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For centuries,
firefighters have worn
helmets
to protect them from heat, cinders and falling objects. Although the
shape of most of these helmets has changed little over the years, their
composition has changed from the traditional
leather to metals (including
brass,
nickel and
aluminum) to composite helmets made of lightweight
polymers and other
plastic.
Leather helmets
"Leatherhead" helmet
The "leatherhead" is a term describing an old style
leather
helmet used by many firefighters in the US and Canada. Leatherhead is
also slang for a firefighter who uses the leather helmet. The leather
helmet is also an international symbol of firefighters from the earlier
years of firefighting. Almost always, traditional leather helmets have a
brass eagle adornment affixed to the top front of the helmet that
secures a leather shield to the front of the helmet.
[1]
Brass eagle and beaver
The brass eagle or beaver which holds the top of the front piece to
North American leather helmets often become damaged with wear. The
eagle's origins can be traced to around 1825 when an unknown sculptor
created a commemorative figure for the grave of a volunteer firefighter.
Firefighters were not wearing eagles prior to this, but it has been
part of fire helmets ever since. The beaver ornament, adorned on many
Canadian firefighter's helmets, is said to represent the relentless hard
work, focused mission and undying dedication that North American
firefighters are known for.
The ornament sticks up and out into the air, which causes it to catch
its beak on window sashes, telephone wires and other obstacles. It
frequently becomes dented, bent or knocked off. The ornament is
frequently criticized and it is said that it would be cheaper and safer
to do away with it.
Many fire departments have traditional helmet with more modern
plastic and composite helmets that have no eagle or beaver device -
Jokingly referred to as "salad bowls", "turtle shells" and "slick tops"
for their streamlined shape. However, many firefighters and fire
departments still retain the traditional helmet (composite or leather)
as a matter of tradition.
Early respirators
Dräger smoke helmet, German fire service museum
Tyndall's hood
In 1871, British physicist John Tyndall wrote about his new
invention, a "fireman's respirator" featuring a valve chamber and a
filter tube with cotton saturated with
glycerin,
lime and
charcoal, to filter smoke particles and neutralize
carbonic acid. This invention was featured in the July 1875 issue of
Manufacturer and Builder.
[2]
Neally's smoke-excluding mask
George Neally patented a "smoke-excluding mask" in 1877, which he
marketed to fire departments. This invention featured a face mask with
glass eyepieces and rubber tubes allowing respiration through a filter
carried on the chest.
[2]
Merriman's smoke mask
A Denver firefighter named Merriman invented an early hose mask, featured in the January 7, 1892 issue of
Fireman's Herald.
This respirator featured a tube like an elephant trunk, connecting to
an air hose that ran parallel to the firefighter's water hose.
[2]
Loeb respirator
Bernhard Loeb of Berlin patented a respirator (US patent #533854) in
1895 which featured a triple-chambered canister carried on the waist,
containing liquid chemicals, granulated charcoal and wadding. This
respirator was used by the Brooklyn Fire Department.
[2]
Dräger smoke helmet
Invented in 1903 by
Dräger & Gerling
of Lübeck, Germany, the smoke helmet was a fully enclosed metal helmet
with glass face mask, featuring two "breathing bags" covered by a
leather flap worn over the chest. This respirator became so important to
mine rescue operations that rescue workers became known as
"draegermen".
[2][3]
Metal helmets
Merryweather helmet
Merryweather helmets were used by
British fire brigades from the
Victorian era until well into the 20th century. Modelled after helmets worn by
cuirassiers of the
French Army, the helmets were made of brass or nickel. Metal helmets are conductive, which was a safety hazard as use of
electricity
became widespread, due to the risk of live wires falling from overhead.
As a result they were slowly replaced by the modern structural fire
helmets, similar to the ones used in North American jurisdictions.
Aluminum helmets
Some departments, such as the
Buffalo Fire Department for example, used aluminum helmets up to the mid-1980s.
[citation needed]
German DIN fire helmet
German firefighters with DIN helmets
In
Germany most of the fire brigades still use the old German
DIN fire helmet. In the beginning, this was simply an
aluminium alloy version of the M1943
Stahlhelm
used by the Wehrmacht. It was standardized in 1956, and normed in 1964
by DIN 14940. The material was AL-CU-MG, normed by DIN 1725. At about
800g, it was lighter than most other firefighter helmets. Wehrmacht
black in the beginning, or red in Bavaria, the norming process of the
1960s changed its colour to a fluorescent lime yellow. It is provided
with a white reflecting stripe and a black leather neck protection. Most
fire brigades use the helmet with an easily mountable visor. The German
DIN fire helmet does not correspond to the presently valid European EN
443 standard for fire helmets as it is conductive. German fire brigades
are allowed to use the existing aluminium DIN fire helmets, but if they
obtain new ones, they need to buy either composite or a newly developed
version of the old helmet with EN 443 compatible coating. At about 900g,
the coated aluminum helmets are still rather light. Some manufacturers
produce new fire helmets made of
glass fibre reinforced plastic, having exactly the look of the old German DIN fire helmet.
Modern composite helmets
F1 helmet
F1 helmet with back cover and side-mounted flashlight
The F1 helmet is a modern firefighter's helmet made in France by
Gallet, a subsidiary of
MSA, who also produce the
SPECTRA military helmet. In service since 1985, the F1 helmet provides protection against
impact, fires and electricity, fulfilling the EN 443
European standard.
The F1 was an answer to a requirement of the
Paris Fire Brigade
for a replacement of the previous helmet (Casque modele 1933 was
similar to the Merryweather) which dated back to 1933; these provided
insufficient protection for the face and back of the head, and were not
thermally insulated. The F1 helmet is handmade, using
synthetic materials often covered with
galvanised nickel. It can include masks, communication systems and other accessories.
The F1 has been used by the Paris Fire Brigade since August 1985, and
has been widely adopted by all of the French fire services, gaining
export success in over 85 countries, including fire departments in
Quebec,
switzerland, the
United Kingdom,
[4] Canada and
Japan (notably in
Tokyo).
Modern structural helmet
Modern composite "Metro" structural firefighting helmets
Modern structural helmets (that is, intended especially for structure
fires) are made of either thermoplastic or composite material. The brim
at the rear of the helmet is longer than the front and a face shield(s)
is usually attached to the front. These are worn in the
United States and
Canada, as well as
United Kingdom,
Australia and in parts of Asia (notably
Hong Kong,
Macau,
Taiwan and
Guangzhou).
Newer "Metro" helmets (the name given by several leading helmet
manufacturers) are also much lighter than both leather and composite
traditional helmets.
Helmet colours
British Royal Navy firefighters with yellow helmets
In some countries, most notably the United States and other
Anglophone
countries, the colour of a firefighter's helmet often denotes the
wearer's rank or position. In Britain, most firefighters wear yellow
helmets, but watch managers (sub officers) and above wear white helmets;
rank is further indicated by black stripes around the helmets. In
Canada regular firefighters wear yellow or black with captains with red
and senior command offices in white. Likewise in the United States, red
helmets denote company officers, while white helmets denote chief
officers. However the specific meaning of a helmet's color or style
varies from region to region and department to department. One
noteworthy example is the
Los Angeles Fire Department's use of the old
MSA "Topgard" helmets depicted in the 1970s television series
Emergency!.
Firefighters used all black with colored company numbers on the shield
below the "L.A. County" in blue on the top half. Engine and squad
companies had white numbers, with paramedics switching to green and a
two color "paramedic" decal later affixed to either side of the helmet,
and truck companies had red numbers. Captains' helmets were black with a
white stripe down the center ridge of the helmet and the number portion
of the shield in white. These helmets have since been discontinued.
Another example is the
San Francisco Fire Department.
Engine companies' helmets are typically all black and truck companies'
are black with alternating red and white quarters on the dome of the
helmet.
The
South Australian Country Fire Service,
like many Australian fire services, have specific colours for specific
roles. White helmets are for Firefighters (with a red stripe for Senior
Firefighters). Lieutenants have yellow helmets, Captains have yellow
with a red stripe, Deputy Group Officers and above have red helmets,
while paid staff have a blue stripe on their helmet.
[citation needed]
See also
References
- "History of the Leather Helmet". Oceancityfools.com. Retrieved 2014-06-03.
- Taggart, Ian. "The Invention of the Gas Mask". Retrieved 2013-04-23.
- "draegerman". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
- Fay Schlesinger (2009-04-29). "Firemen go over to the Dark Side: New helmet makes them look like Star Wars stormtroopers | Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-06-03.
External links
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