Be Secure in Tight Spaces with the Pre-Rig

When faced with a confined-space rescue, knowing what to expect is anything but the norm: Confined spaces vary in size, shape, and location, so there aren’t any established methods for devising adequate strategies to prepare for them. Thanks to their extensive foundation in manufacturing mountaineering and rock-climbing equipment, Yates Gear has drawn upon its extensive experience to create rescue, rigging, rope access, and tactical-specific equipment to deal with these precarious rescues. The Stokes Litter Pre-Rig is a perfect example of this intuitive ingenuity. Here’s why:

Specially designed to enable safer, more effective patient evacuation from extremely tight, confined spaces during various rescue operations, the Yates Gear Stokes Litter Pre-Rig can be attached to any Stokes Litter. It is exceptionally sturdy: The Yates Gear Stokes Litter Pre-Rig has a rated strength of 5,000 lbf (22kN), while its unique Y suspension system greatly diminishes congestion at its upper-attachment point.

Extremely versatile, the Yates Gear Stokes Litter Pre-Rig – referred to as “the spider” – can be adjusted to safely accommodate a wide range of measurements, depending on the circumstances of the rescue. Lengths range from 18 inches above the litter to a maximum distance of five feet; the former height enables you to avoid any slack in the spider, thereby giving you more control during rescue operations – allowing for tight-space evacuations when every inch counts. Simply utilize its quick-adjust Mil-Spec hardware to achieve your desired length. Additionally, should you need a low-angle stretch harness, half of the Yates Gear Stokes Litter Pre-Rig can be utilized as such, which nullifies the need to buy any additional harnesses.

When you’re in a tight spot, be sure to rely on the Yates Gear Stokes Litter Pre-Rig. For more information and to get yours, be sure to visit TheFireStore.com.

Quality Is Key with Dex-Pro Gloves

It goes without saying that having proper hand protection during firefighting is of paramount importance. Burns and other injuries to the hand represent a large portion of all fireground-related injuries. A good pair of comfortable gloves must fit correctly to provide the proper levels of insulation, as trapped air inside the glove acts as a good insulator and conforms to the hand, which facilitates proper hand function.

As a leading manufacturer of head-to-toe protection for first responders, Fire-Dex incorporates over thirty years of top-quality, industry-leading innovations into all of their products, including the all-important fire gloves that firefighters need to rely on for every call. Their Dex-Pro 3D Leather Gloves incorporate an intuitive, three-dimensional construction that combines pioneering design features with fit-for-purpose materials to form a glove that delivers maximum dexterity, extreme durability, and superior protection.

The Dex-Pro 3D Leather Gloves are constructed with only the finest materials: The backs of the gloves are 3.0-ounce, top-grain cowhide that has been tanned with a proprietary blend of silicone and other additives. These materials ensure that the gloves stay soft after repeated wet/dry cycles. You can be assured of a firm, secure grip in wet or dry conditions thanks to 3.0-ounce, reverse-grain cowhide on the palms. This reliable, cowhide-based material makes for the perfect outer-shell material because of its balance of durability, dexterity, abrasion resistance, and comfort.

The Dex-Pro 3D Leather Gloves’ fourchettes, or the sides of the fingers, are comprised of highly flexible, water-resistant, 2.0-ounce goatskin. Be assured that your hands will be fully fortified with extra protection: The gloves’ outer reinforcements have knuckle and palm guards; each is constructed of 3.0-ounce cowhide and cover the entire width of the hand. Additionally, you won’t have to worry about the gloves bunching up and restricting your hands thanks to a thin, lightweight, breathable Vapor Flex™ Moisture Barrier.

By consistently striving to go the extra mile to ensure their dedicated firefighting clientele has only the highest-quality gloves possible, Fire-Dex infuses cutting-edge technology into the Dex-Pro 3D Leather Gloves:

• Dex-Flex™ Finger Design: The gloves’ pre-bent, three-dimensional Dex-Flex™ Finger Design more closely mimics the actual orientation of the hand and fingers while at rest.

• Liner-Loc™ Technology: This unique feature ensures against liner pull-out with nine separate attachment points.

• Keystone Thumb: Offering the most ergonomically sound thumb pattern available, the gloves’ Keystone Thumb is sewn separately into the palm of the glove, which allows for a full, 360-degree range of motion and maximum flexibility.

• Rollover Finger Design: This eliminates bulky seams at the tips of the fingers.

• Viper Flex™ Moisture Barrier: This serves a dual purpose: reduces restriction in the glove and diminishes hand fatigue.

• Tex-80 Kevlar® Thread: The gloves offer superior tensile strength and resistance to abrasion thanks to this durable thread.

• Nomex® Knit Wrist: The Dex-Pro 3D Leather Gloves can be ordered with a Nomex® Knit Wrist, which is reinforced with a leather pull-strap.

Don’t put the safety of your hands at risk. For more information and to get yours, be sure to visit TheFireStore.com.

Be Fit for the Fire with BlastMasks

Being a firefighter is not simply an occupation; it is a way of life. Along with the immense pride and bravery that are invariably associated with the job, the degenerative effects of time, physical abuse, and physiological stress are also inevitably connected to it. A line-of-duty death (LODD) caused by a cardiac-related incident, such as a myocardial infarction, is not an unfamiliar occurrence in the fire service. Therefore, it is utterly critical that firefighters be ever-mindful of their cardiovascular fitness at all times. An innovative, effective way of doing so is with new Breathing Limited Air Situational Training Masks, also known as BlastMask Training Regulators. Here’s why:

The facts are disturbing: More than 50 percent of LODD-related incidents and 30% of firefighter injuries are directly attributable to stress, overexertion, or a general lack of fitness. This is where the usefulness of BlastMask Training Regulators is fully realized: They allow you to conduct multiple training and fitness exercises – either with or without self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) packs – that can dramatically improve your tactical preparedness.

BlastMask Training Regulators are effective tools for replicating the physical demands of the fireground or to bolster aerobic capacity: During real-life scenarios, maximum oxygen consumption is reduced by 14.9% by the SCBA regulator and from the weight of the pack. Additionally, peak-power output and SPO2 (oxyhemoglobin saturation) are decreased by the regulator alone. To allow you to prepare for these deficiencies, attach the BlastMask Training Regulator to your facepiece to simulate real-world SCBA breathing without draining your cylinders.

They’re loaded with great features: Constructed of durable polycarbonate resin, the BlastMask Training Regulators offer the same high-impact resistance and strength found with law enforcement riot gear and ballistic vests. Use an easy air bypass valve – similar to the one found on your SCBA regulator – to gain immediate access to full air with a turn of a knob. 

Using BlastMask Training Regulators are good for your department’s financial health, too: By using them, you’re sparing valuable manpower and time that would be spent on refilling SCBA bottles. Therefore, resources can be kept readily available for real emergencies, not to mention they decrease costly wear-and-tear damage on pricy SCBA regulators.

Before you can save lives, you have to train to prolong yours. For more information and to get yours, be sure to visit TheFireStore.com.

Fire Cam 1080: A Must-Have for Firefighters

The value that helmet cameras bring to the firefighting profession cannot be overstated. Whether it be for developing fireground-based strategies and tactics or for studying fire behavior and reading smoke, the utility of this infinitely useful technology is invaluable to modern firefighters.

Having established their reputation for industry-leading, rugged, and lightweight, body-worn cameras a decade ago, Fire Cam has successfully integrated their customers’ feedback in order to develop products that are not only industry-compliant, but are also revolutionizing the public-service industry. Specifically built to assist with interior-firefighting operations in mind and infused with the input of firefighters, the new Fire Cam 4K WIFI Camera is perfectly equipped to be a valuable tool for training, documenting fireground-related incidents, developing critiques, and performing fire investigations.

The sturdy Fire Cam 4K WIFI Camera is constructed of heat-resistant, anodized aluminum and is equipped with a heat-resistant glass lens. While it is fully capable of withstanding temperatures reaching 900 degrees Fahrenheit for brief periods of time, it is not recommended for training in burn buildings or flashover buildings where intense temperatures are maintained for extended periods of time.

The high-definition Fire Cam 4K WIFI Camera is loaded with industry-leading, state-of-the-art features: Along with a new Sony lens, it is capable of filming 1080@ 60 fps, thereby enabling firefighters to capture amazing slow-motion videos. When battling dark, smoky conditions or during nighttime operations, the camera’s innovative, low-light sensor imbues visually obscured videos with illuminating clarity.

By using your Smartphone, the Fire Cam 4K WIFI Camera can be controlled directly through its built-in WIFI, and a related app may be purchased in the Google Playstore and the Apple App store. Once the app is launched on your phone, a litany of control-based options becomes available: starting/stopping recording, previewing live video, and changing the video’s resolution, among many others. Some additional accessories included with the Fire Cam 4K WIFI Camera include:

• 32GB Class 10 Micro SDHC Card
• two rechargeable batteries
• a BlackJack BJ004 Mount for traditional- and modern-style helmets
• USB cable for connecting to a computer charger
• AC wall charger
• waterproof cap for underwater incidents (up to 30 feet)

Don’t be without this versatile, must-have tool for your interior-firefighting needs. For more information and to get yours, be sure to visit TheFireStore.com.

Bullard Has You Covered

Safety starts at the top – at the firefighter’s head, that is. A firefighter’s helmet is specifically designed to offer ample protection against a number of job-related hazards, including heat, falling objects, and more, all while providing the most comfortably accommodating fit possible. With these protective issues firmly in mind, Bullard, a leading manufacturer of high-quality personal protective equipment designed for first responders, is committed to infusing the highest levels of quality and innovation into each of their products. By fully embracing the importance of head protection, Bullard has developed structural helmets that incorporate feedback from firefighters, thereby ensuring top-quality levels of functionality and safety.

The Bullard ReTrak Structural Helmet is relied upon for its built-in protection, offering firefighters a fire helmet with an integrated visor, simple, one-handed operation, and quick removal for cleaning. Proudly made in the U.S., the Bullard ReTrak Structural Helmet can easily accommodate eyewear, has an increased area of protection, and meets all NFPA 1971/ANSI/ISEA Z87.1+ requirements.

When faced with dark and/or smoky conditions, the Bullard ReTrak Structural Helmet with TrakLite Lighting System is designed to help you successfully navigate a large variety of diverse scenarios, such as nighttime search-and-rescue operations or locating a fuse box. Its lightweight TrakLite augments its overall functional performance by offering eight bright-white LEDs located behind protective, heat-resistant glass. This well-constructed combination results in a readily available source of light when you need it most, all without any bulky, cumbersome additions.

When battling a blaze as a team, especially when visibility is poor, keeping track of your brothers and sisters can be challenging, but the Bullard ReTrak Structural Helmet with TrakLite Lighting System’s bright-blue “buddy indicator” located on its rear allows every team member to be seen, even in dimly lit, smoky conditions.

Because the Bullard ReTrak Structural Helmet with TrakLite Lighting System lacks any external clips, brackets, or wires, you can stay focused on the job at hand, effectively alleviating any worrying over the potential of snagging the helmet on any fireground-related obstacles or losing your footing due to weight imbalances caused by cumbersome, additional equipment. Its lighting system is fully operable with either of your gloved hands; simply switch on a single rotary switch to activate both the front LEDs and the rear buddy indicator light. Additional specs of this helmet include:

• weight is evenly distributed between its front and rear, resulting in balanced lighting
• completely waterproof
• powered by four AAA batteries
• its TrakLite is energy-efficient, with a runtime of six continuous hours at a minimum brightness level of 50%
• the AAA alkaline batteries are easy and fast to replace when on-scene

For more information and to get yours, be sure to visit TheFireStore.com.

Haix Fire Eagle: Athletic and Firefighter Strong

Because of the unpredictable nature of your work, modern firefighters must prepare for and readily adapt to any and all unforeseeable dangers. What was once the norm regarding what to expect on-scene is no more. Everything from atmospheric threats to environmental hazards must be considered before arriving to the fire ground. So prepare by starting from the ground up with the new Haix Fire Eagle Air 11-Inch Boots.

Haix, a leading manufacturer of functional features for the fire service, infuses each boot with practical research and creative innovation, which allows them to meet and exceed the rigorous standards set by fire service professionals. Regarded as Haix’s lightest structural fire boots to date, the Haix Fire Eagle Air 11-Inch Boots are ideal for use in unstable structures that are built from lightweight materials. The boots have an athletic fit and feel that is complimented by their high levels of protection, thereby allowing you to immediately respond to changing conditions when on the frontlines of a firefight.

Along with being dual-certified for structural firefighting and Hazmat, NFPA 1971, 1992, the Haix Fire Eagle Air 11-Inch Boots’ innovative, athletic soles are designed to keep you feeling like you’re on terra firma, regardless if you’re standing on water, ice, or snow. Superior traction is critical when battling the unpredictable conditions of a fire, which is why the boots’ 2-component tread features superior stability and support when you need to get the job done correctly. 

Additionally, the dual-colored soles feature augmented shock absorption and keep your feet warm and cold insulated. You can be assured that you’ll be seen – even when working in the smokiest of conditions – thanks to the unique, signal-yellow color emblazoned on each sole.

Get them on and off quickly with Haix’s Ankle Flex System: Interior, elastic components located throughout the ankle area provide a phenomenal fit along with added stability and support, so you won’t be twisting any ankles when running with equipment or jumping off the truck. The Haix Fire Eagle Air 11-Inch Boots’ Crosstech inner liner serves as a stalwart barrier, effectively preventing water, chemicals, and bloodborne pathogens from hampering your overall comfort and mobility when working on-scene. Some additional specs include:

• the boots are equipped with anatomically formed and well-padded composite protective toe caps
• Haix Vario Wide Fit System gives you an individual fit: the boots can be adjusted with an alternate insole

Stay on-point with these cutting-edge boots. For more information and to get yours, be sure to visit TheFireStore.com.

Mesothelioma Cancer & Causes

What is mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is an aggressive malignancy that attacks the protective tissue lining of our internal organs. It is also considered a rare form of cancer as there are less than 10,000 cases per year. To be closer to the actual number, there are roughly 2,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnoses per year in the United States alone. The United Kingdom and Canada are currently the leaders of mesothelioma diagnoses, standing around 2,700 cases per year. There are two common types of mesothelioma and two rare types. View the picture below as it lists the four types of mesothelioma as well as the percentage of diagnoses.

What causes mesothelioma? Doctors and researchers have linked the cause of mesothelioma to a natural mineral known as asbestos. As mentioned earlier, mesothelioma is a form of cancer that attacks the tissue lining of our internal organs, this tissue lining is known as the “mesothelium” to which, mesothelioma got it’s name. Since nearly every case of mesothelioma has been linked to asbestos exposure, many doctors and researchers have attributed mesothelioma to tiny asbestos fibers getting lodged into the mesothelium, disrupting natural cell growth, and causing mesothelioma.

Theories that link asbestos to mesothelioma

Mesothelioma has a latency period of around 20-50 years so no research has actually been done to see and show exactly how asbestos fibers cause mesothelioma, but several theories have been formulated in an attempt to explain how this happens. These theories attempt to explain how asbestos fibers cause changes in genetic makeup and eventual development of cancerous tumors. They are as follows:

• The needle-like nature and microscopic size of asbestos fibers prevents the immune system cells from clearing them out. As such, asbestos fibers are lodged in the mesothelial lining where they interfere with the normal cell division.

• Once inhaled, asbestos fibers irritate cells of mesothelium leading to swelling. Eventually, this causes cellular damage and subsequent development of a tumor.

• Asbestos fibers influence the overall production of the molecules that cause damage to DNA. This causes disruption in cellular production leading to tumors’ growth.

• Asbestos fibers influence production of the protein that leads to mutation of the regular cells of the mesothelium leading to formation of tumor cells. 

Generally, researchers agree that warning signs and symptoms of mesothelioma do not appear until 10 to 50 years pass after asbestos exposure regardless of how they cause the disease. Usually, doctors and patients mistake mesothelioma symptoms for symptoms of common colds and other diseases. Here is a great video that talks about the warning signs and symptoms of mesothelioma.

How mesothelioma develops

In general, mesothelioma starts when a cell undergoes genetic mutation. This mutation causes unregulated growth and multiplication of cells. How exactly asbestos fibers cause the initial genetic mutation is not clear yet. However, researchers note that the interaction of several factors may trigger this mutation. These include lifestyle choices and the health condition of an individual. 

Asbestos exposure:

Asbestos exposure can happen in different ways. However, the most common ways through which people get asbestos exposure include:

• Occupational exposure: This exposure is common among people who work on asbestos containing products or materials.
• Secondary exposure: This happens among family members whose loved ones work on asbestos containing products. These carry asbestos fibers on their clothes.
• Environmental exposure: This occurs to people who live near places where asbestos was mined. Usually, this occurs when airborne fibers of asbestos float to the nearby communities.   

Types of asbestos

Asbestos can be categorized in numerous ways. However, two types of asbestos (amphibole and serpentine) are more likely to be the cause of mesothelioma rather than Chrysotile, Amosite and Crocidolite. Serpentine are wavy fibers that are found in about 95% of commercial asbestos products and due to their shape, it is possible to breathe serpentine fibers in the body but also out of the body. Amphibole fibers on the other hand are rigid and sharp and as such, they have a tendency to lodge themselves into the body tissue with ease making them more likely to cause mesothelioma.  Regardless of the type of asbestos that you or a loved one may have been exposed to, it is advisable that you visit a mesothelioma specialist for a checkup and screening as soon as possible.