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Quick thought on gloves…

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While doing a drill at the firehouse the other day, DFC Pat Mann noticed the position of the gloves in the side pocket of my pants, which were stored as below.  He asked if that was how I always carried them to which I responded yes.  My logic was that I kept the gloves ready to grab and quickly don.  I have the flap of my pocket tucked away so I can grab them quickly.  Its usually a non-issue because as I get ready going down the road I put my gloves on and come off the rig with them on, ready to work.  Other than that I never thought much of it, until Pat said something.

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Pat made a good point, relaying the story to me of how he had kept his gloves in the same manner until one day a piece of glass fell into them without his knowledge.  You can imagine the result the next time he put them on. So after some stitches, he had a new idea – which I was lucky enough to hear about before I got stitches too. By storing my gloves in exactly the same manner, but upside down, I could prevent debris from inevitably working its way into my gloves and slicing up my hands at the next job.  An earth-shaking idea, no… But definatley a valuable tip!  One that could keep a firefighter in play on the fireground, rather than sitting on the sidelines.  In an understaffed company that 1 firefighter could be a big deal.

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The littlest tips can make a big difference – whatever you got, pass it on!

Also on TraditionsTraining…

Posted by Nick Martin on March 16, 2010 • Filed under: Combat Ready, Commentary, Engine Company, Tips & Skills, Truck Company, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , ,
  • Kevin

    I actually keep a rubber band around mine now. Ours are to big to fit in a pocket but very fast to put on. Keeps you from dropping just one.

  • http://twitter.com/DAVID_LEBLANC David leBlanc

    Nick, I was taught something similar a million years ago..or so it seems..as far as keepingboth gloves together and on the left side. The reasoning was that woul dleave my right pocket for my escape tools, etc…..since the left is life, at least as far as Scott SCBA go.

    Great tip about the upside down though, never thought about that being an issue.

  • nmartin33

    Good point David… Now I'm left handed, so I keep a lot of that kind of stuff on my left, mainly in my coat. I use the radio pocket for my cutters and webbing, since I use a radio strap under my coat for the radio. Thanks for the thought!

    ————————————————-
    Nicholas A. Martin
    Vice President / Instructor
    Traditions Training, LLC
    (610) 637-8315
    nmartin@traditionstraining.com
    Twitter: @TTraining
    http://www.traditionstraining.com

  • ericlaroche

    Personally, I keep my gloves on each side in my pant's pockets. having the pocket flap opened is not something I like that much… I prefer keeping them with the wristletfolded over the top of the pocket with the flap closed over it. That way, my pockets are closed and nothing can enter my gloves. Also they are easy to grab as they are sticking out. <img “http://www.designgenial.com/clients/IMG_3748.jpg>

  • Jeff Schwering

    Thanks guys, I turned my gloves upside down, after I checked my SCBA this morning. Thanks for the memory jog!

  • robbyo

    I think is a great tip….I think an even better tip to to just wear your gloves. I wear my Fire Gloves on every run wear they can be used, accidents, Fires, fire alarms, etc. I find that this keeps things from getting into them cause they are on my hands, and I get better at working in them and getting used to that loss of dexterity. I even check out my SCBA, and the tools on the rig with them on again this gets me used to working in them and I get the feel of the equipment through the gloves.

    On accidents I use a layering system (ems gloves under the fire gloves) that way I am ready to do pt care at a moments notice.

    When I am stroing my gloves I use the glove strap on my gear but they are upside down to avoid debris, and water from getting into them.

    Also in my SWAT (Special Wrenches and tools) I carry and extra set of firefighting gloves.

    Good stuff keep it coming

  • Jason (aka FF's Enemy)

    Hey this a good tip that I learned after a drill. I came out of an obstacle course with blood red hands. They smelled of Kool-Aid!

  • http://www.tigerschmittendorf.com Tiger Schmittendorf

    Nick -

    I actually learned that technique from a similar personal experience and have stowed my gloves in my left pocket as Pat suggested to you. Great tip for everyone.

    I just wanted to compliment you and Dan on your http://www.FirefighterNetCast.com debut the other evening. I didn't get the chance to listen live but just finished listening to the entire show from the archive. (I may have other things to do on a Saturday morning but not necessarily better things to do.)

    As Deputy Fire Coordinator for Erie County Emergency Services http://www.erie.gov/fire, I'm responsible for delivering training to 97 fire departments and more than 5,000 firefighters. I'm always looking for ideas on how to enhance our instruction and I appreciated your take on the train-like-we-fight concept.

    I often say that as our fire load (experience level) goes down, the only ways to compensate for that are to:
    1. Increase both the quantity and the quality of the training we're delivering
    2. And by us “more experienced” firefighters sharing our experiences with those who don't have experiences of their own (yet) through effective story telling (http://runtothecurb.wordpress.com/fortune-tellers/).

    Traditions Training is obviously built on that same premise and is successful at achieving both.

    Great job on the Netcast and I look forward to meeting you at FDIC.

    Stay safe. Train often.

  • nmartin33

    Tiger,

    Thanks for the kind words! I'm glad we could share something that others found useful and had an impact – as simple as it may be.

    Thanks for listening in our netcast – let us know where you'll be at FDIC, we'd love to meet up.

    -Nick

  • nmartin33

    Tiger,

    Thanks for the kind words! I'm glad we could share something that others found useful and had an impact – as simple as it may be.

    Thanks for listening in our netcast – let us know where you'll be at FDIC, we'd love to meet up.

    -Nick

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