Tag: firefighter safety

Hanging by a colored thread

sarah JonasResearch Results

High-performance fibres that have been exposed to high temperatures usually lose their mechanical properties undetected and, in the worst case, can tear precisely when lives depend on them. For example, safety ropes used by fire brigades or suspension ropes for heavy loads on construction sites. Empa researchers have now developed a coating that changes color when exposed to high temperatures through friction or fire.

FSU Research: Male and female firefighters have different problems with protective suits

sarah JonasResearch Results

When female firefighters put on the protective suits they need for their work, they’re often using gear that has been designed for a male body.Because of that mismatch, the suits don’t fit as well as they should, and their mobility is impaired. Firefighters working in gear that restricts their movement must work harder to move around in a stressful and physically demanding environment, which puts them at greater risk of overexertion and heart attacks, the leading cause of on-duty deaths.