to have adequate policies in place to manage emergencies. Fire Chief Richard B. Gasaway maintains that firefighter mentality is often responsible for poorly managed incidents. Such mentality is particularly common among older firefighters who view changes in policies and procedures as unnecessary or who cannot adjust to changes from being used to doing things a different way. Gasaway (p. 10) argues that many such firefighters ôkeep the department from progressingàand do not understand or appreciate the benefits of using an incident management system.ö An incident management system provides numerous benefits while standardizing policies and procedures related to emergency management. Departments vithout such a sxstem are often unable to take advantages of new methods, equipment, and protective gear to help lower risk of hazard.
There are a number of organizations and agencies devoted to the protection of firefighters, like the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The NFPA established a number of criteria used to ensure that firefighter protective clothing and equipment meets certain standards and regulations. Fire-Dex, a maker of protective firefighter clothing, has recently manufactured a glove for improved safety and comfort known as the ôHonor Glove,ö from the companyÆs new ôHeroes Collection,ö (WhatÆs, 26). The glove increases durability and grip, while also coming with ôthermal backing for increased heat resistance,ö (WhatÆs, 26). However, before the new glove could be marketed to firefighters, it had to comply with NFPA regulations pertaining to materials used, heat resistance levels, grip, and others factors.
New technologies are being increasingly used to develop firefighting protective clothing and equipment and firefighting equipment that improve safety and effectiveness. Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the NavyÆs Navair Research Center have recently developed a new met...