Posts in category: Products

Each rescue fire truck comes with different specifications, and knowing them is vital when deciding which to use 

There are a number of significant differences between a walk-in and a non-walk-in rescue fire truck. The differences often dictate the functionality of the apparatus, the tools that can be carried on board, and ultimately, the fire truck configuration. 
 

To compare and contrast rescue types, lets evaluate some of the common facts and information to aid firefighters in the search for the right rescue truck type. 

Rescue fire truck explained 

Technically speaking, a rescue fire truck is a specialised vehicle designed to provide support in rescue operations. However, if you were to ask firefighters the definition of a rescue fire truck, the chances are that each one would give a different response to the last, and that is mainly due to the fact that each rescue fire truck being is as unique as the fire department and community that it serves.  

At Pierce Manufacturing, we often consider a rescue fire truck as a toolbox for the following reasons. Firstly, the rescue fire truck is uniquely sized, shaped and constructed for the tasks that are required. Secondly, they hold the required tools for the types of rescue missions in the community. Finally, the tools that are used are organised so that they meet the needs of the end users, the firefighters.  

Now that we’ve established what a rescue truck is, it is also important to emphasise that a fire truck should be designed based on the specific needs of a fire department and community. Before fire departments do anything else, they must first understand the truck’s mission and then determine the type of rescue that matches the mission. 

Now, let’s look at the comparison between two of the most common types of rescue apparatus. 

Walk-in rescue 

A walk-in rescue fire truck features walk-in open space in the body that is used by personnel. In its simplest form, a walk-in rescue truck features an aisle down the centre of the body, providing ample space for firefighters and personnel to sit and rest at the scene of an emergency. However, modern walk-in rescues come in various shapes and sizes, with compartments, laboratories, command centres, and many more features onboard the vehicle. 

There are many scenarios in which a walk-in vehicle is the ideal solution for fire departments. For example, a walk-in apparatus is ideal for extreme weather conditions and allows firefighters to get out of the elements on-scene. In addition, a walk-in fire truck may be required if the tools your department carries on board are sensitive to temperature or other environmental elements. Lastly, these trucks can be set up for command operations during lengthy emergency calls, allowing firefighters to work at stations and with specialised tools and equipment on board. 

Based on the needs of a fire department, the ‘walk-in’ portion of a fire truck can be executed in several different variations. Access points can include the rear of the vehicle, either or both sides, the cab of the vehicle or any combination of those points. 

A hazmat rescue vehicle, for example, could include a walk-in portion at the front of the vehicle featuring a laboratory designed with an interior fume hood to test chemicals, and chairs and monitors to manage operations. 

A rehabilitation rescue unit could offer maximised interior space that includes very little exterior storage but provides full front-to-back and side-to-side interior working space for seating and many types of features such as restrooms, refrigerators, coffee makers and microwave ovens. A command rescue fire truck could include a conference area with a table, chairs and workstations equipped with telecommunication equipment and monitors. 

Non-walk-in rescue 

Now let’s take a look at the non-walk-in rescue fire truck. A non-walk-in rescue fire truck is the most common type of rescue fire truck, mainly because it offers the most storage, a vital feature for fire departments around the world. When a fire department is faced with many rescue scenarios, it may require a rig featuring several types of equipment to match those needs. In the past, walk-in rescues were often used because they could transport more firefighters to the scene of an emergency. Now that fire truck cabs are designed to maximise every square inch of space, firefighters can sit comfortably in the cab of a non-walk-in rescue, often eliminating the need to ride in the body compartment altogether. As a result, a non-walk-in rescue body can be used exclusively for tool and equipment storage. 

Evaluating the difference 

The difference between walk-in and non-walk-in rescue fire trucks is important for fire departments to understand because it dictates the tools on board, the organization of the tools and the overall function of the fire truck. It’s important to outline the mission of the truck and be very thoughtful when it comes to these questions: 

Key questions to consider 

When deciding which type of rescue you need, it is essential to consider all aspects and ask the following questions. Firstly, how many firefighters will need to travel to the scene?  How many firefighters will be on board the truck? Secondly, what are the firefighters doing at the scene? Understanding the common tasks firefighters complete at the scene of an emergency will dictate if an interior space may be required on the truck. Thirdly, which tools do they need to have onboard the truck? Establishing the tools that need to be on board to successfully manage calls will determine how much storage is required. Keep in mind that just because your old rescue had certain tools doesn’t mean you need to allot space on a new apparatus for the same tools. Determine which tools are required for the types of calls you manage most frequently. The final question to consider is what tools do they use most often? Understanding the tools that are used on-scene will help determine the ideal storage and configuration of a new rescue fire truck. The most important tools should be stored in easily and immediately accessible compartments. Tools that are seldom used can be stored in roof or interior compartments. 

What is the optimal way to access the tools onboard?

As you consider the ideal type or rescue, fire departments must also consider the optimal way to access tools. Part of the planning process should include a discussion of what tools can be safely carried down a ladder, for example, or safely stored and pulled down from a high compartment area. 

Having these conversations with your local dealer can help your fire department narrow down the goals and objectives of a new rescue. These conversations often help support the selection of either a walk-in or non-walk-in rescue apparatus. 

What factors in rescue apparatus purchasing need to be considered? 

Ultimately, a fire department’s goal is to find the right type of truck that meets the service needs of their community, and we are proud to support that mission. 
 
At Pierce Manufacturing, we often advise firefighters to connect with neighbouring fire stations and learn as much as they can about both walk-in and non-walk-in rescue fire trucks. 

Consider additional elements, like: 

• The length of your station bay 

• The role of the fire truck in the existing fleet 
• Strategic compartment storage 
• The height of the apparatus and how that influences tool access 
• Roll-up or hinge compartment doors 
• Ergonomics and tool placement 

• Equipment layout options 
• Advancements in rescue storage 

There are infinitely more options to consider with a new rescue apparatus and there is no wrong or right way to configure a fire truck—walk-in or non-walk-in! 

In 2018, the Firefighters & EMS Fund produced their first ever “Fire Referendum Report.” It was a first of its kind look at the success of ballot measures related to Fire & EMS services around the country in the 2018 mid-term elections. Now, the grassroots political organisation has just released the updated 2020 edition to the public.

The report was created to better understand and support measures in the United States which affected the operations of emergency services. This national report focuses on local and state referendum and ballot measures so that citizens and Fire/EMS leadership alike may be better prepared to assist the political efforts of firefighters in America. 

In total, Firefighters & EMS Fund analysed over 80 referendums and ballot measures across 18 states to create this comprehensive report, which means that the 2nd Edition in the Referendum Report series was created covering more ground and analysing even more data than first presented back in 2018.

“The 2020 election season was unlike any other in modern history. Beyond the typical politics of the day, the nation was gripped by a once in a lifetime pandemic which turned every aspect of American society on its head,” said Executive Director Nile Porter. “Within the context of Covid-19, the importance of the referendums and ballot measures which affected the Fire & EMS communities around the country took on a new light.”

The mission of grassroots political organisation Firefighters & EMS Fund is to provide a grassroots voice for firefighters across the country in the state and local political process. According to their website, the organisation supports local ballot initiatives and works to elect political leaders at the state and local level that understand firefighters’ and public safety officers’ interests. The organisation is comprised of concerned citizens, first responders, Firefighter and EMS leaders, and more. 

The 2020 Fire Referendum Report provides interesting analysis that fire jurisdictions will need to know in order to successfully request funding from voters, now and into the future, as the need for funding inevitably grows more urgent.

To download the free report, visit https://www.fireandemsfund.com/2020-fire-referendum-report/ 

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has launched a new course for fire service families, just in time for the holidays. Families can be the greatest source of support for firefighters, EMS providers, and rescue workers, so it is important they understand what their loved one is experiencing and how they can help. The new course, For Those Who Love a First Responder, is designed to educate spouses, friends, and family of first responders on the impacts of the job on mental health and what they can do to support their loved one.

This course is instructed by Ali Rothrock, a speaker, author, educator, and advocate who has delivered over 500 presentations nationwide. She has been in the volunteer fire service since 2005, enjoying more than a decade as a firefighter and emergency medical technician. She is the CEO and lead instructor for On the Job and Off, an online platform dedicated to building more resilient first responders.

This course was made possible thanks to support from the Anheuser-Busch Foundation and is currently available for free to all in the NVFC Virtual Classroom.

Learn more and take the course here.

New to the NVFC Virtual Classroom? Learn more about accessing it here.

To ensure the best visibility and to reduce the probability of accidents, eyewear that doesn’t fog is essential 

Your unique set of skills, knowledge and precision is what makes you great at your job. Choosing the right personal protective equipment for the task at hand enables you to give your full potential regardless of the situation that you are tasked with.  

Indeed, your environment may impact your abilities to see clearly, hence impacting precision and increasing the risk of accidents in the workplace, at both your workstation and on your way to work. It is therefore important for you to be confident in your eyewear to protect you from fog-obscured vision. 

Temperature variation and humidity may indeed create fog on your safety eyewear, which ultimately blurs your vision. Fogging is indeed the first challenge met by eyewear users which can ultimately lead to a decrease in your productivity as well as increase the chances of being involved in an accident. 

The effect is increased as you give your best to your job and your body temperature and perspiration increases, naturally impacting the temperature variation between your body heat and the cooler environment surrounding you. 

Whether you need prescription or plano safety eyewear, the probability is high that you already experienced the fogging up of your lenses while being focused on your duty, resulting in a slower pace, more approximative movements and overall discomfort. 

Finding the right solution 

While wearing other PPE such as helmets, face masks or respirators, this phenomenon is even more common, increasing the need for an efficient, simple, and durable solution so that you always stay at your best and ensure visual clarity. 

PPE eyewear manufacturers have been working intensively over the last few years to engineer more effective anti-fog solutions, whether as coatings or sprays to ensure both protection and comfort to users are maintained in all occupations. 

After optimising every aspect of their coating’s technical performance and analysing all of the solutions available on the market, Bollé Safety launched PLATINUM: an exclusive anti-fog and anti-scratch coating applied on both sides of the lens through a dipping process to provide the highest durability and effectiveness. Engineered with hydrophilic properties, PLATINUM uses the natural humidity to create a homogeneous, colourless film of water on the surface of the lens which acts like a water repellent to ensure optimal clarity.

This innovative coating goes beyond all international standards (K & N rated under EN166 standard) to ensure you get the best visibility so that you are in the optimal position to give your best and maintain performance. Four times more resistant to fogging and twice more resistant to abrasion than EN166 requirements, PLATINUM provides exceptional performance, encompassing resistance to both autoclave cycles and to the most extreme temperature to protect you regardless of your work environment. 

Because you don’t always require the most advanced anti-fog solution to have a clear vision and be in full capacity of your movements, Bollé Safety developed PLATINUM LITE a simpler version of the coating that provides effective anti-scratch & anti-fog properties for you to always stay alert and maintain visual comfort. 

Whichever coating you would use, PLATINUM & PLATINUM LITE coatings are both durable and washable to reduce their carbon footprint while enabling you to use the product all day long and every day with peace of mind. 

Available on safety glasses, prescription eyewear, goggles, OTG and face shields, the PLATINUM range of coatings are a must have for every worker. No matter your work environment, it is recommended to use optimal anti-fog coatings such as PLATINUM with sealed/positive safety glasses or with poor ventilated eyewear that reduces air circulation as they increase fogging risks. Indeed, your body heat is often enough to create fog in these circumstances. 

As you may be using safety eyewear without a fog-resistant coating, manufacturers have developed anti-fog sprays that create a fog protective layer onto the lens. Bollé Safety’s latest product, the B300, is one of the most effective products on the market and was specifically designed to provide the best protection on all lens materials without damaging other coatings such as anti-reflective. The B300 optimal performances make it an asset to your team’s results and can be used in all situations, on both your professional equipment and your personal reading glasses. 

As visual comfort and performance go hand in hand, you deserve your safety eyewear to show you what they are truly made of. See for yourself and unleash your full potential. 

130 years of innovation

Today, Bollé Safety is distributed in over 90 countries and over 15 million workers wear protective spectacles bearing the Bollé Safety signature. Founded in 1888 in Oyonnax, France, the Bollé family originally designed and manufactured combs and hair accessories from horn. In 1936 the company launched the production of sunglasses and optical frames in Celluloid and then Rhodoid. After the Second World War, Bollé became the pioneer of molded nylon, with products that met the highest standards of that time.

The first pair of goggles and masks were added to the Bollé range of products in 1950. The Bollé brands have grown from their small workshop beginnings to become a leading global manufacturer of quality eyewear. Today, more than 100 years later, Bollé products are distributed and worn in all parts of the world. After more than a century, our vision remains the same, to protect workers’ vision in the various harshest environments and improve their performance. Every day we go further to satisfy the needs of our clients.