Know Your GEAR if it is sized properly and meets your expectations. Arranging a wear trial—often with the support of a manufacturer like Fire-Dex— will help you make the most informed choice. It is important to understand each element of a composite system when selecting and sizing turnout gear—working closely with a knowledgeable supplier can make it much easier to fit your crew, develop options for your specifications, incorporate feedback, prepare information for committee review, and secure approvals. If you are sizing gear for other purposes such as for new training fatigues or to replace just a few garments, a direct head-to-head comparison of two or three sets of equipment from different manufacturers can produce a timely decision that pulls in fewer company resources compared to a formal wear trial. It is advisable, however, to still reach out to these manufacturers who can make sure you have everything needed to
to respond to emergencies should conduct a thorough evaluation. Fire departments not in a position be clear and candid in discussing to commit time and personnel to their research and do so before any a gear trial may endeavor to learn type of purchase commitment. about recent evaluations conducted Also do not hesitate to take your by other local departments. While every department differs in the services provided to the people who perform them, the data and insights surfaced by a comprehensive wear trial have the benefits departments with similar needs when it comes to protecting life and property. Your gear supplier can help you ensure a quality By leveraging fit; explain the latest technologies and answer comparable testing as a baseline for questions your crew may have. decision-making, departments can questions or concerns directly to the streamline the process and reduce manufacturers being evaluated. administrative costs. Fire gear that fits properly is Bear in mind the prudent decision better able to protect the wearer as will be the result of many factors— departments that use similar tactics intended. When sizing your crew
Crossword PUZZLE DOWN
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Gasoline, kerosene, turpentine, diesel, alcohol, and varnish are examples of fuels
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REL-Recommended Limit
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Incident Response Pocket Guide (abbr)
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After a successful fall stop with a full-body harness another less known lethal danger
When doing authorized interior structure preparations, close windows, and interior doors, turn off gas, fans, and coolers, but leave them turned on
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Gravity and Immobility is all that is required for Blood to occur An route is “a preplanned area of sufficient size and suitable location that is expected to protect fire personnel from known hazards without using fire shelters”
Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics (abbr)
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The safe removal of a person or persons from a place of danger and injury/death to a place of safety, for the continued immediate administration of medical care and transport to appropriate advanced care
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at Fire-Dex in September 2015 as part of the acquisition of TECGEN. With over 20 years of experience in the protective textile industry, Todd was soon promoted to Director of Marketing and Product Development in August 2016. Gaining the title of Vice President of Product Innovation and Strategy in 2021, Todd currently leads the newly created Product Innovation and Strategy team. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Textile Engineering from NC State University.
must be responded to very quickly, and it is called Trauma
CarolinaFERJune22
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A safety is a “preplanned area of sufficient size and suitable location that is expected to protect fire personnel from known hazards without using fire shelters”
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has always been an on-the-job fact of life for firefighters and work-related deaths due to environmental exposure have been on the rise
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National Association for Search and Rescue (abbr)
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First responders are paying more attention to mental wellness than ever before; one frequently encouraged method for improving mental wellness is
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Calculations indicate that for most fires, zones must be wider than 164 feet to ensure firefighter survival
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Best Available Control Measures (abbr)
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Spray and spurt protection are assessed through a robust test method applied to a range of products categorized by their effective coverage area of the eyes, nose and
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Personal Protective Equipment (abbr)
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The primary resource used in structure protection is engine and apparatus
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Todd Herring began his journey
Caroline M. Schloss
ACROSS Like other populations, First Responders are at risk for depression, substance use disorders, and
for all-new equipment or simply outfitting your newest team member, be sure to measure accurately per the manufacturer’s specific instructions. And given the opportunity, it is wise to work with your gear supplier to arrange a wear trial that takes not just sizing but many other considerations into account. Doing so can directly benefit your crew’s safety and performance. Find more sizing resources and useful information at FireDex.com.
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Looking at ventilation at its most basic level, the measurement of CFM (cubic feet per minute) can be used to approximate the amount of time it takes to effectively ventilate a
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20 One of the most common problems in thermal imaging use in the fire service is the reading of the temperature
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20 Dust, coal, wood, paper, cloth, leather, and hay are examples of fuels
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22 When the time arrives that a K9 is injured in the line of duty an established acronym to assist the responder through their assessment is M3-A-R-C-H2-P-A-W-S
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Natural gas, propane, butane, hydrogen, acetylene, and carbon monoxide are examples of fuels
Answers on page 49 www.CrosswordWeaver.com
ACROSS
3 Incident Response Pocket Guide (abbr)
Caroline M. Schloss is a current member of the Knotts Island Volunteer Fire Dept., 4 After a successful fall stop withCurrituck a full-bodyCounty harnessFire/
EMS, VirginiaFirst Beach CERT VA., Currituck National Association of Search Rescue, to another less known lethal danger must and be responded 2 Like other populations, Responders are at risk for County CERT, Project Lifesaver VA. depression, substance use disorders, and very quickly, and it is called Trauma 8 Gravity and Immobility is all that is required for Blood 5 REL-Recommended Limit to occur 6 When doing authorized interior structure preparations, close windows, and interior doors, turn off gas, fans, 11 An route is "a preplanned area of sufficient size and SUMMER 2022 | CAROLINA FIRE RESCUE EMS JOURNAL | 43 and coolers, but leave them turned on suitable location that is expected to protect fire personnel from known hazards without using fire 7 A safety is a "preplanned area of sufficient size and
