Eye and Ear Protection are Imperative for Firefighters and Rescue Workers

Be Ready For Anything

Think a minute . . . Besides firefighting and emergency rescue, are there any other professions where workers have absolutely no idea what they’ll be doing that day, what to expect next, or whether they’ll even come through their shift unscathed? Even military personnel usually have some idea of their primary mission. But unless a firefighter has a crystal ball, they don’t have a clue what they’ll face next. When called to action, though, they’d better be ready for anything.

For these heroes, the first step in helping others is to make sure their own safety is secure. This means wearing specialized eye protection and hearing protection, because no matter what the situation, these workers are in constant danger of severe eye injury, as well as irreversible hearing damage.

The Case for Eye Protection

Firefighters need to protect their eyes from intense heat; ash and debris whipped up by wind gusts; high-pressure water spray and other dangerous fluids; as well as flying wood chips and refuse kicked back by chainsaws and other tools. The ESS Innerzone 2 Fire Fighting Goggles come highly recommended, as this Ohio firefighter can testify:

“I would like to state how effective the Innerzone goggles have been to me. Last December, our department responded to a fully involved structural fire in which I was on the initial attack and search for two victims trapped inside. The heat was much more intense than other fires I have been in. Afterwards, upon inspecting my gear, I noticed that the goggles were in great shape after being unprotected on my helmet through this situation. We were recently dispatched to an auto accident where we had to extricate a victim from one of the vehicles. Our pressurized hydraulic line to the tool ruptured, and I thank my ESS goggles for protecting my eyesight and allowing me to continue working, even though I was covered in hydraulic fluid. Once again, these goggles have proven to me that they are effective and durable. Our whole department now uses ESS Goggles! Thank you!” -Travis Anderson, Firefighter/EMT, Enon Fire Department, OH

Emergency medical personnel, on the other hand, are at particular risk of the transmission of bodily fluids. Sealed safety goggles, such as the ESS Striketeam SJ Fully Sealed Goggles, are required to prevent the transfer of bloodborne pathogens. Other dangers to these rescue workers come from flying metal and glass. During vehicle extrication, getting victims out safely often means breaking or sawing through windshields, which sends powdered glass billowing up into faces. And when the “jaws of life” are employed, glass, plastic, and metal debris often shoot out in unexpected directions. In these dangerous conditions then, quality eye protection is vitally necessary.

The Case for Hearing Protection

Noise-induced hearing loss is a huge risk for firefighters. When the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) tested 458 firefighters, two-thirds had a measurable hearing loss. However, while hearing loss is irreversible, it’s preventable. Earplugs or earmuffs should be required gear when emergency personnel is working where sound levels exceed 85 decibels, such as near sirens, air horns, apparatus engines, and power hand tools used for forcible entry, ventilation, and extrication.

As the International Association of Fire Fighters stresses, “Good hearing is a matter of life and death for firefighters. They must have the ability to hear a victim cry for help. The emergency alarm signal of other firefighters in danger. The low-pressure alarm on their self-contained breathing apparatus. And noises associated with imminent collapse or changes in the fire pattern where smoke and darkness minimize visual cues.”

Aren’t You Grateful?

Gary Perkowski of the Manchester, NH Fire Department shares a story that illustrates just how important both eye and hearing protection are for rescuers:

“On October 24th, we were called to a building fire in an old wooden train garage. The fire started below the floor, which was made of large heavy timbers approximately 6” thick. To get to the fire we had to cut the floor apart. My LT and I each had a chainsaw and were cutting the floor apart, when one of us struck a piece of metal in the floor. We were both peppered with metal fragments on our faces, but my ESS glasses took the brunt of the force. We both had numerous cuts around our eyes but nothing penetrated the glasses and reached my eyes. If it wasn’t for the ESS glasses I was wearing, I believe I would have had eye damage. Thank you!”

If this were you, or someone you love, wouldn’t you want safety goggles and hearing protection consistently, securely, and safely in place?