The work of a firefighter is virtually constant contact with high risks to health and life, including almost always risks from which one cannot escape. Due to the very specific nature of the work of firefighters, who save other people's lives every day, the need to provide them with extremely effective protection against various types of agents is crucial. What personal protective equipment should every firefighter be equipped with?
Basic personal protective equipment of a firefighter
Firefighter's helmet
One of the most obvious personal protective equipment in a firefighter's work is undoubtedly the firefighter's helmet. Built to facilitate the wearing of a protective mask, to provide full head protection, to allow the attachment of a helmet lamp and, of course, to guarantee comfort and full freedom of movement during work, a firefighter's helmet is definitely an essential piece of emergency clothing. To be approved for use, a firefighter's helmet should comply with the EN 443 standard and have a CNBOP certificate.
Gas detector
Winter is one of the more active periods for firefighting operations related to blackouts caused by faulty fuel systems in homes and apartments. Firefighters who go on such actions must be prepared to detect noxious gases in the air, which is why their equipment must not lack an efficient gas detector. Detectors of this type cope with the detection of various types of hazardous substances in gaseous form, continuously checking the concentration of gases in the atmosphere.
Mask and air cylinder
Any firefighter entering a room with contaminated, unbreathable air should be equipped with a special breathing mask, combined with a full air cylinder. It is thanks to the freedom to breathe that he will be able to rescue people from a building full of smoke, chad or toxic volatiles without exposing himself to unnecessary risks. A well-fitting mask should be equipped with a visor to facilitate vision and prevent smoke from irritating the eyes, and built to fit tightly to the face even when moving. The air cylinder connected to the mask should be as light as possible, but also capacious enough to successfully provide the firefighter with a chance to breathe freely during a prolonged rescue operation.
Breathing apparatus
Unlike the mask discussed above, a complete breathing apparatus is a comfortable, brace-mounted set that allows you to ensure full freedom of movement and comfort while working while breathing freely. Such systems usually have the ability to monitor your breathing and guarantee a perfect fit without straining your spine when carrying a heavy air cylinder. These types of apparatuses are essential when working for hours in harsh conditions.
Protective clothing for firefighters
Fire-resistant suit
A fireproof suit is a standard item of clothing in the fire department, essential when fighting fires and in direct contact with flames and embers. Equipped with essential and non-flammable warning tapes, practical pockets and hooks for the most important equipment, as well as convenient fastening, the suit guarantees full protection of the firefighter's body during work regardless of weather and working conditions.
Waterproof pants
In addition to the traditional fire suit, which is undoubtedly the most standard and recognizable firefighter's outfit is not the only protective clothing used in this profession. Due to the wide variety of hazards that occur at accident sites and the very wide range of work that firefighters perform on a daily basis, one of the most important personal protective equipment is antistatic waterproof pants, which allow firefighters to safely navigate in areas at risk of explosions, electrostatic discharges and very harsh weather conditions.
Waterproof jacket
Like the aforementioned pants, the anti-static waterproof jacket is an essential piece of firefighter clothing. The jacket provides full protection for the upper body during work, and although it is made of flame-retardant, thicker fabric, freedom of movement in it is fully preserved. As with all clothing for firefighters, both the jacket and the aforementioned pants are covered with warning tapes to increase the visibility of the firefighter during action, regardless of the prevailing weather conditions. Importantly, jackets of this type should meet the requirements of EN ISO 13688, EN 343, EN 1149-5, EN 14116 and EN ISO 20471 to be approved for use in the fire department.
Acid-resistant clothing
The work of a firefighter is not limited to firefighting, and the range of hazardous factors here is very high. For this reason, every firefighter should also be equipped with acid-resistant clothing, including, among other things, suitable pants, jacket or hood. These garments guarantee protection against acids, alkalis and hydroxides, which is why they work well wherever firefighters are exposed to direct contact with chemicals.
Chemical suit
In case of contact with hazardous chemicals in liquid, spray, gas or solid form, the aforementioned acid-protective suit may not demonstrate the highest level of protection, and in such situations it is necessary to reach for an even more specialized chemical suit. Such suits are airtight outfits, with an air apparatus built inside to guarantee freedom of breathing while providing maximum protection for the entire body. Their endurance is estimated at more than 8 hours of use at a time, which is usually enough to carry out a rescue operation in an area threatened by chemical contamination.
Cooling vest
An interesting solution for firefighters working for extended periods of time in conditions of extreme heat, so, among other things, in firefighting, are cooling vests, which absorb heat and thus prevent the body from overheating. Today, they are used primarily in hard-to-extinguish fires, where firefighters, after extinguishing the immediate fire, must deal with its catching up for several or even several hours.
