Turnout gear, studies and 3/4 boots or no?

[IzzyEng4 427]

In another thread, fellow member FD828 posted a concern about departments allowing members wearing 3/4 and long coats as opposed to full turnouts. While my personal belief for any interior firefighting and / or protection from a hazardous environment is wearing full turnouts, a study was conducted by the Boston Fire Department in 2000 about this concern. It mainly had to do with over heating firefighters in bunker gear and the effects being totally encapsulated in turnouts. Below is the link to the study as posted on the U. S. Fire Administration's website. Take the time to read it.

http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/tr_02dm.pdf

This was an interesting study conducted and pointed out many valid points about the gear that was being made in the 1990 and early 2000. Also before we have any nay-sayers here, this study had nothing, repeat nothing to do with trying to hang on to old traditions. It was in fact based on the stresses on the body due to overheating while performing firefighting operations.

[FD828 77]

I can understand the concern about the heat stress factor, but what kind of rehab policies are there in place? Because from my experience, unless the firefighter is unconscious, they NEVER just come for rehab. Do they ask for a drink... sure but make them stop and sit and have their vitals checked... just doesn't happen. Well not where I worked anyway. And my personal opinion is that people that are involved with offensive firefighting should be wearing full turnout gear. If they are strictly doing "outside" work, then maybe the 3/4 boot would be acceptable. But again, just my opinion.

[IzzyEng4 427]

FD828 I share the same opinion as you. This report is interesting and also in the eight years that the report has been out, it interesting even how turnouts have changed since this and other aspects as well have come about.

[JohnnyOV 2]

I can understand the concern about the heat stress factor, but what kind of rehab policies are there in place? Because from my experience, unless the firefighter is unconscious, they NEVER just come for rehab. Do they ask for a drink... sure but make them stop and sit and have their vitals checked... just doesn't happen. Well not where I worked anyway. And my personal opinion is that people that are involved with offensive firefighting should be wearing full turnout gear. If they are strictly doing "outside" work, then maybe the 3/4 boot would be acceptable. But again, just my opinion.

EGO

Time to stop this. I along with many members of my department have no problem turning into rehab to get a quick boost of O2, gatoraide and relax for a few minutes and re-energize, then return to relieve the guys in side and fight the fire.

A quick recharge will greatly help with the on scene operations and recovery of the firefighters in the long run, and will aid in the suppression of the fire.

[FD828 77]

I am not saying that there aren't any firefighters that would go to rehab.... I am saying that there is no mandatory rehab. I have been at several fires since 1996 working as a paramedic and the only time the firefighters came to EMS for help/rehab was when they were dropping or actually injured. What I am saying is that Chiefs/Officers should require their staff/firefighters to rehab wether they think they need it or wether they want it or not. Set the rules, one bottle, 2 bottles whatever they feel is the right choice for their department. The fire in Port Chester, how many firefighters went to rehab during the fire? Anyone know? I'd bet my next check that it wasn't as many as it should have been. Safety and the well being of our members/firefighters/staff should be our number 1 priority.

[ny10570 745]

Guys, lets stick to the topic at hand. This is not about getting ff's to go and rehab. The issue is risk benefit comparison between bunkers and 3/4 w/long coat. Rehab is a way to address the issues with encapsulation if you choose to go that route.

[Bnechis 3,961]

The one thing I did not like about 3/4 boots & long coat is when you were crawling around a very critical piece of "equipment" was only cover with a pair of duty pants.

Always supprised me that BFD took so much longer to go to bunker pants, particularly for winter work....brrr I remember many night when the tillerman looked very cold as they pulled up to the dorm across the street from mine (every night x2 or 3).