Extrication gear

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Permalink Reply by J Brooks on December 16, 2008 at 11:12am

Extrication gear can cost almost as much money as TOG. Most departments use it for extrication since it also gives you a thermal protection. There is no reason to wear TOG for vertical rescue, water rescue or any other sort of special rescue. It can actually be a hazard to the rescuer. A coverall would work if you need something to go over clothes for that.

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Permalink Reply by Adam Box on December 16, 2008 at 11:18am

I only know of one department near me that provides extrication gear.

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Permalink Reply by Chuck Beecher on December 27, 2008 at 1:50pm

We use structural gear for just about everything.

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Permalink Reply by Todd Caulkins on December 27, 2008 at 10:14pm

We had an extrication assignment in progress and almost completed when we were then toned for a structure fire. We cut loose our Engine Co. and they responded direct. Ya never know whats around the corner so we like to be prepared. This would not work for a water rescue, but fits most of our response needs.

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Permalink Reply by T.J. on December 28, 2008 at 7:56am

We're looking at getting some extrication gear in the near future but for now we use our structure gear.

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Permalink Reply by Michael on January 12, 2009 at 8:26pm

Charles
I think your regular turnout gear is the best rescue gear to use. Lets say u r at a MVC as u r working the crash u have auto rescue gear on. Now the crash site become engulfed in flames. Which gear do u think u should have on? I think the rescue gear is also a waste of money. Here in ST. Louis our turnout gear is used for everthing.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on February 8, 2009 at 2:06pm

How many times do crash scenes become "engulfed in flames"? The answer is "almost never".
Either the fire starts before we get the 911 call, or it doesn't start at all most of the time.
I've been responding to wrecks and car fires for 34 years, and I've seen exactly 2 cars catch fire while working an extrication in that entire time. Both were extinguished in seconds, in one case by an EMT in shirt sleeves and in the other by a rescue specialist wearing crash gear. No injuries resulted from either.

The bottom line is that heat stress is the biggest hazard for extrication responders. We need to wear common-sense gear designed to defeat the most common hazards - broken glass and metal edges while reducing heat stress.

You don't see the NBA wearing football gear to play basketball or the NFL wearing basketball clothing.
We need to dress for the sport we're playing, too.

Ben

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Permalink Reply by TrainingTECH1 on February 9, 2009 at 7:19pm

Amen!

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Permalink Reply by Asst. 29 on February 28, 2009 at 9:17pm

Common sense prevails here as well as in a structure fire. Or even in the bar for that matter, Know when to say I've had enough and step back and take a break. You can't do it all no matter what you are wearing. Heat stress is still an issue to to the fact of layering it's just not as many layers as structural gear. The simple statement that you must be smarter that the equipment you use is the answer. Ask for assistance and have a rehab set up for extended extrications. Use your resources wisely, but first you need to know your limits.

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Permalink Reply by fireman1049 on March 5, 2009 at 5:35pm

Michael...
you have to remember, small dept and volunteer depts dont have the funding available like the larger city depts and the larger volunteer depts do... i know there are grants out there to get new bunker gear... but sometimes getting those grants is not as easy as it seems... so the smaller depts have to make do with what they have....
but i myself agree with you about using bunker gear for MVC and extrication... its better protection for you and your fellow fire fighters...

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Permalink Reply by Kevin " Bucky" Ayers on October 10, 2009 at 2:46am

Very well said that is what we are converting over to getting away from extracation jumpsuits and going back to regular turnout gear.

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Permalink Reply by Brian D. on January 12, 2009 at 8:31pm

We wear regular turnout gear for extrication.

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