Shamrock Gear and Repair

Fire coat covered in Tar & Oil

Checkin’ the oil, kickin’ the tires, and fillin’ the tank are simple little things we do to ensure that our vehicles are going to run when we want them to.  Sure these are simple efforts that we take for granted, but,  go without easy “minute maintenance” and the outcome could be catastrophic.  What does any of this have to do with fire gear?  I am just trying to relate.  (As the husband of a 1st Grade teacher, I have learned how to help people relate thoughts to what they know.) 

Fire gear needs the daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly inspections the same as your car does.  If your car is dirty, you wash it.  If your fire gear is dirty, you “look cool”.  If your tire is flat, you put air in it.  If your fire gear has a scorch, you are “tough”.  If the car runs out of gas, you fill it up.  If your moisture barrier, outer shell, or thermal liner is in poor repair, you could—  oh yes!  DIE!

It is simple math– we take better care of our cars than we do of our fire gear- the HEART of protection for a firefighter.  Why?  Is it too hard to look over our gear?  In less than five minutes, you can give your gear a quick once over at the start of shift.  Are there rips or tears?  Is the reflective trim torn, coming loose, or not reflective?  Do all the closures work properly?  Velcro clean?  Snaps snap?  Clips clip?  Does it still fit?  Yes, I know gear shrinks in the waist- our bellies never get bigger!  Finally, is it clean?  Does it smell like last week’s fire?  Diesel fuel?  Or a moldy jock strap?  Yes, the sweat for our finely tuned bodies can smell and rot our gear! 

What happens in your department if you find any of these minor flaws in your gear?  Overlook it?  Maybe, but always remember that the firefighter ensemble you wear is your first line of defense to staying alive.  A quick inspection of the “Heart” of firefighter protection can help to keep your heart pumping!

For more rants and raves, give me a call- I can go on all day!

Rob

Fire coat after removing Tar & Oil