What color is your helmet?

A lot of times, the role of a firefighter is determined by the color of his helmet, but accross the board there is no uniformity in establishing just who is who. For instance in one County, a Red helmet is a new firefighter, but in an adjoining county, a red helmet could be that of an officer. In a critical situation where mutual aid is needed, it could be critical to properly identify who is who without actually going up and asking the person their names and titles. Would you think that perhaps it should be necessary to establish a common system used by everyone to avoid fire scene confusion? Just wanted to see what folks think?

I'm a Red helmet. In my County it means I am the new firefighter. What do the different colors mean where you are? Do you even classify people by the color of their helmet?

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Tinsley MacKenzie on October 21, 2011 at 3:44pm

In New Zealand we have yellow helmets and if we are B.A qualified we have a blue square sticker on each side, if we are a qualified fire fighter we have the same but also a red band and if we are a senior firefighter its two red bands, if you are a junior or rookie you have a red helmet, fire police(op support) have a blue helmet, and the chief and deputy chief have white helmets

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Permalink Reply by Michael P. Burke on October 21, 2011 at 4:41pm

I'm about as professional as it comes. At the time I made the post the topic was not near the top of the topic list. I didn't search it, I just asked it. Condescending attitudes do not become me. One of the things is, is that sometimes the "tone" in the written" word projects itself one way and does something else. I have no need to be like that. I would rather you guys be my friends and that's what I'm here for. I have been on several discussion forums similar to this, for many of the "different" aspects in my life. In doing this I've seen patterns, the same patterns regardless of what the topic or subject of the discussion forum is about. One, for example is that I Disc Jockey parties. I use discussion forums for DJ's and when DJ's get so set in their ways, they believe that their way is the only way something is going to work, they get a little perturbed that somebody suggested something new. It has been there that people get so divided, so passionate on their beliefs about what they are doing that it does cause dissension in the ranks so to speak. That happens with anyone.

I've been to knock down dragged out brawls on internet discussion forums and they are not pretty. Quite often times the main topic of them boils down to "professionalism" I've seen battle lines drawn in sand and these things just usually never end up pretty. My question was an innocent question. A new guy who just asked it totally out of the blue without doing any research or using a search function or anything. It was a question that wasn't meant to disrupt anyone's world or call out the EMS response.

Its not in question that any of us are dispassionate with what we do. We love what we do, we all want it to be the best it can be. The Irons and the K-12 comment, sometimes it can seem that way . That was meant lightheartedly. It's not minimizing anyone, but sometimes some of the discussions can seem like we are getting chased around with these things. I don't want to see any knock down dragged out brawl.

Like I said, I'd prefer to be a friend...