Equipment

The smoke of a well-developed fire can reduce visibility to nil so thermal imaging cameras that allow our firefighters to see areas of heat through smoke, identify and rescue casualties and locate hot spots or the seat and spread of the fire are an essential piece of kit.

The Argus 4 camera has been specifically designed with the role of a firefighter in mind and as well as pinpointing the hottest areas within the fire scene it can:

• Display the temperature of objects
• Capture and store up to 100 images
• View temperatures in excess of 1000 degrees Celsius
• Measure the ambient temperature
• Enable the user to zoom in on the scene

All of our appliances have been kitted with a defibrillator to enable our firefighters to provide medical assistance to operational personnel, staff and members of the public who may require immediate life saving intervention as a result of cardiac arrest should there be no immediate assistance available from ambulance personnel.

All of our defibrillators are self-testing, battery operated machines that, once applied, automatically analyse the patient's electrocardiogarm (ECG) and advises the operator to push the button and deliver a shock if required.

This sophisticated machine guides the operator through the rescue using a combination of voice prompts, audible alerts and visible indicators and if required is used by fully trained staff.

The Hotspotter HS 100 is a hand held thermal detector device that is used to locate areas of overheating or other hot spots. It can effectively see through smoke and allows us to detect fire in hidden compartments or behind walls.

It does this by detecting radiation. Infrared radiation is emitted by all objects and the hotter the object, the more radiation that is given off.  The Hotspotter thermal detector unit senses infrared radiation with the use of a thermopile sensor. This sensor is, in effect, a series of 40 thermocouples that can detect infrared. The signal from the sensor is amplified and converted to sound and light outputs. It receives infrared from a cone that projects approximately 7 degrees from either side of its axis. This means that at 3 metres the Hotspotter thermal detector scans a circle approximately 75 centimetres in diameter.

The unit measures 172mm x 65mm x 56mm and weighs 200g. It is constructed of a polycarbonate compound and is designed to withstand limited shock. And believe it or not  - a single 9v alkaline battery powers all this life saving potential!

The breathing apparatus (BA) sets we use have been standardised to the Draeger PA 94 Plus ET positive pressure breathing apparatus set, utilising a twin air cylinder pack and an electronic monitoring unit and are essential to our role.

The sets provide our firefighters with respiratory protection when working in a contaminated or oxygen deficient environment and the advanced design gives greater performance, comfort and ease of use.

The set incorporates an ergonomically designed backplate that distributes the weight by means of a padded harness over the wearers centre of gravity, whilst supporting a twin cylinder configuration. The set is fitted with the Reducer Plus unit - a high performance first stage pressure reducer and attached to the Reducer Plus is a pressure transducer and hose assembly to the multi-function electronic unit called the Bodyguard.

The Bodyguard is a robust and compact instrument which incorporates pre-programmed features for continuous monitoring of the air pressure inside the air cylinder, battery life, movement sensor, a distress signal unit in case the wearer gets into difficulty and time remaining until the wearer is low in air and the whistle alarm setting sounds.

This essential piece of kit provides a total of 2345 litres of air  - giving our firefighters 48 minutes of air at an incident.

We are often called to rescue people that are trapped within the wreckage of a vehicle, building and trench collapses or other such incidents that usually require the use of specialist rescue tools.

Air bags

All of our appliances are equipped with both an 18 tonne and 40 tonne air bag that can be used to release people or animals that are trapped under vehicles, machinery, steel or concrete beams. Within 9 seconds, the 18 tonne air bag can be inflated to lift an 18 tonne obstruction to a height of 27cm. Our larger model, the 40 tonne air bag, can lift a 40 tonne obstruction to a height of 40.2 cm in 31.1 seconds.

Hydraulic Rams, Cutters and Spreaders

As you would expect, rescuing people that are trapped within any type of wreckage almost always requires parts of the wreckage to be cut and removed and hydraulic tools allow us to do this.

A spreader is a hydraulic tool designed with two arms which come together in a narrow tip. The tip of the tools can be inserted into a narrow gap and when the tool is operated, the arms open and push apart the obstruction.

Cutters are a hydraulic tool that has been designed to easily cut through metal. Basically, they are hydraulically powered shears.

Hydraulic rams deliver a very powerful ramming function and are often used to open up spaces or lift, move or break debris.

It is not uncommon for people or animals to get trapped on unstable ground, ice or mud banks. Our Rescue Paths are inflatable pathways that provide us with a stable and rigid access to help individuals. The Rescue Path measures 10 metres x 1.3 metres 0.5 metres and when inflated can easily take the weight of two people.

The Rescue Lance is a unique stainless steel tool that can be used to agitate sand, mud or similar substances enabling firefighters to release any person or animal that is trapped.

The Rescue Lance is constructed from heavy duty stainless steel tubing and is 'T' shaped. The bottom end of the lance is shaped to a point to make it easy to insert into the mud or sand and is perforated to allow air or water to be forced into the compacted material, disturbing it enough to release the casualty.

Strathclyde Fire & Rescue is committed to protecting the environment, however, sometimes fighting fires, using foam or dealing with chemical hazards means that there is potential for environmental pollution.

We are extremely keen to mitigate any damage caused and so, in Partnership with The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), Spill Kits have been issued to all of our fire appliances.

The Spill Kit contains a number of items that help us clear away any excess chemicals, oil, water or foam. Drain covers are also included to ensure that we can stop spillages contaminating drains and other water courses.

Portable ground monitors allow an unmanned hose to be set up at a fire scene freeing up valuable time and resources with it's quick deployment.

Parmaris 275N Auto Seafit Lifejackets are available to all firefighters that are required to work within three metres of a water risk such as during a shore based water rescue incidents where firefighters are required to utilise throwlines or hose inflation kits.

This type of  incidents usually  requires heavy protective clothing to be worn and so this type of lifejacket has increased buoyancy to provide flotation assistance to our firefighters if required.

The Rescue Pro Personal Floatation Device  (PFD) is a buoyancy aid jacket that is worn when carrying out a tethered swim rescue.

A tethered swim team consists of a minimum of two firefighters  - one rescue swimmer and one anchor person and both firefighers will be equipped with the PFD, a dry suit, plamed gloves, water safety helmet and a xenec strobe light.

The PDF is covered with 'Cordura' material that is resistant to abrasions, tears, scuffs and punctures and so can handle all of the elements of this type of rescue!

All of our Aerial Rescue Pumps (ARPs) have a Traverse Titan Stretcher on board. The stretcher is made of steel and is specifically designed for carrying non-ambulant casualties.

This easy to handle stretcher comes with four load connectors which allow quick connection of karabiners. These load connectors are also covered to ensure that the karabiners are protected from rock and wall faces - an essential when dealing with casualties in confined spaces.

The Chemical Suit gives protection against harmful gases and vapours and is worn over normal firefighting uniform, minus over-trousers and fire hood.

To provide complete protection from chemicals the seams are stitched and taped internally and the legs are elasticated and provide a double seal with boots. The hood is also elasticated and has been designed to provide a snug fit when placed over the BA facemask.

All of our appliaces are kitted out with a First Aid and Trauma Kit to ensure that our firefighters can deliver medical assistance when required to do so.

Items in  these vital kits include:

• wound dressings
• eye pads
• bandages
• space blankets
• rebreather masks
• face shields
• stiffneck collars
• shears
• cling film
• oxygen cylinders