Firefighters put their lives on the line every day to protect us, and their safety should be of utmost importance. One crucial aspect of firefighter safety is the cleanliness and maintenance of their gear. In this blog post, we will explore the significance of NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) compliance for clean firefighting gear and how it ensures the well-being of our brave firefighters.

The Importance of Clean Firefighting Gear
Clean firefighting gear plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of firefighters. When exposed to fire, smoke, chemicals, and other hazardous substances, gear accumulates contaminants that can compromise its protective capabilities. Regular cleaning removes these contaminants, preserving the gear’s effectiveness and extending its lifespan. Clean gear also reduces the risk of cross-contamination and the potential transfer of carcinogens, keeping firefighters safe from long-term health hazards.

Understanding NFPA Compliance
The NFPA sets standards and guidelines for various aspects of firefighting equipment and procedures. When it comes to cleaning firefighting gear, the NFPA has established specific regulations and best practices that aim to maintain the gear’s integrity and effectiveness. Compliance with NFPA standards ensures that cleaning procedures meet industry benchmarks, keeping gear clean and safe for use.

Cleaning Requirements and Procedures
NFPA compliance for clean firefighting gear encompasses various aspects, including cleaning frequency, methods, and solutions. The standards outline guidelines for regular cleaning intervals, which may vary depending on the type and usage of the gear. Additionally, they specify appropriate cleaning methods such as machine washing, hand washing, or specialized cleaning systems designed specifically for firefighting gear. Moreover, NFPA compliance emphasizes the use of approved cleaning solutions to avoid damaging the gear’s protective properties. These solutions are typically formulated to remove contaminants while preserving the fabric’s flame-resistant capabilities. It is crucial to strictly adhere to recommended cleaning procedures to prevent any compromise in-gear performance.

Benefits of NFPA Compliance
Complying with NFPA standards for clean firefighting gear yields numerous benefits. Firstly, it ensures the longevity of the gear, saving departments and firefighters from costly replacements. Secondly, NFPA compliance reduces the risk of health issues resulting from exposure to carcinogens and contaminants. Clean gear also contributes to firefighters’ overall well-being by promoting comfort and reducing heat stress during firefighting operations.

Conclusion
Maintaining NFPA compliance for clean firefighting gear is a vital step toward ensuring the safety and well-being of firefighters. By following the established standards and procedures, departments can protect their personnel, extend the lifespan of gear, and enhance operational effectiveness. Let’s prioritize the cleanliness of firefighting gear and support our brave firefighters in their mission to keep us safe.

As firefighters, our commitment to protecting lives and property demands that we are always prepared for any situation. One crucial aspect of this preparedness is ensuring that our bunker gear is clean, properly maintained, and ready to perform at its best. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the significance of bunker gear cleaning, the importance of adhering to NFPA standards, and how advanced cleaning and inspections can make a life-saving difference on the frontlines.

The Importance of Bunker Gear Cleaning:
The nature of firefighting exposes us to hazardous conditions, toxins, and contaminants. Over time, our gear accumulates soot, debris, and potentially harmful substances. Regular bunker gear cleaning is not just about aesthetics; it plays a vital role in safeguarding our health and performance. Proper cleaning helps prevent the spread of contaminants, reduces the risk of skin irritations and respiratory issues, and maintains the protective properties of our gear.

Adhering to NFPA Standards:
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sets rigorous standards to ensure the safety and reliability of firefighting gear. The NFPA 1851 standard, in particular, outlines guidelines for the inspection, cleaning, and repair of structural firefighting ensembles. Adhering to these standards is non-negotiable, as they are designed to maximize the effectiveness and longevity of our protective gear. Routine and advanced inspections, as well as regular cleaning, are vital elements of compliance.

Advanced Cleaning and Inspections:
Routine cleaning is essential, but advanced cleaning and inspections take gear maintenance to another level. Advanced inspections involve detailed assessments of all gear elements, identifying any issues that might compromise performance. This level of scrutiny ensures that no defects or wear go unnoticed, and it helps extend the life of our gear. Combining advanced cleaning with inspections allows us to address any lingering contaminants that routine cleaning might miss.

The South Coast Fire and Safety Advantage:
At South Coast Fire and Safety, we are dedicated to providing the highest level of protection to our firefighting community. Our advanced cleaning services are recognized by gear manufacturers, and our team of experts follows strict NFPA guidelines to ensure compliance. We take pride in our quick turnaround times, with the aim of returning your gear in optimal condition as soon as possible.

Learn More About Bunker Gear Cleaning:
We understand the paramount importance of uncompromising safety on the job. To learn more about our advanced cleaning and inspection services for bunker gear, visit our Bunker Gear Cleaning page. Discover how our meticulous approach and commitment to excellence can enhance your protection and peace of mind.

As firefighters, our gear is our lifeline on the frontlines. Regular and advanced cleaning, along with meticulous inspections, are critical components of maintaining the integrity and performance of our bunker gear. By adhering to NFPA standards and entrusting our gear to reputable experts like South Coast Fire and Safety, we can focus on our mission with the confidence that our protection is never compromised.

South Coast Fire and Safety (SCFS) is a top-quality emergency response equipment provider based in Houston, Texas that specializes in delivering fire protection products and managed PPE and uniform services to large and small companies. The origins of South Coast Fire and Safety can be traced back to the early 1980s when a group of fire protection professionals came together with the goal of providing comprehensive fire protection services to customers.

At the time, there was a growing need for reliable and affordable fire protection services, and the founders of South Coast Fire and Safety recognized this need. They decided to start a business that would focus on providing top-notch fire protection and safety products and services to their clients.

Over the years, South Coast Fire and Safety has expanded its services and product offerings to include bunker gear, communication equipment, rescue must-haves, and highly rated managed PPE and uniform programs. The company has built a strong reputation for its exceptional customer service and dedication to ensuring the safety of its clients and is proud to operate as a Tier 1 Distributor in the fire and safety industry.

South Coast Fire and Safety offers a wide range of firefighting goods and services to meet the needs of customers. In addition to a robust line of firefighting and safety equipment, South Coast offers comprehensive fire-resistant clothing (FR) and PPE Programs. SCFS is a leader in FR, ARC-rated uniform and PPE programs nationally. Keeping employees and facilities safe from fire is South Coast’s mission – so much so, it’s in our name. South Coast is a premier distributor of the highest quality, most trusted FR clothing and PPE available. Trusting South Coast Fire and Safety to manage an organizations FR Uniform and PPE programs saves money, increases employee satisfaction, and increases compliance by providing the latest, most durable products and apparel when and how they are needed, on time and done right.

Another of the key strengths of South Coast Fire and Safety is their commitment to customer service. The company has a team of experienced professionals who are knowledgeable about fire and safety equipment and can help customers find the right products for their fire protection needs. Equally, South Coast Fire and Safety focuses on quality. The company only carries fire protection equipment from reputable manufacturers who meet their strict quality standards.

South Coast Fire and Safety has a diverse customer base that includes businesses of all sizes with a variety of missions. South Coast customers come from a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, chemical
manufacturing, electricity providers, and education. South Coast takes great pride in the extraordinary service delivered and the quality of the products sold. That means going the extra mile and doing the little things that inspire confidence in customers. Why? Who you work with reflects your values, dedication, and commitment to each other and to this industry. With that in mind, South Coast Fire and Safety believes that attention to detail and memorable customer service are the keys to success for over three decades. We are here for you; enjoy old fashioned customer service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Join us!

Guidelines from the CDC on Laundering

Clothing including FRC’s, and other items that go in the laundry

If possible, do not shake dirty laundry. This will minimize the possibility of dispersing the virus through the air. Launder items as appropriate in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If possible, launder items using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry items completely. Dirty laundry from an ill person can be washed with other people’s items.

1. Wear Gloves for Laundry
2. Use Laundry Detergent – Soap Kills the Virus
3. Use Warm Water 
4. Dry Completely – Heat Kills the Virus

Covid-19 can remain active on porous surfaces like carpet, clothing for hours and on non-porous surfaces like steel and aluminum for days.

You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.

Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others – and if you wear FRC’s, a Fire Retardant Mask ensures your outer layer is compliant when on the job. 

• Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to    the grocery store, to pick up other necessities. 
• The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.
• Do NOT use a facemask meant for a healthcare worker.
• Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. 
• The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.

Can N95 Masks Protect Me from a Virus?

The emergence of coronavirus (and SARS before that) has a lot of people concerned and stocking up on N95 masks. Viruses and bacteria are generally too small for a mask to protect against, though they are almost always in a droplet from a sneeze or cough. The mask will stop the droplets.

Please also remember that your eyes are another pathway, so glasses or goggles may be prudent. Another good thing about wearing a mask is that it prevents you from touching your nose and mouth! This is a prime route for the spread of viruses.

If you are the infected person, please avoid the masks that have an exhalation valve. They do breathe easier than those without, but they allow unfiltered air to escape the mask, and this may not be what you have in mind.

It’s also recommended that you wear a face mask if you have symptoms and are entering a healthcare facility for treatment, and healthcare professionals would likely benefit from wearing one as well. If you do wear a mask, choose one that can be fitted to your face, and use the same health and hygiene practices you would use to prevent the flu (stay home if you’re sick, wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, avoid close contact with others, and keep the disinfectant handy).

Choosing the right PPE for your workers and job can seem like a daunting prospect, but it’s a necessary one to make sure that everyone stays healthy on the job.

If you have questions regarding how to properly clean your equipment during this time, please contact us at salesandservice@scfire.com or call 800-747-6690

Born to parents on a small cotton farm in the early 1940s, I spent most of my formative years in the Stamford, Texas area pulling cotton and driving combines/tractors. Actually, Stamford was a metropolis compared to a little town where we actually lived. A place called Avoca with maybe a handful of people; most were relatives! To say the least, I was a “dirt poor” country boy with three younger brothers and no aspiration or encouragement to go much higher!

If any of you have had an opportunity to watch the eight-part series on Ken Burn’s “History of Country Music”, you’ll see that several of the major country music stars grew up in poverty, and pulled cotton, but had a “God-given talent” to see above their poor roots to become famous and rich singers. Not me, I had no music ability and had to work!

In the mid-1950s, my parents moved to Abilene when I was fourteen, and Dad started working in the oilfields as a roughneck. I finished high school in Abilene, played basketball for Abilene High School for three years. During the summer months, I worked for the trash department for two and a half summers (thought I would be on the street crew) and also worked on drilling rigs for a couple of summers as well. Luckily, I got a two-year scholarship at Cisco Junior College playing basketball and baseball. More importantly, I met my wife, Linda in Cisco and we married in 1962 after a short courtship.

After finishing my two years at Cisco Junior College, Linda and I moved to Abilene where I worked for General Dynamics when they were building the missile sites there to protect Dyess Air Force Base from the USSR / Cuban threats! That job didn’t last long; however, not wanting to farm or roughneck the rest of my life, we decided to go to Texas Tech in Lubbock to finish my college degree. Without a place to stay and no job, we packed the smallest U-Haul trailer (almost half full) to make the two-hour trip north to Lubbock. Thank goodness we both found jobs quickly. I delivered newspapers to the paper route guys (2 am to 5 am) every morning and (3 pm to 5 pm) every evening when the Lubbock Avalanche Journal printed two editions each day. Linda went to work for a Chevrolet dealership right away. Probably wasting a full year in Pre-Dental, I finally decided to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration majoring in Marketing, which apparently was the correct move.

Graduating in 1965, we can honestly look back on our time in Lubbock as the hardest three years of our life. Our parents were not able to help us financially. We managed to finish without any student loans or scholarships. As Mac Davis’s song about his favorite day was “Looking at Lubbock in My Rearview Mirror”, it seemed as if it had been written for us!

After several “blown” interviews, I finally accepted a job with Continental Emsco in the oil patch, making a whopping $550.00 a month, we were rich! One positive thing that occurred in Lubbock was the birth of our first child – Jayme, who is now part of the team leading South Coast Fire & Safety.

(To be continued)

At South Coast Fire and Safety, we take great pride in the extraordinary service we deliver and the quality of the products we sell. Customer satisfaction is what we strive for every day. That means going the extra mile and doing the little things that inspire confidence in customers. Why? Who you work with reflects your values, dedication, and text link example commitment to each other and to our industry. With that in mind, we believe that our attention to detail and memorable customer service have stood as our keys to success for over three decades.