A to Z: T is for Turnout Gear

Turnout gear, also referred to as bunker gear, is the protective clothing firefighters wear. These include coats, pants, helmets, gloves, and footwear. This gear must have three components: an outer shell, a moisture barrier, and a thermal barrier. Pockets of air between these layers add to the protection from the extreme environments of fires. The materials for these items often use a Nomex(a flame resistant material)/Kevlar combination.

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The pants often have suspenders attached. These are typically of a heavy duty construction to stand up against heavy weights and rigorous activity. When removed, the pants are often left around the boots, with the suspenders to the OUTSIDE! Very important, because otherwise they would be between your legs when you step into your boots. This makes it quicker to gear up.

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The coat has oversized pockets in order to carry various tools and equipment and reflective stripes line the coat. These usually have velcro or zippers to quickly don the coat. There’s also a flap that covers the closure area, adding extra protection from fire and heat. They also have wristlets made of Nomex at the end of sleeves to prevent burns between the end of the sleeve and the gloves.

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Boots are often made of rubber or leather with steel toe inserts. The boots are worn inside the pants to offer another layer of protection. They also have a puncture resistant midsole plate as they will come in contact with all sorts of surfaces in emergency situation.

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Often a hood is worn under the helmet. This is also made of Nomex. This is for when a helmet does not provide built-in protection around ears and neck. The hood is tucked into the collar, then the SCBA mask is donned, then the hood is pulled up over the head to the seal of the mask to cover any exposed skin.

By Sherurcij at en.wikipedia (Transferred from en.wikipedia) [Attribution or CC BY 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)%5D, from Wikimedia Commons

Originally the fire helmet was meant to shed water. Today, it’s purpose is more to protect the firefighter from falling debris or other injuries to the head. A secondary consideration is protection from heat and burns to the head. The hard shell protects from electrical, heat, and steam burns. There are four basic components to a helmet: the outer shell, impact ring, helmet liner, and chin strap. The shell is lightweight & well-balanced. It is designed to provide maximum protection with a front brim, rear brim, and raised top. The impact ring is a 3/8″ sponge rubber ring that absorbs impact energy. The helmet liner is made of fire retardant cotton and Nomex.

By Bill Koplitz (This image is from the FEMA Photo Library.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

There are a couple different types of gloves firefighters wear. Mostly work gloves and structural firefighting gloves. The work gloves allow better mobility but are not rated for fire-fighting though. One type of work glove is the extrication glove. These are similar to an auto-mechanic’s glove but are made of a heavier rip-proof and puncture resistant material such as Kevlar. However, they are still lightweight enough to maintain dexterity and operate rescue tools or even take a victim’s pulse. For a working fire, structural firefighting gloves have to be worn. These are designed to protect from extreme heat and penetrating objects and still retain some dexterity, though this may be sacrificed as the heat protection is more important. This is often the last item to be donned when gearing up, as that dexterity is needed to perform other tasks, such as putting on the SCBA and tightening straps, particularly for the helmet. The cuff of the glove sits between the wristlet and the end of the coat to offer the most protection.

By Gila National Forest (DSC_7211 Uploaded by AlbertHerring) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons

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Crafty Corner: Sweater & Phoenix Gauntlets

I finished the Storybook Baby Hoodie I’d been working on all of last week on Sunday. It didn’t turn out as small as I was afraid it would.

I’ve gotten better with the seaming, doing it on the wrong side and turning the piece inside out. Still had a little trouble setting the sleeves into the sweater, but I think I got it figured out.

Yesterday I started on the Phoenix gauntlet pattern from Lion Brand Yarn. These aren’t the first fingerless gloves I’ve made. The other ones I’ve done though have all been short ones. This pattern comes with instructions for three different sizes: mini, midi, and maxi. The mini are about the length of my other ones; just past the wrists. The midi, which are the ones I’m making now, should come to about my elbows, I’m thinking. Or at least mid-arm. The maxi looked like they’d be a little too long. Plus they would have needed an extra skein of the yarn.

I only have the first half of the first one knitted so far.

Knitting Monday: Winter is Coming

Not sure what it is like where everyone else is from, but here it is certainly starting to cool off. We’ve gone from temperatures in the 70s down to 50s the next week. So, it’s definitely time to start some winter knitting. I started that last week by making Nathaniel his first pair of thumbed mittens. Knowing my son, I knitted a cord so they can hang through his jacket, or sweatshirt for right now. This first pair match his Halloween costume, and I’m planning on making another pair to match the hat I made him last month.

I also started a pair of gloves for Hayleigh, but I think they are going to be too big for her. But, it will be some practice with double pointed needles on something other than decreasing hats. I guess I should have measured her hand circumference before I started. I thought about just adjusting the pattern, but I’m afraid I would not adjust it right and really screw it up, particularly the fingers. So, I’m just going to see how they turn out. Maybe she’ll be able to wear them sometime down the road. If they don’t fit her now and I have enough of the yarn left from the hat and scarf I made her before, I’ll make her a matching pair of mittens instead.