Considering that the equipment is a critical component of firefighters' protection for their extremities and their head, as well as an essential interface between their body and their job environment, it is imperative to understand user experiences and needs for further design improvements.
So far, the focus of most studies on the firefighters' protective system has been on thermal protection, which combined with advances in material technology during the past decade, has greatly decreased burn injuries (Boorady et al. 2013).
However, literature reports that the efforts to improve thermal protection have inevitably increased the weight and bulkiness of the firefighters' protective system, hence, significantly compromising firefighters' mobility and comfort (Adams & Keyserling 1993; Boorady et al. 2013).
But Jacob J. Genovay, first assistant secretary of the New Jersey Fire Association, a nonprofit group that administers a state firefighters' benefit fund, said firefighters deserve extra protection because of the toxic fumes they often inhale during their duties.
He added that only after firefighters and civil protection teams had concluded their rescue efforts and search for survivors would the state's art officials be allowed to enter into the rubble-strewn cities to calculate the material losses to Abruzzo's cultural heritage.
Firefighters, police, environmental protection officers, and oil workers reportedly arrived on the scene shortly after the breach, but it took two hours to stem the flow.
During their first hours at the site, firefighters often had inappropriate protection, Dr. Baron and other health officials found.
He and other officers were asked to offer protection to firefighters trying to put out blazes that broke out as petrol bombs and missiles rained down.
However, firefighters' satisfaction with fire/flame protection was relatively higher (mean: 3.6 ± 1.03) (Figure 2).
The questions related to glove performance inquired about firefighters' satisfaction with fire/flame protection, water-proofness, thermal comfort, grip, and dexterity.
Firefighters concentrated on structure protection, especially those of historical significance such as the Old Faithful Inn, using fire engines and portable water pumping systems to keep the roofs and other surfaces of the structures wet.
