Firefighting is a dangerous but incredibly important job. Here are some of the essential pieces of gear every firefighter needs to have on hand to keep themselves safe.
Personal Flashlights
Personal flashlights allow firefighters to see into dark houses or rooms with large amounts of smoke. To avoid being left in the dark, firefighters should carry at least two of the following: a handheld flashlight, a helmet light, or a right-angle light.
Helmet lights are the best option, as they keep both hands free while providing light wherever it’s needed. Right-angle lights clip onto a jacket, meaning they don’t always point where the firefighter is looking, and handheld flashlights prevent them from using both hands. That said, any light is better than none.
Door Wedges
Doors frequently become obstacles for firefighters, which is why they frequently carry door wedges. Door wedges prop open doors, making it easier to carry people to safety and preventing the door from trapping the firefighters inside. On average, you’ll need between six and seven door wedges on your person, though it doesn’t hurt to carry extra.
Firefighter Extrication Gloves
For firefighters to be effective at their jobs, they need full use of their hands. As such, firefighter extrication gloves are extremely important. These gloves protect against harm from glass, heat, and other sharp objects.
It’s recommended that you have at least two pairs of extrication gloves in case one gets torn or wears out.
Regular Work Gloves
These are used for vehicle accidents and other instances where heat protection isn’t necessary, but firefighters still want to protect their hands.
Shove Knife
A shove knife is another essential piece of gear every firefighter needs to have on hand. These are used to open locked or jammed doors. To use this device, firefighters insert the shove knife above the latch, between the door and the jamb. When they pull straight down, the latch should open.
A Well-Equipped Vehicle
Whether this is a firetruck or a modified fire apparatus, a well-stocked vehicle is essential to firefighter success. These trucks are stocked with all the gear firefighters can’t carry on their person, either due to bulkiness or lack of storage.
A good vehicle should get firefighters to their destination quickly, efficiently, and with all their necessary gear.
