Dear Nozzlehead: I’m a lieutenant at a fire department in the Deep South. I recently asked our fire chief to consider putting names on turnout jackets. I believe that, at the very least, the officers should have their name, rank or number on the bottom of their coats to help with identification. This is, of course, in addition to their helmet colors and numbers, which (to be honest) are very apparent.
To be clear, I sincerely respect, like and trust our chief. He told me that he’s not fond of names on turnout jackets because if one of his firefighters gets hurt or does something damaging to the department’s image, their name could be plastered all over the media–or their family members could see it before anyone has a chance to talk to them. He could have said no, and I would have taken it, trusting that he had a good reason for making that decision. However, he suggested that I could put together a list of benefits that this change would bring the department, and we could discuss implementing it. Pretty cool of him, if you ask me.
Here’s my problem: I do agree with the chief’s assessment. And other than knowing who is who on scene, not to mention just “being cool,” I can’t really justify making this change. Cost is not an issue, as any member who wants their name on their jacket would have to buy it with their incentive program, but the more I think about it, the more it feels like just a cool thing to have–and less about benefits to the fire company. What is your opinion? Do you see any benefits to the department?
–Conflicted in the South
Dear Conflicted,
First, I will answer your question simply: Yes, I absolutely agree that you should have your name (and officer rank) on the bottom of your bunker coat. After all, if you are single–and looking–it will be very difficult for admirers to remember who you are without seeing your name. Seriously, what looks cooler (or hotter) than a firefighter in properly fitting bunker gear taking a break or rehabbing after saving several widows and orphans from the 10th floor while stretching a 2.5″ handline all by themselves because of short staffing? If a member of the sex that you prefer to date (take that, liberals trying to catch me being politically incorrect!) sees you and wants to get to know you better, how can they do that if your name isn’t on the back of your jacket? Conflicted, who has your back, be it professionally or socially? Damn right I do, brother. Damn right.
I also agree that you have a cool chief. The fact that he throws it back at you to come up with the justification is a sign of a good boss. We need more good bosses at the company and the chief levels.
Are there other reasons for having names and ranks on the back of a bunker coat? Absolutely. A very serious one: accountability. It’s critical to know who is in that gear when the scene turns to crap–or even before it does. When you’re operating inside with your crew, and you’re asked for a personnel accountability report (PAR), how do you KNOW that your crew is with you? Don’t we all look the same in our bunker gear, especially from the rear? The name helps solve the problem. Between the NAMES on the back and the NUMBER of the apparatus or company you rode in on at the front of your helmet, we have a much better chance of knowing who is–and who is not–with us. Simple. Easy. No batteries or charging required.
In the last few years, there have been several line-of-duty death incidents where the officer was confused when giving a PAR. At one of these fires, the officer saw “at a glance” several firefighters in one location and thought it was his crew when, in reality, his crew had gone interior. He didn’t realize this until it was too late.
In another example, an officer answered a roll call twice, indicating that he had his crew intact when he actually did not. Instead of making an assumption, the officer should have made sure by looking around and KNOWING who was/wasn’t in view using numbers or names (“I have four on my crew and I see three L-44 helmet fronts; I have a PAR” or “I have three on my crew–Herbie, Vinnie and Sally–and I see their names on their backs in front of me; I have a PAR”).
Crew continuity involves knowing who is on your crew and who is the leader, staying within visual contact at all times (if visibility is obscured, then teams should remain within touch or voice distance of each other), communicating your needs and observations to the company officer and looking out for other company members.
Accountability on the fireground is paramount and may be accomplished by several methods. First things first: It is the responsibility of all officers to account for every firefighter assigned to their company/crew and relay this information as requested to the IC. A firefighter should communicate with the supervising officer by portable radio to ensure accountability and indicate completion of assignments and duties. And with your name on the back of your coat, the officer KNOWS who you are and where you are. Even with all of today’s technology, simple features like NAMES and NUMBERS on our gear can go a long way in helping us get out.
Here is a simple test: Can you answer the questions of who is where and what are they doing at anytime on the fireground? Crew integrity depends on company members knowing who is on their crew and who is the boss–and staying within contact at all times. And when I say knowing, I mean bet-your-life-on-it knowing.
Following these basic concepts helps prevent serious injury or even death by providing personnel with the added safety net of firefighters. Companies that enter an IDLH area together should leave together to ensure that team continuity is maintained, and when asked for a PAR, knowing WHO IS WHO and WHERE THEY ARE is critical. Not verifying that your crew is with you, not being able to identify your crewmembers, or thinking they are with you when they are not simply because they all look the same in PPE increases the risk to your firefighters and possibly others during search and rescue efforts.
Velcro number tags on helmet front pieces (affixed at the start of the shift or by call/volunteer firefighters when getting on the rig) and firefighter names on the tails of your turnouts are excellent ways to enhance the protection of your members–and for the public to identify those gorgeous heroes.
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