In one way or another, we have all witnessed some kind of rescue operation. Be it on television or a...
In one way or another, we have all witnessed some kind of rescue operation. Be it on television or as bystanders in a real accident scene. Such a type of operation can also be referred to as extrication. It involves extracting individuals from an accident scene, fire incident, or whatever distressing situation requires physical contact.
In such circumstances, most rescuers put on hand wearables designed to provide safety to their hands. They're what we call extrication gloves and help a firefighter or rescuer safely evacuate a victim from an accident scene.
And due to the hazardous nature of such operations, there is a need for one to select the right type and fit of salvage mittens to prevent them from incurring injuries or contacting blood-borne pathogens.
So, in this article, we dive into the features you should look for in an extricate glove, the NFPA standard, and how it can assist firefighters, among other nitty-gritty.
Shall we?
Rescue and extrication work gloves come with unique features and attributes depending on their use. In particular, we have two main types of firefighting mittens: those that cater to structural extrication and those for battling wildfires, as well as extracting accident victims.
Here are some of their common characteristics:
As a firefighter, you want a pair of firefighting hand wearables that allow the free movement of your fingers to allow the convenient execution of challenging operations such as rope salvage missions. In this case, you should look out for a pair that provides flexibility without sacrificing hand protection. You'll mostly find such a characteristic in a medium-built firefighter glove primarily made from a flexible material like polyester and Kevlar.
It goes without question that an extrication process can last hours on end. So, you want protective mittens that can help keep your hands safe for long without becoming a bother. We advise finding a comfortable-fitting pair and trying them out before purchasing.
Generally, men are okay with larger pairs, and women are comfortable with smaller sizes.
Like the dexterity above, the grip on your mittens offers much-needed precision and convenience on the task at hand. In this case, donning a pair of mittens with the appropriate grip will help you avoid creating more accidents and be much more at ease. In most cases, such mittens feature rubber material on their palm surfaces.
A pair of mitten's performance and functionality mostly depend on the material it is made from. For instance, fire-resistant hand wearables are usually sculpted from fire-resistant material, besides which can withstand wet conditions.
Likewise, emergency and salvage mittens used in automobile accidents are usually crafted from liquid-resistant material that cannot absorb oil spills, battery acids, or blood, among other fluids. In addition, a material that can hold off a blood pathogen, such as a virus, for at least an hour.
A durable pair of extricate gauntlets can go a long way to offer much-needed convenience in this pretty hectic field. You don't want to be making an order for new pairs every time your team needs to go out.
Durable pairs generally help cut costs alongside other idiosyncrasies involved.
How affordable a pair of gauntlets is can equally inform your purchasing decision, especially if you're a team and on a budget. You don't want to settle on overly expensive pairs with all the whistles and bells you can't use.
A good rule of thumb is to go for a pair that can settle your salvage needs at an affordable cost.
The National Fire Protection Association standard determines the minimum job performance requirements for career and volunteer firefighters whose duties are majorly structural. Its NFPA 1971-compliant wing deals with protective ensembles for structural and proximity firefighting. It protects firefighting personnel by establishing the minimum levels of protection from blood-borne pathogens and environmental, physical, and thermal hazards during proximity and structural firefighting activities.
The act's 2018 updated version constitutes the following measures:
●Glove sizing: The act provides a standardized way for providing firefighter rescue mittens. In this case, it provides a sizing chart and instructions on how safety gloves for firefighters should be issued.
●Rear of hand protection: It also spells out the minimal thermal protection requirements for firefighter extrication gloves, specifically where it is needed most, for example, at the back of the hands.
●Water barrier: Lastly, there is a need for firefighter gloves to provide a moisture barrier that can prevent the infiltration of human viruses for at least one hour.
As a firefighter, you'll benefit from the NFPA standard in the following ways:
●Access to the right type of firefighting gloves that can prevent you from contacting blood-related infections
●Issuance of correct fitting firefighter rescue gloves for effective performance
●Access to safety mittens for firefighters with enough thermal insulation to keep your hands safe from excessive heat and temperatures
In most cases, you'll agree with us that firefighting is an intensely demanding job. For example, as a firefighter, you may need to extricate a victim from an accident like a car accident or vehicle fire. As such, you may encounter several hazards, including glass shards and metal that can puncture your gauntlets or otherwise cause injuries. This calls for selecting the most appropriate extricate mittens to help prevent cuts, scratches, and other abrasions while on duty.
In other cases, fire incidents usually depict gory pictures caused by intense heat and temperatures. As a firefighter, you need the right pairs to withstand such externalities when fighting such incidents and assisting the victims. It should be noted that most firefighters without proper industry-standard mittens suffer burns on the outer parts of their hands.
What you will do with a pair of gauntlets is one of the fundamental things to consider before purchasing. Do you work in a fire department, or are you its team leader or member? Or work in a rescue team.
Well, we have a huge variety of hand protection hand wearables in the market, depending on your primary occupation. So it would help if you made your choice depending on the function at hand.
As said before, the worthiness of a pair of mittens is in the material it is made from. If you want a pair that can withstand constant abuse for a considerable period, leather is the most promising way. And if you want something flexible and breathable, then polyester or synthetic nylon can be a great fit, and the list goes on. So the choice is yours.
How safe your hands will be is also another primary concern when making a purchase; if not, why buy the gloves in the first place?
Such is guaranteed by the material the hand wearable is made of, its appropriateness for the work, and additional features, such as wrist straps to act as a barrier and prevent the entry of debris while working.
The price point of a particular pair of mittens should also inform your purchase decision. You don't want to go for something you can't afford.
However, price shouldn't be the gold standard to base on since you want a pair that can do the job. It's appropriate to strike a balance between price and functionality.
A rescue glove's overall structure and outlook dictate its most appropriate use. Thickly padded duty protection gauntlets offer firefighters the much-required abrasion, heat resistance, and cut protection. A great example is the ringer gloves with heavy-duty TPR impact protection on the hand and finger areas.
To avoid the "lemons," it's crucial to determine that your to-go extricate mittens are NPFA certified.
Doing so allows maximum hand protection and gives you the confidence to do your work.
Conclusively, each type of extrication glove provides unique functionality depending on your specialty. In a rehash, we have the following main types of salvage hand wearables:
●Structural firefighter extrication mittens: most are thick and heavy-duty to withstand excessive heat and temperatures to protect the user's hand. The NFPA 1971 standard requires them to be available in seven different sizes. Furthermore, it offers the dimensions for the length and circumference of the hand and each finger.
Pros:
They're simply the best in providing cushion and thermal insulation due to their thick sizes.
Cons:
Some of the brands might lack sufficient dexterity owing to their thickness.
●Wildland firefighter gauntlets: They're designed to protect firefighters from wildland fires characterized by extreme heat and sharp objects, among other dangers lurking in the corners.
Pros:
Most provide adequate dexterity owing to their not-so-thick structure
A sizeable amount of them are crafted from breathable material to allow convenient use in hot environments
Cons:
They offer limited protection against chemicals since most of them are designed to protect your hands against flames and heat.
●Rope gloves: They're designed to withstand short roping excursions during extricate work, among other duties.
Pros:
Most are durable as they're manufactured from tough materials such as leather.
Most have enhanced grip to handle the nuances of climbing up and down structural buildings.
Cons:
Reduced sensation due to their bulkiness.
At Hanvo, we pride ourselves in providing the best Extrication gloves. Our safety mittens work extremely hard, as you do in any condition. You can contact us or call us; we shall be more than happy to help.
