PPE SOG's

[Roadwarrior]

I had a firefighter from a different department ask me today what our SOG's were for PPE on Medical Calls and also on Extrication Calls. More specifically, his concerns related to wearing dirty turnout gear around a patient (on medicals) and working in a potentially confined space with bulky gear on (during an extrication).
Any thoughts on the subject??

[oneofmany]

I had a firefighter from a different department ask me today what our SOG's were for PPE on Medical Calls and also on Extrication Calls. More specifically, his concerns related to wearing dirty turnout gear around a patient (on medicals) and working in a potentially confined space with bulky gear on (during an extrication).
Any thoughts on the subject??

I think it depends on what type of department you are. A career department usually wears station wear to medicals. A POC or volly department doesn't have that luxury. A career responding unit will ensure steel toes are worn, and the uniform can be turfed if it was contaminated, POC response wouldn't guarantee proper footwear, and I sure wouldn't want my personal clothes ruined by some guy puking or bleeding on me. My turnouts don't seem to get in the way during an extrication, if anything I would want a little more protection during Auto ex ops.

[Bj_PRFD]

I usually always wear at least my bunker pants at medicals, the last thing i want is to be kneeling in a puddle of puke/blood. Its all about protecting you. Full PPE at MVA's, ive been in some pretty bloody situations, not to mention that one time i had my jacket off, i did cut my arm on some glass. Its not worth it.In the end its about your saftey.

[firefighter26]

FR/Medical Calls:
We are issued with FR coveralls along with structure firefighting boots, and of course gloves! The exception to the rule being:
1) if you don't have coveralls yet, you wear turnout gear.
2) the "day staff" usually respond in their station wear.
3) some of the senior FF have FR Jackets that they are apparently allowed to wear (vs their coveralls).

MVAs:
Nothing protects against glass, bodily fluids and jagged metal better than turn out gear. In fact, I've seen more than a few Paramedics get cut because they had no protection at all (a good reason for them to stay outside the action circle!). About the only person NOT wearing turnout gear at the scene is the IC, and he/she is usually outside the action circle doing "command stuff" anyway :rolleyes:

Bush/Forest Fires:
Bush/Forest Fires in Turnout gear is never fun. For these, we are supposed to wear our either our FR Coveralls (which will get cleaned after the call), or an older/spare pair of coveralls, along with out structure firefighter boots, a hard had, and if we are operating a chainsaw, chaps.

Right now there is some debate about gloves in our department. The department only supplies us with structure gloves for calls (and work gloves for around the station, but most of us have a set in our pockets). However, some of us have purchased extrication gloves. While the Chief isn't willing, at this point, to purchase them and issue them, he doesn't see anything wrong with them being used in a non-fire related capacity.