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Permalink Reply by Don Catenacci on September 7, 2012 at 10:55pm

Um, cheap is your motivator?  Good luck if you expect it to last in a fire.

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Permalink Reply by Moose on September 10, 2012 at 10:30am

Google "Glo-Flex" and you will find an option for you to use.  The material comes in rolls of tape, stripes and tets for your helmet and they have numbers and letters as well.

I agree with Don here though, you get what you pay for and if you are looking for the cheapest product out there...you will get the cheapest performance.  If safety is key for you than price shouldnt be an issue.

Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on September 10, 2012 at 3:32pm

I would suggest concentrating on training and working together if you are finding financial difficulty for "gadgets". I am not knocking the use of glow tape for SCBAs or helmets, etc, but it helps to know there are many depts out there that aren't using this and are able to function.

 

I have seen the tape advertised and I will agree that it is a nice to have, but I would argue that I could find other alternatives for spending priorities before tape. The question also comes as to how such products hold up over time , which should be accounted for, and does delve into the lowest bidder aspect that Don points out.

 

So I would say that if you are truly wanting to help your crew out and looking for stuff that will help them out, get to the basics. Does everyone know how to call a MAYDAY? Does everyone know what to do in a MAYDAY event? Can everyone operate as a member of the RIT crew? Does everyone know different ways to remove a downed FF? Does everyone know FF self survival? Do they know exactly what to do in the event of a collapse, disorientation, fall, become trapped, etc?

Does every riding position have a radio? Does every rig have a RIT pack (SCBA).......if not, I would argue that these would be a spending priority vs glow tape.

 

I would agree you get what you pay for, but if you are finding that the product you are looking for is too expensive, I would concentrate on using what you already have and hone skills as opposed to looking for "nice to haves". Besides, unless you own the equipment, it is the dept's responsibility for maintaining equipment etc and the dept can either approve or disapprove such changes to.

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Permalink Reply by James Lehman on September 11, 2012 at 1:29pm

http://www.awogstickers.com/

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Permalink Reply by Jason Brooks on September 14, 2012 at 10:38pm

All of these products work great when they are new. They all stop working when they get dirty and smoked up. Great idea in theory. Not so great in practicality.

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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on September 17, 2012 at 7:59pm

I agree John. Concentrate on the training and what you have. New folks want all the flashy gadgets and cool stuff. Bottom line, whats gonna save your bacon in reality? training, knowledge of your equipment and knowing your team. 

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Permalink Reply by Bob Callahan on September 18, 2012 at 9:16am

Do you have a piece of webbing in your gear? Do you have a pair of high quality wire snips? Backup flashlight in your turnouts? Slotted screwdriver?

My point is simple. If you have limited cash all of those things are far more important than glow in the dark tape as they are far more likely to save your life or another firefighter's life.

Just sayin'.

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Permalink Reply by Don Catenacci on September 18, 2012 at 11:04pm

Too true Bobby!

 

Too many people spend money and time on frills and the latest cool toys and neglect the basics.

 

For years I have carried one of those multi-head screwdrivers, a gerber tool, a Fiskars snips, a wire cutter, and a Channelock Fireifighter linesman pliers in my turnouts.  On my GutBelt I carry a Vicegrip multi-tool and a knife in a pouch, and attached to it with 2 carabiners a 9 and 20 foot piece of looped webbing. 

 

And YES...I have used all of them at one time or another.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Goodwin on November 5, 2012 at 8:56am

MN8 by foxfire

 

www.mn8products.com/

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Permalink Reply by Kyle Compton on November 10, 2012 at 10:36am

Thank you to everyone who replied. I understand the thoughts about not spending money on glow tape when i should be focused on learning the skills needed, I picked up a helmet band from MN8 by FoxFire and it worked very well. We have several evolutions in our S.C.B.A Trailer(Maze) and my crew was able to see exactly what i was doing and where i was, they all said it was a great help to them. Again i thank you all for the replies

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Permalink Reply by Kyle Compton on November 10, 2012 at 10:38am

I actually do have webbing,flashlight and a multi-tool on me at all times. along with a door wedge.

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