apparatus does indeed protect the fire fighter from hazardous chemicals and smoke inhalation, and also that the fire retardancy of each item is working to the best of its ability.