Proudly serving those who serve

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30 August 2024

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Training: Firefighter mask-up challenge

​Have you ever had your ears or the side of your face burned in a fire? Do you know of someone who has? For me it's a yes on both. So when I see fellow firefighters posting videos on masking up and neglecting to deploy their helmet ear flaps I have to shake my head. Firefighting hoods are the thinnest part of our personal protective equipment (PPE) and usually fit tight and compress on the sides of your face and ears. Layering and air gaps can greatly reduce the chance or severity of thermal injury. Your helmet ear flaps are installed for a reason, SO USE THEM!! It may allow you to push through a bad environment in order to make the grab or buy you a few extra seconds to get out of a bad situation. With practice it's only going to add a second or two on your mask up times, but it may save you some pain and scarring in the long run. Train, stay prepared, be aggressive, make the save - so others may live! Source: Dale G Pekel

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