Archive for November 2019
Changes Occur During Fibrillation and Oxidation. Expect it. Understand it.
Ballistic vests. Bridge reinforcements. Lightweight composites. Turnout gear outer shells and thermal liners. High performance materials that share one common thread: DuPont™ Kevlar®. Developed by DuPont in 1965, DuPont™ Kevlar® is a para-aramid fiber known to be one of the strongest fibers in the world. Offering strength noted at 5 times stronger than steel, para-aramid…
Read MoreWater: A firefighter’s best friend…Or worst enemy?
Examining the role water plays in firefighters’ everyday lives: 1) Water can be a firefighter’s best friend when used to extinguish fires that threaten the health and safety of first responders and the community. 2) Water can be a firefighter’s worst enemy when a high percentage of water is absorbed into turnout gear materials…
Read MoreMore Comfort Equals More Safety. Find Out Why…
It’s true: PPE enhances safety ONLY when it’s worn the way it was designed to be worn. There are times when PPE isn’t worn as it should because the user isn’t properly trained; other times it isn’t worn correctly because the user is trying to make uncomfortable PPE more comfortable. Fire department PPE committees are…
Read MoreSo You Think You Want to Switch to Black Turnout Gear…
This is what I would say to a fire department that is contemplating making a switch from a gold, khaki, or yellow outer shell to a black outer shell. The reason for making this statement is that more times than not, fire departments making a switch to a black outer shell become disappointed when the…
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