KEEPING YOUR HOOD WITH THE PROTECTIVE ENSEMBLE: TWO METHODS
The idea of a combination fire helmet, liner, and hood developed out of my search for a faster and easier method of donning fire retardant hoods when used with the helmet and SCBA mask. The hood is incorporated into the helmet liner and secured by fastening sewn into both sides of the hood’s neck, which had been split. When the SCBA mask is donned, the two hood flaps on top of the donned helmet are brought down around the mask and rescued at the neck. When not is use, the hood is fastened up and over the helmet. Advantages of this approach include eliminating the need for a chin strap, keeping the crown of the head protected even when the hood is not in its usual functional position, permitting the use of earflaps, and making it more likely that the hood will be worn, since it is attached to the gear.
BY FIREFIGHTER BRUCE R. SAWYER, NORTH STONINGTON (CT) FIRE DEPARTMENT
Sewing Velcro™ into the turnout coat’s collar seam and the hood’s neck seam ensures that the hood is ready for donning when the turnout coat is worn —even after the SCBA facepiece is in place (with some brands). Attach a 1 5-inch-long piece of 1 ½-inch-wide Velcro™ two inches below the coat’s collar seam and a two-inch strip 2½ inches below the first strip. Be sure you do not penetrate the vapor barrier while sewing. Then, following the same procedure, sew’ Velcro™ strips into the hood’s neck seam.
Photos by author.
Photos by Scott DeWolf.
