After spending the better part of the last year in and around Swedish fire departments, I am convinced we need to get over our tradition hang up and move forward. While this is not out currently, the European helmet style, is both more ergonomic and better protection than the faux New Yorkers that are the rage today. Heavy, too high on the head, and catch on everything in an entanglement situation. Did I mention too heavy? Yet we are so enamored of FDNY and that look we discount advancements because they dont look like firefighters. And cost is the argument from all on this article, but if 100,000 firefighters worldwide are outfitted with them, cost comes down, with 1,000,000 they are now comparable to current SCBA and helmet combinations. Chiefs.. .what is your reduction in insurance exposure, and how many lives do we save before a mayday is needed with real-time information coming from inside on temps, etc... And yes technology will have its hick-ups. Hell look at our radios! But would you go in a fire today without one? I love tradition, have a Maltese on my back that means more to me than I can put into words, but brothers and sisters, if these helmets can prevent one funeral a year for one of our own... what are they worth? And if refusing to embrace this because you look like a Sci-Fi character, means one firefighter will die?
Posted on: Sat, 26 Apr 2014 18:35:30 +0000
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