Protecting the Protectors
We call it "Running Gear." It is the protective equipment we issue our
firefighters and emergency medical technicians to wear at the scene of an
incident (helmets, coats, boots, etc.) and it is not inexpensive. It costs more
than $1,200 to equip one GWGVFD member.
The gear must protect our emergency responders from heat and, to
some extent, flame. It must protect their heads from falling objects and their
hands from shards of glass. Some of the gear must be resistant to blood
pathogens. It must also meet the standards of the Occupational Health and
Services Administration (OSHA). Because the gear takes a beating, and
because improvements are constantly being made and OSHA standards
also constantly change, the average set of gear lasts only 5 - 6 years.
Here are some price tags:
| TURNOUT COAT |
 |
$580 |
| TURNOUT PANTS |
 |
$355 |
| HELMET |
 |
$146 |
| BOOTS |
 |
$85 |
| WORK GLOVES |
|
$20 |
| PROTECTIVE HOOD |
|
$15 |
| GOGGLES |
|
$25 |
|
| TOTAL |
|
$1,216 |
|
