CitroSqueeze ® PPE cleaner, the fire gear cleaning solution used by Shamrock Gear and Repair, has become a key part of the Shamrock Gear and Repair business of fire gear cleaning.  As a result of the success of the CitroSqueeze ® product, Shamrock Gear and Repair has added a CitroSqueeze ® page to our website.  You may now buy CitroSqueeze ® from Shamrock Gear and Repair.  For more in depth information on CitroSqueeze ®, please see our CitroSqueeze ® page.  Help your fire department comply with the recommendations in NFPA 1851, use a fire gear cleaning solution that meets those recommendations, use CitroSqueeze ®.

As General Manager of Shamrock Gear & Repair LLC, I focus very closely on the fire departments in our region.  Being located in Central Ohio, we like to focus on departments that we can visit, train, pick-up, and deliver to in a short time.  We all understand that when looking at fire gear repair, time frames are important.  “How long will you have our gear?”   ”What is the turn around time for repairs?”  These are examples of the most common questions we get in our office, even before “How much?”.  So as I track where our customers are contacting us from, I watch our website traffic.

Recently, I have seen a large influx of traffic and visits from Texas, Kansas, California, Michigan, New York, and Florida.  There have been as many, or more, visits from those states as from Ohio.  This tells me that those states are looking for answers to the question “What do we need to do to maintain our gear and stay NFPA compliant?”.  It is not a simple answer, but not complicated. 

1)  Get a copy of NFPA 1851.  Read it.  Try to understand it (or stay awake while you read it).  Make a list of questions you have about the standard.  Interpretations of the document may vary from one person to another.  Getting a basic understanding and begin planning your Maintenance Program.

2)  Contact your Firefighter Ensemble Dealer or Manufacturer.  Get their recommendations. 

3)  Find a list of verified Independant Service Providers (ISP’s) and contact one, two, or all of them.  Ask your questions.  Look for training, services, references, prices, so on and so forth.  Interview that ISP to see if they are going to be the right fit for you and your department.

4)  Search the World Wide Web for online training.  Read the articles, watch the videos, do what you can “in house” that will save you money and keep members safe.  With the proper training from an ISP, you can do a lot of general maintenance yourself, right up to the point of advanced steps and sewing or repairs. 

At this point, it is time to choose an ISP for further assistance and repairs. 

It all sounds very simple- maybe it is.  But, it is not a task that should be taken lightly.  The individual in your department that has or takes on the task of your department’s gear maintenance should be diligent in the procedure and task.  The assignment could be overwhelming if there is no Program in place.  A quality ISP can be of great assistance.

So, if you are in one of the states that I mentioned earlier, and you are not getting answers in your state, contact Shamrock Gear, we can help!!

Remember:

We test our fire pumps, we test our fire hose, we test our SCBA’s, we test our ladders- DO WE TEST OUR FIRE GEAR?

Rob Leahy

Shamrock Gear & Repair LLC

Leather Firefighter Radio Holster end of summer sale.

For the month of September radio holsters are

“Buy 5 Get 1 Free!”

Get your buddies together and save some money.

Department purchases are welcome.

See our online:

http://www.shamrockgear.biz/store.htm

and contact our office for details.

At Shamrock Gear, we are offering even greater discounted rates on our Maintenance Programs.  The Bronze Program- Cleaning and Advanced Inspection- is the first big step to proper gear care.  We want to help your department get the most out of your budget.  Contact us for the DEEP DISCOUNT fire gear cleaning and inspection program.

330-313-1220

As firefighters, we always hear about watching the Department’s budget.  We use equipment that may be new,or 20+ years old.  We roll with the punches.  We do the job that we have chosen because we love it.  If we wanted to make a lot of money we would have taken another test.  We will not become “pocket rich” in the fire service.  We will be rich in friendship, memories, and accomplishments.  You know where I am coming from. 

So, with that said, how disheartening is to hear that departments all over are having to cut budgets.  Mayors, council people, trustees, and municipal officials are telling fire chiefs to cut the budget!  Some by 20% or more.  This is a job (Chief) that none of you want right now.  We blame politicians, bankers, investors, administration, chiefs, blah, blah, blah.  Who do we blame?  We want to pin it on someone.  The President?  Current or past?  We all of a sudden are trying to point fingers.  Maybe we as each individual had something to do with it also?!?  Maybe we as firefighters and “Protectors of the Public” should just suck it up and be happy.  Happy that we may still have a job for now, or happy we took the test that we did.  I don’t know the answer. 

What I do know is that firefighters have to stay strong.  As budgets drop, call numbers go up.  As resources diminish, the amount of help needed increases.  We are the fix all!  And we do it!  Every BS call may be another “Chapter in the Book”.

Budgets are being squeezed tight, but are our hearts for the job we love being squeezed also????

Doug and Abby Leahy are visiting Magnolia Ohio from Arizona as they spread the word across the country on the importance of properly maintained Fire Gear.  Doug was recently heard saying, “If you change the oil in your car to make sure it keeps running, why don’t you wash your turnout gear to help keep you alive?  This isn’t rocket science.  Good maintenance means safe gear!”

Thanks Doug- keep passin’ on the message!