Do you know how hot you are?

(Photos courtesy of Bullard)

By Manfred Kihn

As the years have gone by in the fire service, we have seen vast improvements made to the personal protective equipment (PPE) worn by firefighters, thanks to Natoinal Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. If you asked a 30-year veteran firefighter what gear he wore when first entering the fire service, the answer most likely would be 3/4 high rubber boots, a patch coat, a fire helmet, and mitts. The scene would look a lot like photo 1. It’s no surprise that there was a lack of thermal protection, which prevented firefighters from going too deep into a structure or standing or walking around.

Remember, thermal imaging technology didn’t enter the fire service until the late 1990s, and even then only fire departments that had the funds to obtain a thermal imager (TI) were able to acquire this new technology. The first adopters were those fire departments that were more progressive and quick to try new technology. Soon after, other departments followed, and thermal imaging became a critical tool in firefighting.

Today’s modern firefighters can consider themselves fortunate as the PPE manufacturers have stepped up their game, but have they gone too far? In my training, I discuss the “White Hat Syndrome,” which requires the use of a TI to conduct a safety test and understand what it means and how it can protect firefighters.

Have you ever emerged from a structural fire wondering how hot you are? Your gear has done its job by protecting you from the excessive heat of the fire, but your body is feeling like you’re roasting inside. Ask a crew member or officer who has a TI to scan your fellow crew members for a temperature threshold. Or, do you have an accountability or a safety officer who is outside with a TI to give you a quick once-over scan starting at your helmet and shoulder area? What color is the fire helmet to the naked eye? Now, look at that fire helmet through the lens of the TI. What do you see? Is it glowing white? If yes, then your firefighter has taken in way more heat than he should have; this is what I call the “White Hat Syndrome.” Using a TI to monitor the thermal conditions above your head is a good technique that you should be practicing at all times.

I have asked this question many times of firefighters: “Do you know what the thermal protective performance (TPP) of your PPE is?” It’s sad to say that not many firefighters can answer this question. Let’s look at the tallest part of a firefighter–whether standing or crawling, it’s the head with the fire helmet on. All helmets, regardless of the manufacturer, are rated for 500°F (260°C) for five minutes to meet NFPA standards. Now we have hoods, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) face pieces, bunker gear, gloves, etc., which all have their applicable temperature ratings that must meet NFPA requirements.

So, what does this mean for the younger generation of firefighters, unlike 30 years ago, when they don’t feel any heat? They believe they must be OK, so they keep going, getting deeper into the structure and getting hotter but still believing they are OK because they don’t feel anything, right?

Wrong! All is good until something on your PPE fails, like the polycarbonate on your SCBA face piece when the temperature is 446°F (230°C). By constantly monitoring with the TI and checking team members, you should be able to avoid that “White Hat Syndrome” or any possible equipment failure.