The first fire helmet was created by Jacobus Turck in the mid 1700's. This was a leather helmet with a high crown. The Fire helmet that has been worn by firefighter for the past 150 years was actually designed by Henry T. Gratacap. This was designed with a long back to the helmet to protect the firefighter from water and heat. The basic design of the fire helmet has been used for over three hundred years, maybe it's time for a change?
The helmets used today are made of lightweight plastics. They are strong and offer good protection against falling debris.They also offer a face shield to protect the firefighters face. As technology advances we should start to see lighter weight, stronger, more durable helmets. A company in Sweden is working on a helmet that allows the firefighter to see through smoke. It uses a built in optical thermal camera to generate a wire-frame image of their surroundings to help the firefighters find a path through the dense smoke.
This is just one of the many changes that are coming to the fire service in the next decade, keep checking back to learn more.
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