February is a time that a lot of focus is put on matters of the heart, and which is why we want to talk about cardiovascular stress.
Overexertion is the number one cause of line of duty deaths(1). The mere act of getting ready to respond to a fire starts the flow of endorphins, heightens all the senses, and begins a stressful process on the cardiovascular system, taking its toll on the body. Additionally, structural firefighting gear is intrinsically thick and heavy with layers designed to protect the wearer from direct flame and extreme heat, and as a result, contributes to the stresses and fatigues that a firefighter experiences. Taking proper steps for rehab and your PPE can play a major role in alleviating that stress on your cardiovascular system.
Rehab
Utilize the six R’s of rehabilitation:
Rest
Rehydration—fluid intake (hydration)
Restoration—active cooling
Rx—medical monitoring and treatment
Relief—from extreme climatic conditions
Refueling—where required
View our rehab packages and products.
PPE
Thermal protective performance (TPP) “measures how well a fabric protects the wearer against second-degree burns in a flash fire. The higher the TPP value, the more thermal protection the fabric provides relative to other fabrics.”
Total Heat Loss (THL) measures breathability, or the ability of the total composite system to allow heat and moisture to evaporate. Breathability is a key factor in reducing heat stress.
Most turnout gear options focus on TPP or reducing the weight as it is difficult to attain both measurements. The exclusive TECGEN71 outershell we offer is different. The lighter weight total composite system allows more breathability and flexibility, yielding a 48% higher THL without sacrificing TPP or durability.
TECGEN71 is available on with Fire-Dex FX-R turnout gear. We also offer the dual certified TECGEN51 PPE — it's suited for 90% of your calls, including extrication, MVIs, rescue, incident command and more.
(1) "Taking Action Against Cancer in the Fire Service", Firefighter Cancer Support Network, August 2013 http://www.firefightercancersupport.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Taking-Action-against-Cancer-inthe- Fire-Service.pdf