LT Peterson gives a presentation on personal protective equipment (PPE) to new firefighters. He emphasizes that PPE is the "last line of defense" and reviews the various pieces of issued PPE - helmets, SCBA, turnouts, boots, gloves, and hoods. He stresses the importance of inspecting PPE before each shift and outlines criteria for when equipment requires repair or replacement. LT Peterson also discusses fitness, mental preparedness, nutrition, and the importance of crew coordination for firefighter safety.

1. Personal Protective Equipment
“Your Last Line of Defense!”

2. Presented by
LT Russell Peterson
Shift Safety Officer
Station 3/B-Shift

3. A little about me…
• Born in Valdosta, GA; • Entered the fire service in
• “Air Force Brat”; 1979
• Eagle Scout; • Joined BFD in 1987;
• AS in physical science • Promoted to Engineer in
from Sinclair College, 1988 and Lieutenant in
Dayton OH; 1992;
• BA in economics from • Fire Instructor I, Fire
Univ of Tenn, Knoxville; Officer II, EMT-IV, HM
Specialist, member of FD
• MS in industrial Safety Committee
technology & safety from
Middle Tenn State; • Specialist in safety, HM,
and WMD…

4. Now…
Tell me a
little about
yourself!

5. Introduction
• What’s your name?…
• Where are you from?…
• Do you have a college degree? What’s it
in?
• Where else have you worked?
• What attracted you to Brentwood?
• What can you do to make Brentwood a
better department?

6. You are now called a Meercat!!!

7. Our Objectives Today
• To approach today’s lesson with
“newbees” eyes – “clean your slate”
• To better understand PPE, the “total
safety concept”, and the role it plays in
your personal safety
• To learn and understand the BFD
Operational Guidelines as they pertain to
PPE, PPE Inspection, and PAS.

8. Firefighter Injuries
• Over the past ten years, 99,535 firefighters have
been injured annually, many due to
inappropriate protective equipment;
• Over the same time period, fires have decreased
by 39%
• Why haven’t injuries decreased by 39%?
• Additionally, the fire service averages 100 to 120
fatalities each year, most due to some aspect of
physical fitness or PPE failure/non-use.

9. Firefighter Injuries
• Cuts – result from lack of
PPE, including gloves
• Burns – result from lack
or improper use of PPE
• Inhalation - result from
lack or improper use of
SCBA
• Eye irritation – lack of
protective eyewear

10. Firefighter fatalities…

11. Our primary mission is to…
Save lives, protect property, and…
to make sure that each other
makes it home in the morning!!!

12. Introducing…
The
“Upside – Down
Inside – Out”
Approach
to Firefighter
Safety

13. The “Inside Out – Upside Down”
Approach to Firefighter Safety
• This approach to Firefighter Safety is based on
“layering” your safety starting with:
– Your core organs;
– Your personal protective equipment;
– Your crew; and finally
– Your environment
• Think starting at the top going down and from
the inside going out.

14. The “Layering” Approach
Your degree of the need for safety
decreases as you move away from
the core of the body.

15. Your Core Organs
• Starting from the “Upside-Down”, we have:
– The Brain
– The Heart
– The Lungs
– The Skin
• The criticality of body systems diminishes as you
move down the body; organs higher and closer
to the core are more critical.

16. The Brain
• The “central processing
unit” for the body
• Injury and damage to the
organ can cause severe
or terminal dysfunction.
• Injury and damage can
be prevented by using
common sense and a
helmet.

17. The Heart
• Central pump for
circulating oxygenated to
the body and
deoxygenated blood to
the lungs.
• Injury and damage to the
organ can cause severe
or terminal dysfunction.
• Injury and damage can
be prevented by aerobic
exercise, good nutrition,
and stress management.

18. The Lungs
• Organ that facilitates gas
exchange with the blood.
• Injury and damage to the
organ can cause severe
or terminal dysfunction.
• Injury and damage can
be prevented by using
common sense and
wearing and using your
SCBA.

19. The Skin
• Protective outer layer that
provides a “container” for
the body.
• Injury and damage to the
organ can cause
moderate to terminal
dysfunction.
• Injury and damage can
be prevented by using
common sense and
wearing protective
turnout gear, gloves, and
hood.

20. Do whatever you can and
whatever is necessary…
…at any price, to protect your
core organs and skin…

21. Your personal protective equipment
• Think “Upside down –
Inside out”
– Helmet and eye protection
– SCBA and PASS
– Turnout coat and pants
– Boots, hood, gloves, and
flashlight
– Hearing protection
– PAS
– Physical fitness, stress
management, and common
sense!!!

22. Never, Never, Ever…
Wear your gear in the fire station…
Keep our stations (and its’ air)
clean!!!

23. Your Helmet
• Helmets must comply with
NFPA 1972
• Issued helmet is the Morning
Pride LiteForce 5 or the Cairns
Metro 660C
• Personal helmet may be the
Cairns Classic 1000, 1010, or
Sam Houston.
• Helmet colors are white for the
Chief, red for the Officers,
yellow for Firefighters, and
blue for the Safety/Training
Officer.

24. This helmet…doesn’t fit!!!

25. Your Helmet…
• Impact absorption
– Provided by suspension
system
• Penetration
– Provided by outer shell
• Heat Resistance
– Provided by composition of
materials and layers of
materials
• Face Protection
– Provided by SCBA mask,
face shield, or goggles

26. Your helmet must have…
• Eye protection
– Face shield or goggles
• Chin strap
• Label providing
manufacturing
information
• Addition of rubber straps,
wooden wedges,
flashlights, and other
items may void NFPA
compliance

27. SCBA and PASS
• This department uses the Scott
Aviation AirPak with 4500 psi
carbon fiber wrapped/spun
aluminum cylinders
• We use the AV-2000 face piece
with voice amplifier
• Weight is around 30 pounds
• Useful air life is approximately
30 to 40 minutes
• All frontline SCBA have
integrated PASS devices

28. When do I wear my SCBA???

29. Turnouts
• The department issues
Morning Pride “tailed turnouts”
to every member
• Turnout outer material is
“Advance” which is a 60%
Kevlar and 40% Nomex blend
incorporating the heat
resistance of Nomex and the
tear resistance of Kevlar.
• Breakdown temperature of
Advance is around 700
degrees F.

30. Turnout construction
• Consist of three
layers:
– Outer shell
– Vapor/moisture barrier
– Thermal barrier

31. Outer Shell
•The purpose of the outer shell is
to provide flame resistance and
protection from cuts and
abrasions
•Our gear use “Advance” material
•“Advance” is a Nomex/Kevlar
blend

32. Vapor Barrier
•Prevents transfer of liquid from
the environment to the thermal
barrier
•Our gear uses “Crosstech” which
is a Gore product that functions
like Goretex

33. Thermal Barrier
• The purpose of the thermal barrier is
to absorb perspiration, to provide
thermal protection, and to keep body
warm in cold weather.
• Our gear uses a Nomex E89 hybrid

34. All turnouts must have…
• Label attached to the outer shell of coat and
pant giving directions for maintenance and use
– Includes Manufacturer’s name, address, and country
of manufacture;
– Lot number or serial number
– Month and year of manufacture
– Model name, number, or design
– Size or size range
• Must have at least 235 sq in of reflective
material on coat and not less than 125 sq in
visible from the front of the coat.

35. Boots – Gloves - Hood
• Issued boot is standard
rubber knee length boot
• Personal boot may be any
leather boot that is NFPA
approved (NFPA 1974)
• Issued and personal
gloves must meet NFPA
1973
• Hoods must meet NFPA
1971

36. Hearing Protection
• On-board Intercom systems
– On all large apparatus
– Also at pump panel
compartment
• Ear Muffs
– At stationary locations such as
air fill station, woodworking
and metal shop, lawn mower,
etc.
• Ear plugs
– Issued to everyone with PPE
– To be used whenever
operating power tools

37. Station/Work Uniforms
• Our station uniforms are NOT fire-
resistant!!!
• Pants and shirts are 65% polyester/35%
cotton – will burn if it gets hot enough…
• Boots are not steel-toed or steel-
shanked…
• Which means that it is EVEN MORE
IMPORTANT THAT YOU WEAR YOUR
PPE!!!

38. Personnel Accountability System
(PAS)
• The department utilizes a modified
Seattle/Fairfax County type accountability
system with the addition of a task tracking
system.
• Used by all adjoining fire departments except
Nashville (Franklin, Nolensville, & Rescue Squad)
• System incorporates Accountability Tags,
PASPorts, and PASBoards.
• The system works no better than the individuals
using it.

39. How it works…
• Place your Accountability Tag on the apparatus
PASPort each shift at the beginning of the shift
(Don’t forget!!!).
• During an incident, the company officer carries
the PASPort to the primary PASBoard before
crew enters the hot zone.
• Upon arrival, the Incident Manager obtains the
PASBoard and accountability is established at
the command post.

40. Physical Fitness (with the Titans!)

41. Physical fitness…
• The Combat Test is
only a portion of the
physical fitness goal
• Your ultimate physical
fitness goal should be
fireground fitness
(ability to give that
extra effort in an
emergency situation)
and increased stress
resistance.

42. On Common Sense…
Don’t be a
Clown…
Before all
else…
THINK!!!

43. Do’s and Don’ts of PPE Usage
• DO wear it whenever you
might need it - it’s better to
wear it and not need it then to
need it and not be wearing
it!!!.
• DO wear it when operating
forcible entry tools and
equipment.
• DO wear at least your helmet
when working on or near a
roadway.
• DO use a face shield or
goggles when operating hand
or power tools.

44. Do’s and Don’ts of PPE Usage
• DO wear gloves whenever working with your
hands (raising ladders, testing hose, or reloading
hose).
• DO wear your helmet whenever working with
ladders or hose (training, testing, or reloading).
• DO check your PPE on a daily basis before going
on duty. IT IS YOUR LAST LINE OF
DEFENSE!!!

45. Do’s and Don’ts of PPE Usage
• DON’T dress out while in a moving vehicle.
Wait until you get there if already out of
quarters. DO dress out fully before
leaving quarters on a fire incident.
• DON’T use PPE that’s not NFPA approved.
• DON’T rely on PPE to save your life…rely
on your training and common sense!!!

46. Note on Personal Equipment
The department is not responsible
for the repair or replacement of
personal equipment…

47. Non-Issued Protective Equipment
• Non-department issued personal protective
equipment will be limited to:
– Helmet
– Hood
– Gloves
– Boots
• All other items worn must be department issued
• “Comply before you Buy!”

48. Inspecting your PPE
• Since YOUR PPE is YOUR last line of defense, no
one but YOU is responsible for ensuring that it is
able to provide for your protection.
• Inspect your PPE before each shift as if you are
guaranteed to have a fire that day!!!
• Report problems immediately to your Shift
Commander

49. Inspecting your Helmet
• Criteria for the REPAIR of a helmet
include:
– Missing face shield nuts and adapters
– Face shield excessively scratched
– Chin strap and assembly broken or torn
– Helmet liner worn, shredded, split or cracked
– Webbed suspension broken

50. Inspecting your Helmet
• Criteria for REPLACEMENT of helmet
include:
– Severely stained or split face shield
– Helmet with visible cracks
– Helmet which is warped or bubbled from heat
exposure or drop
– Helmet which has been exposed to mist or
fumes which are known to weaken
polycarbons.

51. Inspecting your Hood
• Criteria for REPLACEMENT of Hoods:
– Holes or tears
– Not NFPA approved
– Stretched out of shape or do not provide
adequate coverage of face or neck surfaces

52. Inspecting your Turnouts
• Criteria for REPAIR of Turnouts include:
– Broken snaps
– Rivets pulled loose from fabric and from the
objects they secure
– Stitches missing
– Holes or rips in outer shell
– Reflective stripes which are burned, cracked,
melted, or torn

53. Inspecting your Turnouts
• Criteria for REPLACEMENT of turnouts:
– Coat or pants that are unrepairable
– Ripped or torn liners
– Charring or evidence of significant fire
damage
– Improper fit
– Soiled with oil, tar, fuels to the point that they
cannot be cleaned

54. A Note on Washing Gear
• DON’T over-wash gear! Twice a year is what is
recommended and should be enough.
Scrubbing with a brush and soap and rinsing it
off with a garden hose should take care of most
post-fire contamination. Over-washing causes
the gear to lose some of its’ protective qualities.
• DO wash it whenever you’ve been exposed to a
hydrocarbon (gasoline, diesel, other fuel oil)
• NEVER dry clean your turnouts!!! NEVER use
bleach or bleach additives when washing
turnouts!!!

55. Inspecting your Boots
• Criteria for REPLACEMENT of Boots:
– Severely cracked
– Holes or tears
– Improper fit

56. Additional checks
• Flashlight – bright beam? Need batteries? See
your Station Officer!
• Portable radio – battery charged? Will it
transmit? Can you get to it?
• SCBA mask – is it clean?
• SCBA voice amplifier – check to see if YOURS is
working – don’t forget it in the AM!
• CHECK YOUR OWN SCBA !!! – the life it saves
may be your own (the Engineer won’t be
wearing it) !!!

57. Final Checks
• Are you physically fit to respond?
– Are you injured or otherwise impaired?
– Would you pass the Combat Test today?
• Are you medically fit to respond?
– Are you ill or otherwise impaired?
– Would you pass a medical exam today?
• Are you mentally fit to respond?
– Do you have the proper attitude to respond today?

58. A Note on Mental Preparedness
• The body does not recognize the difference
between real stress and perceived stress (fight
versus flight).
• The best way to emulate real and perceived
stress is through intense physical activity.
• By exercising, you can increase your resistance
to perceived stress by increasing your exposure
to real stress.
• Don’t avoid stress – seek out stress!

59. Mental Preparedness and Nutrition
• Avoid alcohol
• Avoid caffeine
• Avoid high fat foods
• Tired? Eat a light, low fat that 50%
carbohydrate/50% protein
• Sleepy? Eat some protein
• Wired or nervous? Eat some
carbohydrates

60. Do yourself a favor…
Read either “Stress for Success”
by James Loehr or
“The Corporate Athlete”
by Jack Groppel

61. Your Crew
• Your crew will become your most important “life
preservers”.
• Team building and teamwork are essential to
safe and effective operations.
• Know in advance the aptitude and limitations of
the crew you work with…emphasize the
aptitudes and don’t push the limits!
• Know YOUR role within the team! What are you
expected to do? And what can you expect from
others?

62. Your Crew…
• The crew that
PLAYS together,
STAYS together!!!
• Work and play
together enough
that you learn each
other habits, likes
and dislikes;

63. Your Crew…
Train together
enough so you
learn each
others
aptitudes and
limitations; and

64. Your Crew…
Exercise
together
enough that
you learn each
others physical
strengths and
limitations.

65. Your Environment…
You can CONTROL
the environment
around you…
…or let the
environment
CONTROL you!

66. Our “office” is hazardous!!!

67. Your Environment…
• Your environment
consists of:
– Heat
– Smoke
– Darkness
– Panic
– Chaos
– Disorder

68. The environment is changing!
Changing fuel
loads…
– Maple wood has
8211 BTU’s/lb
– Nylon has
15,902 BTU/lb
– and it’s toxic,
too…

69. Toxic Environments
• Toxicity
– Carbon Monoxide
– Hydrogen Chloride
– Hydrogen Cyanide
– Carbon Dioxide
– Nitrogen Dioxide
– Phosgene
– Ammonia
– Chlorine

70. IDLH

71. When do I use my SCBA?
Whenever you are in an
IDLH environment!

72. Carbon Monoxide

73. Hydrogen Chloride

74. Hydrogen Cyanide

75. Carbon Dioxide

76. Nitrogen Dioxide

77. Phosgene

78. Ammonia

79. Chlorine

80. Your Environment…
• You can control
your environment:
– Survive in the
heat with your
PPE
– Thrive in smoke
with your SCBA

81. Your environment…
– Illuminate the
darkness with your
flashlight, and
– Control panic, chaos,
and disorder with your
ability, aptitude, and
mental and physical
toughness.

82. Your Environment…
LOOK UP First!
(these things will
kill you!)
– Power lines
– Falling walls,
roofs, and
other debris

83. Your Environment…
LOOK OUT (these
things can kill
you)!
– Fire conditions
– Moving
vehicles

84. Your Environment…
LOOK DOWN
(these things
can hurt you)!
•Trip hazards
•Holes in
floors

85. In Conclusion…
• PPE is just one component of your total safety
package.
• You can increase your safety by knowing your
crew and by controlling your environment -
Above all, protect your core organs!!!
• Physical fitness, stress management, and good
thinking/common sense are safety multipliers.
• PPE is your last line of defense…check it daily
and use it when you need it.

86. Welcome to the Brentwood Fire
Department and Good Luck with
your career…Stay Safe!!!