As you are aware the goverment is making it a law that we must wear a traffic vest when on a highway. This is and has been a part of our sop but it still makes me think. Is it just me or does it not make use more likely to get injured not if but when a car that is on the scene of a mva burst it to flames and we go running up to put the fire out and our little orange vest burst into flames. I have checkeed and hve not found a sourse for one that will with stand the same temp as my turn outs.
They already do.... thats what the refective stripes are for... I will bet that before long, you will see more reflective on turnouts... oohh I know!!! AIRBAGS!!!! With proximity sensors to make them go off just before the car or whatever hits... think of a big yellow striped Stay-Puff marshmallow man....hehehe
i understand the wearing of the vest if you are directing traffic or at the begining of the crash scene. even when you do clean up after the tow truck gets the vehicle and your turn out coat comes off. now if the trucks are parked properly and you are between the trucks working then a vest should not be required. have you seen these new extrication suits talk about reflective im not a big fan though because as you said if the vehicle explodes the extrication suit wont be of much protection.
Well we do wear them but if the vehicle is on fire, I'm not going to be worrying about a traffic vest. Granted I can see if you're packaging the patient, directing traffic, etc but not when the car is on fire.
My biggest problem though is that there aren't enough for everybody on the piece. I've been told the vest have been sent out to be cleaned but what's more important a clean vest or me coming back to the station.
Our revised sogs state that a firefighter directly engaged in firefighting on a roadway will don his vest immediately after fire has been extinguished.
actually i believe you wouldbe surprised at how much abuse these vests will take i have personally had one on while attacking a car fire and it held up nicely just got a little smoked up
Traffic vests are not designed to be worn while fighting a vehicle fire. The ones we have on our rigs are also designed to tear away if they should get snagged on a moving vehicle, piece of machinery, etc. And the reflective sriping on your turn out ger is not compliant with the new standard, that is why they are mandating the use of vests.