Â
Lieutenant Walt Lewis from Orlando Fire sent in this idea about a flashlight wrap…
A backup flashlight that is simple to use with a gloved hand is vital on the fireground. An idea he picked up from a previous partner (Eng Mike Horn, may he rest in peace) is to wrap the handle of the flashlight like you would a halligan. One step better, is to have the oxygen tubing end at the push button to activate the light, so that in a hurry, with gloves on, and in the dark, you can find the switch and get your light going.
In addition, Lt. Lewis submitted a great write-up about flashlights, and their place on the fireground click here for the full write-up.
Walt,
What an outstanding write-up on a simple and often forgotten about tool on the fireground! Thank you for submitting it.
I have a few thoughts on this subject myself, flashlights have recently become a little bit of a hot button issue for me lately. None of my co-workers will be surprised at the following response.
As far as a backup light is concerned, I would suggest having at least one non-rechargeable light on hand. Every one of us has had a rechargeable die within moments of it coming out of the charger. We certainly don’t always charge them within the manufacture’s recommendations. An alkaline powered light lessens the likelihood of this from occurring. Of course, the important part of that equation is to change the alkaline batteries out frequently, even if they are never used. I would hate to have to rely on a light, and have it not work because I was too cheap to replace the batteries every other month or so. Another important part of the reliability equation is to “burp†your alkaline powered flashlight. Many of the “fire department†style flashlights are waterproof for obvious reasons. These flashlights tend to have sealed battery compartments in order to keep water out. An alkaline battery tends to “off gas†and ends up chewing the light apart from the inside out. Have you ever seen a light not work because of corroded batteries? This is what I’m talking about. The simple fix is just to open the battery compartment from time to time and let everything breathe a bit. Some of the newer or higher end flashlights have a one-way valve in the battery compartment to prevent this from happening. However, I have on occasion, seen these valves get clogged and have a new flashlight ruined because it was not “burped.â€
I have found that with very little effort, it’s quite simple to always have a reliable flashlight on hand, and every one of us has had a moment where a little extra light could have made our jobs a whole lot easier! –Jimm-
Brother Lewis,
As I read your article, I can hear you saying it loud and clear, every now and then with an irish accent. Im not sure why.
Day one for a new Firefighter working for me, a second flashlight (personally owned) is the list of things I suggest he gets and carry with them every shift, along with other items already mentioned on this site.
I thank you for your article and will also be sharing it with my crew and new hires.
Brother Walsh,
Good advice on saving your batteries you thrifty cheap guy.. Just kidding…
Stay safe, and thanks for your work on this site.
~Egan
I have a rock climbing type on my helmet that I got for $16 at Home Depot. I like it for vehicle rescues mainly. It is easy on/off and has 4 settings. One of the settings is night time red. It is similar to this http://www.energizer.com/products/flashlights/flashlight.asp?cat=4&id=3
It does look kind of goofy, but I like the function of it. I also have a 90 degree Streamlight Survivor.
I am one of those guys who likes some kind of light even in a smoke to the floor environment.
i have one of the rock climbing headlamps on my helmet, the one i have, has close to 11 leds on it and they are all very close together making it a low profile and extremly bright light. I have the battery pack above the top padding inside the helmet with a wire tie securing the wire to the hanging ring on the back brim.
Gents,
Hand lights are perhaps one of our invaluable concepts for firefighting. Rhetorically speaking; where would we be without them?
(Playing Devils Advocate) Often we develop self-reliance for these types of paraphernalia without remaining cognizant of their prominent benefits and limitations; however, we must not allow these luxuries to deter us from crucial techniques. Too many times, I have witnesses other firefighters, myself included; exhume an overbearing amount of confidence with these tools by enticing us to succumb to a false sense of security.
How do we perform when we lose our portable light source or the power source becomes totally exhausted? Well, in most instances – disoriented and total dysfunction! Time after time, I’ve seen people stop their progress because their hand light stopped illuminating. Then they began to hysterically yell for another light to move on. Why? Have they forgotten how to operate without a hand light? (I’ll let you decipher an answer for that one)
The synopsis of this issue is that hand lights have become a security blanket within our modes of operation. As with most security issues, nothing is guaranteed and they perpetuate us develop an inept behavior pattern when they’re not self apparent. That’s human nature! Therefore, we must not allow ourselves to function exclusively in reliance for one particular way of performance. Remember to practice in a capacity without certain luxuries of comfort and within our own insecurities. During your basic recruit training, do recall your trainer allowing you to utilize hand lights? I think not! They taught you how to operate without them. Why? Well, to dismiss the potential of you falling into the trap of dysfunction and ineptitude when you don’t have the luxury of hand light.
To reiterate upon Lt. Lewis’ article, the hand light has several beneficial purposes for firefighting; consequently, we should never neglect our basic skills of the old school tactics.
Please don’t misconstrue this perspective on hand lights. As quoted within Lt. Lewis’ article – “most every firefighter carries a flashlight when they are workingâ€. And any seasoned veteran firefighter can depict the positive benefits of a hand lights while working on the job; subsequently, any exceptional firefighter will still maintain their fundamentals and overcome certain insecurities.
Excellent article Lt. Lewis and thanks for sharing!
Stay safe out there…
Darrell
Lou,
Great article!!! I’ve just recently “redone” the way I carry my lights. Now very similar to the way you carry yours. Off subject a bit…You mention not using your radio strap for fires. Just wondering why, this has been a bit of a hot topic in our department in the recent past. Drop another article if you get the time soon!!! Thanks
Great article by Lt. Lewis on a topic that not enough people take the time to think about! Personally, I own, use and maintain two rechargable fire service flashlights, despite the fact that the department provides every apparatus with at least four right angle lights and chargers. One of the many reasons for this is one that Lt. Lewis alluded to – basically, not knowing where the light was before you took it from the charger. These lights, though better than nothing, often are damaged, not fully charged and have batteries that die quickly for a variety of reasons.
I feel much more comfortable having my own lights; charging and discharging them on a regular basis and maintaining them as needed. I carry a right-angle light on my coat and a lantern-style light on a strap…dubbed the ‘Super Duper’ by my Lieutenant, who now also carries one. We both have ‘seatbelt’ style straps that enable the wearer to quickly dump the light if necessary. I encourage students at probie school to spend some of their own money (or give a wish list to friends and family that are about to spend the next several holidays purchasing any gift they can find with a maltese cross on it anyway) on a few basic, reliable items. Flashlights, a good folding serrated blade knife, a good set of wire cutters, a folding set of allen wrenches and a loop of webbing. Though there are a million and one (at least) useful things that a firefighter can carry, this is a minimal list of tools and equipment that can all perform multiple functions and contribute to the safety and survivor of the member carrying them. The key here is to PRACTICE with them – put them where you can get them with gloved hands and develop and maintain proficiency in using them with gloved hands.
One thing that came to mind in reading the last comment in regards to radio straps – (personal preference) – I won’t wear mine under my turnout coat at a fire because A) it becomes extremely difficult to switch channels if necessary and B) it affects the way my SCBA sits and the waist strap cinches up over the radio.
To all, great site and great comments. It’s obvious that there are a ton of sharp people all over that do this job.
Be safe.
Great article. I definetly need a back up lite. Please share why you don’t use the “radio strap” on fires.
I will do a write-up on radio straps within the next day or so, and we can move all of the radio strap discussion over there. Please hold those questions until then, that way it will all be in the right place, and easier to “look up†at a later date. I’ll check with Lt. Lewis and make sure his rational is included. Thanks! –Jimm-
Personally, I do not use my radio strap at fires because it creates an additional entanglement hazard when you are forced to do a low-profile manuever (removal or repositioning of your SCBA). During this situation, the radio strap may swing loose from the body and can easily become entangled while you are proceeding through the diminished opening. This becomes even more prevalent when going through a breach in a wall that was hastily made as a means of egress under fire conditions. We don’t go through walls to exit under normal circumstances, therefore when we must perform this type of tactic, it must be done as rapidly as possible with little or no delay. I have found that the most secure location for my portable radio is inside my radio pocket with the lapel mic slung across my neck and secured by a carabiner on my opposite shoulder. This places the mic in a position where it can be used to transmit in the proper location when speaking through my mask (the exhalation valve on SCOTT SCBAs). The radio and mic stays stationary, and if I have to do a low profile manuever, I don’t have to worry about the radio strap becoming entangled, slowing my progress.
One other point to keep in mind. The flashlights used by us should be intrinsically safe (will not generate a spark to the outside atmosphere)(Division 1 certified)Usually if the light is waterproof your ok. The cheap home improvement store flashlights are not. I remember hearing a story about 3 Columbus(OH) firefighters being injured/killed because of a cheap flashlight igniting a fuel rich atmosphere in the basement of a private dwelling they were investigating for an odor of gas. Spend the extra money and buy lights designed for our line of work. They are rugged, dependable and most of all safe.
Lt. Lewis , perhaps you could share with everyone how O.F.D. came to the practice of attaching the short tether and key clip to our survivour lights. it’s a great point and the smartest dollar you’ll ever spend.
Jason, why not put your radio strap under your coat so it is not an entanglement hazard and is covered up.
Mike, I tried the “under the coat” method, and I found that if I needed to adjust the volume or change channels, it was easier to do so having the radio in my pocket instead of under my coat with the waist stap of my SCBA holding it down.
Wow! I never thought I’d get such a reaction. I’m flattered so many found the article with such interest. Darrell- very good points- don’t rely on the light working for every moment you expect it. Hence the desire for a small back-up, but Murphy is always working against us. We should know how to operate blind, like you said. When we have visibility, it’s a bonus.
Mitch, you noted the tether to the 90 degree Survivor light. Years ago, our coats had a small loop on the front and there was nothing to help keep the light close to the coat. In addition, the clip on the light wasn’t very good. The small 5mm tether from the bottom of the light, passed through the hanging loop and clipped back to the light kept it from traveling away from the user. It kept me from losing my light numerous times.
Jamie- great point about the light needing to be intrinsicly safe. In the wrong scenario, we may forget that it could be the ignition source we don’t want…
Lastly, the radio strap. For the same reason as others- entanglement hazard and comfort. I prefer to keep the radio like Jason. In the case of the radio turning off, when turned back on, our radios default back to Tac 1. Sometimes it gets changed when I don’t want it to. Either way, I can lift it up, and see the digital screen easily. I also seemed to band the radio up when it rode on my hip. Since I have to pay some money for damaging a $3500 radio, I try to be a little more careful with it. Some folks have good success with it riding under their coat. Each way has there pros and cons.
Take care and be safe!
Hello everyone, this is my first time leaving a comment on this web site.I like to say how much I liked the article on flashlight use. I carry 3 flashlights on me at all times, one on my helmet,chest pocket, and one in my pants pocket. I would like to thank you guys for posting good articles and comments. This is what the Brotherhood is all about. Sharing there experiences and Idea’s with others. Keep up the good work fella’s. Stay low, Stay safe and God Bless.
John Brownlow
Yet another excellent article. I also carry multiple lights, 1 helmet mounted with a push button switch,1 90 degree light,1 lantern type light which I have experimented with different ways of carrying it, and somehow always come back to the strap over the shoulder.
The only rechargable one I carry is the lantern type and it is mine so it is not shared.
Great idea on the battery change out and burping the system.
Keep up the good work even this ole Engine man is learning!
Mark
Great stuff guys. We cannot forget the basics!!! Keep up the good work.
I too want to express that this is a fantastic article.
I have a Survior LED light on my T/O coat, attached not with the clip but with a key chain sized carabiner with about 2 inches of webbing. This allows it to be pointed in the correct direction and also allows it to hang and face forward if I have to get low and go. Try it, works fantastic. Every firefighter in my company is issued one of these lights as part of their PPE, and for those with the rechargable style, there’s a charger mounted in their individual gear locker.
When I’m doing interior, I keep a Streamlight Lightbox with me as well as my secondary light. Our lightboxes do not have the straps attached to them, but rather a large Home Depot type carabiner so that they can be carried by hand or attached to the SCBA waistbelt. I use, and train others, to take the Lightbox and use it as or in combination with a door chock, which allows the light to be aimed low across the floor from the door way towards into the room. By doing this, we’ve now illuminated the room to a degree, and gave a very visable marker to allow the crews to find the exit point in case they get disoriented. Whereas it’s not fool proof – it did actually aid a firefigheter who became disoriented when ia significant portion of the ceiling came in on him. He preaches now that he “Followed the Light” and got himself out to the hallway to safety.
Just my thoughts…
Great article! I have a big ed on the jacket and a handheld light in my bunker pants pocket. During fires I also carry a box light attached to a strap. I no longer have a light on the helmet. I feel like it’s already heavy enough.
Leaving a box light illuminated at the door is a great suggestion!
so how would you go about wrapping a halligan bar?
Irons,
We have wrapped a number of our hand tools. We started with wrapping the area (plus an extra inch or so above and below) with high-grade friction tape. We actually used 10 gauge wire instead of oxygen tubing, crimped the ends of the wire with a vice grip so that they would stay in place and then put a double-wrap of friction tape over the wire. Take your time in taping the tool up – neatness counts and you want to completely cover the wire. A wrapped tool is a LOT easier to hold onto while working. In our company, the tools are inspected/cleaned daily and after any fire duty – part of checking them out is seeing if we need to cover any exposed wire on the wrapped area.
Be safe.
We also use #10 wire for the wrap… It’s important to use solid wire, not stranded, as the thin strands will quickly break under the tape and poke through all over the place causing hand injuries.
Be safe Brothers.
Chris
Wouldn’t the wire be a potential conductor of electricity? Hockey players wwrap tape around their sticks at top, then pull a long stretch and spin it, creating a ropelike strand. You can wrap this around the handle in the same fashion as the wire.After that just rewrap it w/ flat tape.Stay safe.PS check out southbendfire.org. It’s a new site.
I found using 8 gage wire is better then using o2 tubing.
We use 1/4″ three strand twisted polypro rope and friction tape on our tools. It’s lightweight nonconductive and cheap. Be sure to wrap the rope around the handle with the twist. The twist will get tighter and make the rope harder if your going the right direction. Just another idea.
Stay heads up.
Hayden
I was once in a place (no names) where we didn’t have much money to spend or much access to generally handy stuff such as wire. So when we wrapped our tool handles, we used some old telephone wire to run underneath the tape. Probably not as durable in the long term as the wire, but it still worked.
Just an option in case you should have anything of that sort around.
Lots of awesome lighting advice here, but I just wanted to warn about this one point.
Ken says: “I have the battery pack above the top padding inside the helmet with a wire tie securing the wire to the hanging ring on the back brim.
”
Don’t ever put anything between your head and the outer shell of your helmet. That gap isn’t a storage space, it’s the whole point of the helmet! I learned this in a logging class, talking about regular hard hats. If something smacks you on the head, instead of that gap shrinking to cushion the blow, your clever cargo becomes an extension of the projectile your helmet was supposed to protect you from.