Gear

[mega_man]

Just curious as to what types os flashlights,rope,tools etc. Firefighters are carrying in thier gear.I use a pelican flashlight as well as a helmet mounted light.Just wondering what other people carry and use.

[g-01]

Our volunteer department is fond of the Underwater Kinetics 4AA on the helmet mount (the metal ones don't break so easily but the plastic ones are more directional friendly). We like them for their brighness and compactness. The price ain't so bad either.


Scotty

[remya]

I would have to agree with g-01 a lot of our members are using the UK light due to the reasonable cost and the bright beam the it produces.

[norton]

I personally carry a helmet light, a hand held light, cable cutters and a multi purpose hose wrench (hose wrench, seat belt cutter, window punch, door stop, oxygen bottle valve wrench and it also has a slot for shutting off gas valves). Most of the guys at the dept. carry the same except they usually carry hose straps (used to hold hoses on ladders) instead of the cable cutters.

[LTPVFD]

I like to carry the following gear with me:

helmet light - I use a Pelican Stealth Lite

rescue wrench - combination tool that can break glass, cut seatbelts, turn on oxygen bottles, and serve as a hose wrench

glove pouch - containing 2 to 3 pairs of gloves for medical calls

paramedic shears

safety glasses - essential for auto extrication and medical calls - I use Uvex Astrospec 3000's - CSA approved

webbing - a 10 to 12 foot roll of webbing - variety of uses including firefighter rescue

CPR microshield

No wonder my turnout gear is so heavy !!

Stay safe !!

LTPVFD :cool:

[Skidz]

I have a Streamlight 4aaLED and have not used it in a structure fire but used it up at the burn house in Brandon MB. and it lit up the room. It is very bright and as I saw it will light up the room but you do not have a direct narrow beam like the others. It is also a little more money but they say it will last longer, (batteries, lights and length of time).

[bestcoast]

Originally posted by ltpvfd
I like to carry the following gear with me:

helmet light - I use a Pelican Stealth Lite

rescue wrench - combination tool that can break glass, cut seatbelts, turn on oxygen bottles, and serve as a hose wrench

glove pouch - containing 2 to 3 pairs of gloves for medical calls

paramedic shears

safety glasses - essential for auto extrication and medical calls - I use Uvex Astrospec 3000's - CSA approved

webbing - a 10 to 12 foot roll of webbing - variety of uses including firefighter rescue

CPR microshield

No wonder my turnout gear is so heavy !!

Stay safe !!

LTPVFD :cool:

Sound's like you got yourself a Batman utility belt there......:D

[Rescue78]

I also carry the Rescue Tool mentionned above.

UK hekmet light
Pair of Auto Extrication Gloves (Ringers)
4 door/sprinkler wedges
a knife
a strap for hose handling and rescue
Radio
Spring loaded window punch
Medical gloves

Door wedges are a lifesaver and I think no firefighter should be without at least two.

Here is a little trick with a door wedge. While prying a door on an auto extrication call, place a wedge under the door handle before you start spreading. This will increase the odds of dissengaging the latch from the bolt without having to have someone hold the handle or spreading while the latch is engaged, like it is so often done.

Try it, you'll like it.;)

[bfrd22]

Lets see...
5 ft lenght of rope
Stealth light
Pen light
Big Fat Felt marker
Radio / mic
Spare battery
Several pairs of latex gloves
Extrication Gloves
FF Gloves
Res Q Wrench
Utility Knife
Red Flag tape
Sun / Safety Glasses
Accountability tags
Punch
Anti bactirial waterless hand cleaner

I sure there is stuff I have forgotten.

[FClement]

I like to carry the following:

Helmet light-Pelican
Hand held flashlight
Auto extrication gloves(ringers)
Latex gloves, 2 pairs
FF gloves
Radio
Accountability tags
safety glasses

[FireEMTGuy]

Pelican handheld light
Extrication gloves
Rescue wrench
Nitrile gloves (medical gloves, non latex)
FF gloves
Webbing

Helmet light and door wedges but only if situation dictates.

[Red_Devil]

Guys you gotta keep it simple, sounds like a few of you are weighing yourself down with some unneccessary equipment, stick to the basics!!!

[BillyBlazes]

In my pockets!

rescue chalk (inside of a styrofoam tube to protect it) that is issued to us by the department

hose key wrench
pliers
screwdriver (different bits in the handle)
granola bars and rice krispy squares from the rehab truck at the last call

all members of my crew have food in their pockets, in case of entrapment we crawl up to each other and raid their pockets to survive!!!!!

[JGallagher]

Nothing, we only carry some thing when we are told to carry some thing.

I do know that members carry all the above mentioned stuff. But my sel I dont see the point to have all that stuff. I only weighs you down and can cause a hazard. We have one member that wears a utility belt, but I have no idea why. He has nothing on it.

[scoop422]

Hose key
Pliers
Knife
Window punch
Pump chart
Pen size electic detector(great for overhaul)
Door chalks
Extra medical gloves

Red devil, it may sound like too much but I've used it all.
Utility belts or hose key belts are not good to use from what I've been told because they don't let the heat escape from around your body core.

[Rescue78]

Originally posted by JGallagher
Nothing, we only carry some thing when we are told to carry some thing.

I do know that members carry all the above mentioned stuff. But my sel I dont see the point to have all that stuff. I only weighs you down and can cause a hazard.

JGallagher

You got to take into account where the firefighters are from. Door wedges for you might be useless but when you respond to appartment or office buildings, you might use a stair case only to realize that the fire door is now locked behind you. Or once Positive Pressure Ventillation is started, it is nice to jam a door without having to go get somethig to jam it.

I think carrying a hose key only makes sense. You'll have one with you when comes time to extend a line, replace a busted section or simply during clean-up.

Around here we say a firefighter that goes in a building empty handed is a useless firefighter. That's just the way it is. If your going in on the initial crew, even for an alarm, you'll have either forcible entry tool, Hi-Rise kit, extinguisher or rope bag with you.

[JGallagher]

Originally posted by Rescue78
JGallagher

You got to take into account where the firefighters are from. Door wedges for you might be useless but when you respond to appartment or office buildings, you might use a stair case only to realize that the fire door is now locked behind you. Or once Positive Pressure Ventillation is started, it is nice to jam a door without having to go get somethig to jam it.

I think carrying a hose key only makes sense. You'll have one with you when comes time to extend a line, replace a busted section or simply during clean-up.

Around here we say a firefighter that goes in a building empty handed is a useless firefighter. That's just the way it is. If your going in on the initial crew, even for an alarm, you'll have either forcible entry tool, Hi-Rise kit, extinguisher or rope bag with you.


Most of the reg guys have at least one wedge. I dont carry as I am a Volounteer and the city does not have enough to give wedges and wrenches to all the members.

[scoop422]

Gallagher, I make my own wedges they are pretty easy. I use some scrap 1x4's that I have and just cut them with a mitre saw. I probably carry at least four. You can probably buy a folding hose wrench. The "rescue wrenches" mentioned earlier are pretty good.

[Zokambaa]

I had a question.. not so much as gear you carry.. but along the lines of what you wear..

I have seen cooling vests which are worn under the coat, some even have other attachments such as a scull cap etc.. it circulates coolant of some sort around the vest and apparently doesn't weigh too much...

Anyone use these things??

I wonder how the added cooling vs added weight would play on the average structure fire...

[Rescue78]

I've seen the vest you are talking about at the Chief's convention last year in Dallas Tx. No I'm not a Chief, I was there to compete in autoex.

I see limited benefits. One big draw back is that you have to keep the vest in cool storage for it to do it's job.

We looked at them for while competing. We competed in 104 degree F in full bunker gear so something like that might have been nice. I could see some use for it in wildland firefighting too.

Let's face it, if a call comes in for structure fire, are you going to take the time to get that vest out of cool storage, put it on and adjust it or are you simply going to throw on your bunker gear?

Metabolic heat stress is a serious issue on the fire ground. But I think that proper personel rotation and rehab is the answer, not another piece of gear and more weight to put on.

My 2 cents :)

[bestcoast]

Year's ago the vests where in use on our Hazmat team for use inside Level A suits on hot days. If you've ever been in a Level A in the middle of summer you know how hot it can get!!!! However it was WCB that ruled we couldn't use them anymore for some safety issue.....peace out....

[shaneb]

The gear I carry is as follows
1. gloves
2. hose (if I'm going in)

Being a volunteer not alot of money is directed our way for additional gear. Paramedics are always on scene before us for MVA's and if needed a first aid kit is in the rescue unit. I have never thought about carring that much gear, and I don't have enough pockets to put that stuff in. Even mine rescue team members don't carry that much gear on their person. Maybe as years of experience mount I will carry more gear, on a "Dam I wish I had that" basis.