Garbage on helmet bands

I know I am a sub-rookie and all, but I have a major problem with firefighters carrying all kinds of garbage on their helmet bands. I recently saw a new minted LT who had every inch of his helmet band covered with crap, including a pair of trauma sheers with plastic handles. The last time I looked at my trauma sheers, the had a handle that could only withstand autoclave temps up to 280 degrees. It seems to be a sign of expertise to carry all that s*** on your helmet. Thoughts?

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Permalink Reply by Ron Ayotte on March 26, 2011 at 9:20pm

The OP posted ...
"I know I am a sub-rookie and all, but I have a major problem with firefighters carrying all kinds of garbage on their helmet bands. I recently saw a new minted LT who had every inch of his helmet band covered with crap, including a pair of trauma sheers with plastic handles. The last time I looked at my trauma sheers, the had a handle that could only withstand autoclave temps up to 280 degrees. It seems to be a sign of expertise to carry all that s*** on your helmet. Thoughts?:

I have one.. how about shutting your yap. Put your time in and earn the right to gripe, complain, kvetch and bitch.

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Permalink Reply by Eugene Rothman on March 26, 2011 at 9:59pm

Many here have been making comments like "when things start melting off your helmet," like this was something new. 1) it is nothing new. 2) As far as I have been able to find (looking at any number of NIOSH and other reports) there have not been any reportable numbers of fire fighters injured by "crap melting off their helmets." 3) The NFPA trapazoid stickers that are on the helmets are not rated for high heat - neither are the Scotchlite stripes on the gear itself. Neither is the Velcro. Neither are your ears (hood or no hood!)
Is it just 'for show' or for 'quick access?' Who cares? I have lights on my helmet. I need lights. I want to be able to read the fine print on a piece of machinery, or the sign on the door that says "In Case of Fire, DO NOT OPEN!"
I carry a bunch of heavy 'crap' in my pants - they are way too heavy. Wire cutter? Never used them. 50' of rope & carabiners & a mini bar brake? Never needed it. So, why do I carry all this stuff that I never use? Because, the day that I need cable cutters and don't have them or the day I need a 'bail-out' system but left it in the engine could be my last day.
If you need it, use it, or merely think that you might, then by all means carry it.

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Permalink Reply by Doug on March 27, 2011 at 8:48pm

I DON'T LIKE ANY THING ON MY HELMET, BUT AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T CREATE A HAZARD FOR HIM OR MYSELF HE OR SHE CAN HAVE WHAT EVER THEY WANT ON IT.

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Permalink Reply by Russ on March 27, 2011 at 10:34pm

i took an inventory of my helmet band (ny'er) and so far i have, my garrity light (i love melting them), 2 door wedges, 1 "i love NY" button and a "god is in a meeting, may i help you" button.

mary is right, a firefighters helmet is a holy thing to a firefighter. as for me, it reflects my personality and most of the folks i know dont have too much stuff on theirs and i never wanted to load mine down. on my investigators helmet (an A3) i have an american flag, one 911 sticker.

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Permalink Reply by Greenman on March 28, 2011 at 9:32am

I'd like to see the picture of this LT so we can all see what you see, otherwise we're all just blind men arguing about what a rainbow looks like.

Greenman

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Permalink Reply by Kent Calhoun on March 28, 2011 at 9:53am

were I am from they are trying to pass a law banning the use of "tools" on our helmets, because it creats a hazart in craw spaces with wires,ect

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Permalink Reply by Greenman on March 28, 2011 at 10:37am

The only thing on my helmet is a light.

I carry the rest of my personal tools in my bunker pants pockets..., cable cutters, knife, mini pry bar, spare flashlight, key tool, shove knife in a little organizer in my right pocket, webbing straps and extrication gloves, and some wedges in the other pocket.

I don't like stuff on my helmet, but if I ran a lot of MVA calls, then I can see how having trauma shears on your helmet band would be awfully handy compared to fishing around in the pockets on your bunker gear.

Greenman

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Permalink Reply by Greenman on March 28, 2011 at 10:42am

A law, seriously? Why would this require a law? Does it affect anyone outside of the Fire Department?

Maybe you meant a SOP?

Greenman

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Permalink Reply by Greenman on March 29, 2011 at 8:07am

We don't wear helmets in apparatus because in an accident the brim can cause significant neck injuries, as it will stop the head while the neck continues to travels towards the seat back, window, pillar, etc.

Helmet goes on when you get off [the apparatus].

Greenman

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Permalink Reply by Ben Zoppa on March 29, 2011 at 8:30am

I have a life light and some heavy duty nails in my helmet band. If we had more sprinklers in my area, wedges would deff be there as well. The shears seam a little excessive, as I too have melted the crap out of a life light, but its a great spot to hide small things that you want quick access to. Its a lot quicker than digging into pockets with gloves, a multi tool, webbing, and whatever else may be in there....