FIRE FIGHTER PERSONNEL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENTS

OBJECTIVE Learning Outcome 4

State Fire Fighter Personal Protective Clothing and Personal Protetctive Equipments.

Assessment Criteria 4

4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5

Define PPC. Identify the types of PPC used in RMAF Fire Sercive. Define PPE. Identify the types of PPE used in RMAF Fire Sercive. State Fire Fighter Personal Protective Clothing and Personal Protetctive Equipments.

REFERENCES a. Fundamentals Of Fire Fighter Skills Chapter 2. b. Essentials of Fire Fighting Fourth Edition Edited By Richard Hall and Barbara Adams Chapter 4.

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FIRE FIGHTER PERSONNEL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENTS

INTRODUCTION 1. Safety is a critical part of a fire fighters job. Prevention includes standards and procedures, personnel, training, and the departments equipment. Personal protective equipment must meet standards to unsure your safety. The personal protective ensemble includes a helmet, a protective hood, a turnout coat, bunker pants, boots and gloves. DEFINITION OF PPC 2. Standard on Ensemble for Structural Fire Fighting , includes coats, trousers, coveralls, helmets, gloves, footwear, and interface components (protective hoods and wristlets) as parts of the multiple elements of clothing and equipment designed it provide protection for firefighters during structural fire fighting and certain other operation. IDENTIFY THE TYPES OF PPC USED IN RMAF FIRE SERVICE 3. Personal protective clothing refers to the garments firefighters must wear while performing their jobs. Full protective equipment for structural fire fighting consists of the following: Helmet Protects the head from impact and puncture injuries as well as from sclding water Protective hood Protects portions of the firefighters face, ears, and neck not covered by the helmet or coat Protective coat and trousers Protects truck and limbs against cuts, abrasions, and burn injuries (resulting from radiant heat), and provide limited protection from corrosive liquids Gloves Protects the hands cuts, wounds, and burn injuries Safety shoes or boots Protects the feet from burn injuries and puncture wounds Eye protection - Protects the wearers eyes from flying solid particles or liquids Hearing protection Limits noise-induced damage to the firefighters ears when loud noise situations cannot be avoided Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) Protects the face and lungs from toxic smoke Personal alert safety system (PASS) Provides life-saety protection by emitting a loud shriek if the firefighter should collapse or remain motionless for approximately 30 seconds

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DEFINITION OF PPE Personal protective equipment (PPE) is an Essential component of a fire fighters safety system. PPE ensembles provide specific protections, so an understanding of their designs, applications, and limitations is critical. For example, a structural firefighting ensemble will protect the wearer from the heat, smoke, and toxic gases present in building fires (Figure 1.1).

Figure 1.1 : A protective ensemble for structural firefighting provides protection from multiple hazards. IDENTIFY THE TYPES OF PPE USED IN RMAF FIRE SERVICE Fire Helmets The helmet shell also repels water, protects against steam, and creates a thermal barrier against heat and cold. The shape helmet helps to deflect water away from the head and neck (Figure 1.2).

Figure 1.2 : Fire Helmet.

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PROTECTIVE HOOD Although the helmets ear tabs cover the ears and neck, this area is still at risk for burns when the head is turned or the neck is flexed. Protective hood provide additional thermal protection for these areas. The hood, which is constructed of flame-resistant materials such as NOMEX or PBI, covers the whole head and neck, except for that part of the face protected by the SCBA face piece (Figure 1.3).

Figure 1.3 : Protective hood. FIREMAN BOOTS Structural firefighting boot can be constructed of rubber or leather and come in different length. Rubber firefighting boots come in a step-in style without laces (Figure 1.4.). The outer layer repels water and must be both flame-and-cut-resistant design. Boots must have a puncture-resistant sole and a reinforced toe to prevent injury from falling objects.

Figure 1.4 : Fireman boot.

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FIREMAN GLOVES Gloves are an important part of the firefighting ensemble, because most fire suppression tasks require the use of the hands (Figure 1.5). Gloves must provide adequate protection and still enable the manual dexterity needed to accomplish tasks. Gloves must be resistant to heat, liquid absorption, vapors, cuts, and penetration. Gloves must have a wristlet to prevent skin exposure during normal firefighting activities.

Figure 1.5 : Fireman gloves.

CONCLUCION Firefighters require the best personal protective equipment avaible because of the hostile enviroment in which they perform their duties. Providing and using quality protective equipment will not necessarily guarantee firefighter safety; however, injuries can be reduced and prevented if protective clothing and breathing apparatus are used properly.

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