Firefighters use a range of tools and equipment, including personal protective equipment, hand tools, electronics, and fire-fighting equipment such as hoses and fire extinguishers. They also use high-tech devices like thermal imaging cameras and medical equipment for emergency services.
Firefighters may make use of a wide variety of different tools and equipment in the process of putting out fires, providing emergency services, and performing other duties. The different types of firefighter tools and equipment can be grouped into general categories such as personal protective equipment (PPE), hand tools, various types of electronics, and of course the pump trucks, ladder trucks, fire hoses and other equipment needed to fight fires. Firefighter equipment designed to increase the safety of each individual firefighter includes bunker equipment, face masks, and breathing apparatus. Some common hand tools include various types of planks for breaking through walls, hydraulic cutters for rescuing people from vehicles, flashlights for seeing in dark buildings, and other similar tools. Common firefighter electronic tools include thermal imaging cameras, two-way radios, and various types of emergency medical services equipment.
Because firefighters are trained to rescue people from a variety of circumstances, fight fires, and provide various emergency services, they may require a wide variety of different tools. One of the most common hand tools for firefighters is the flathead axe, although flathead axes are also common. These tools are used to break open windows and doors or to open walls in burning buildings. Pike poles are another type of hand tool used to break through walls and ceilings, and halligan bars are typically used to access enclosed buildings or rooms. Hydraulic cutters, spreaders and rams are firefighter tools that are used to rescue people from wrecked vehicles and other dangerous situations.
Some of the most common tools for firefighters are the items needed to actually fight fires. These tools include portable fire extinguishers, fire hoses, and other similar devices. Firefighters typically also have a variety of adapters and other different plumbing equipment that can be used to connect hoses to sewage pipes and other water sources on site. A tool known as a water thief is used to divide a waterline into smaller independent ones.
Many firefighter tools are electronic, including communication and monitoring devices. Firefighters typically carry two-way radios to maintain communication, and facemasks often have built-in radios as well. Another high-tech tool firefighters sometimes use is a thermal imaging camera, which can detect fires through walls or smoke. These cameras can also be used to locate people who need to be rescued, as their thermal signatures will tend to be different from those of the surrounding area. Firefighters commonly use medical devices, including heart rate monitors, defibrillators, and other electronic devices when providing emergency services.
Another important type of firefighter equipment is collectively known as personal protective equipment. Structural switch or bunker equipment includes items such as flame hoods, insulated jackets and pants, helmets, face masks, and other protective items. This equipment is typically resistant to high temperatures and water. Another tool that falls into this category is the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), which can allow a firefighter to breathe inside a smoke-filled building.
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