Gifts for new firefighter

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Bruce in Eastern CO

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My son is transfering from a 4 year college program to Fire Science Associates Degree program with the goal of becoming an EMT qualified firefighter. He starts with EMT training this summer.

I wish to start him out with some good basic personal gear: good muilti-tool, practical watch, reliable knife, practical combo belt holster/scabbard for knife/tool.

Firefighters/EMTs: what do you recommend based on your actual experience on the job.

Bruce
A Proud Dad
 
I'm not a firefighter, but I notice a good flashlight is not on your list? May I suggest a Surefire M2?
 
I've been a firefighter/EMT for just over 20 years (:eek: ) and have found two items that are almost indispensible for work are a GOOD flashlight and a GOOD knife. My suggestions are the Pelican Saber and the Benchmade Griptilian. Get both for about a c-note and you'll have one happy hose head;)
 
Multi-tool: Leatherman Wave or Supertool
Watch: Casio G-Shock 200m Illuminator
Knife: Spyderco Rescue
Flashlight: Surefire (I'm partial to the old 9P myself)

These items are pretty much "standard", and each should serve your son well.
 
Originally posted by glockman99
Multi-tool: Leatherman Wave or Supertool
Watch: Casio G-Shock 200m Illuminator
Knife: Spyderco Rescue
Flashlight: Surefire (I'm partial to the old 9P myself)

These items are pretty much "standard", and each should serve your son well.
Click to expand...

Very good choices. In the Surefire, I'd also recommend the M2, in that it's alot of light in a compact, very tough, and impact-resistant package. The Pyrex lens is more heat-resistant than the Lexan version as well, if that's a consideration.
 
Congrats! I have a brother who is a Hose-Monkey, i got him a SwissTool and an M-2. Both he uses on a daily basis he has told me. Now if I can keep him out of my LE t-shirt drawer...
 
The Casio G-Shock is available in analog or digital. His G'mother is a nurse, and she says that you need a sweep second hand to do certain med type stuff. Is that still true or have they adapted training to digital watches?
 
Well I think digital works just fine for taking vitals its what I see used the most.:) By far the most popular are the Timex Ironman or Expedition.

Knife, most guys(myself included)go for a 50/50 3-4 inch blade.I have used Emersons,BM 710,Cs voyagers and Spyderco Endrua,Rescue.I really like a useable tip and find the Rescue to single purpose (ymmv).Right now I carry CRKT new M-16 firefighters knife and like it VERY much.

I no longer carry a multi-tool on the job,but a lot of guys do.Wave,Gerbers first one and the basic Leatherman are carried alot.

We are issued a Stream light,Survivor,which stays on my scba straps.For pocket carry a mini mag is a good choice,especially on ems calls.Where I work its often dark inside houses even in the daytime.People have sheets and blankets over the windows and next to no useable lamps.Really bright lights like Surefires (which I own and love)are often to bright to be shining in patients faces.( why do all my pts. have pin point pupils?)Although they do light up the room really well.Kind of a toss up I guess.If you go the surefire route,I would recomend a rechargable one(don't know the model)I can go through a set of batteries in a night trick.

Good Luck to your son.
 
As a Firefighter, I have been using a " Big Ed" from Pelician, as a on my shoulder/ chest light and a Stealth light mounted on my helmet for seeing ahead of me. I always have a Gerber 600 blunt nose multi tool in my right hand cargo pocket for the times that I have to get untangled from the mess that I have tangled myself into, and a cheap frame lock / locking liner style knife that has a thumb stud for opening. ( Nothing is worse than seeing a rookie take off his glove to open his knife. Remember that the gloves we wear are thick , clumsy, and most of the time wet. )
As a Paramedic, a small LED ( again Pelican brand) L1 for looking in the dark corners for unfriendlys and a streamlight LED penlight for looking in the patients eyes. I think a nice stethoscope might be a welcome present for a student EMT. Nothing fancy or expensive for now, but practical.A tasteful pocket knife likely will serve your son well, as would a set of EMT shears( they really do cut everything, including pennys). A lasting gift that is often overlooked is a knife sharpener system. I like the Spyderco Sharpmaker myself and it will last for many, many years to come.Lastly, Timex Expedtion watchs have a three second "light on" feature that is extreamly nice when you have your hands full.
Charles A. Hubbard FF2, NREMT-P Jmst. ND
 
Been doing both for a while.

Knife: Benchmade with Axis lock. with partial serrations
Watch: Timex or Casio, Digital/Analog doesn't matter as long as you can tell seconds
Flashlight: Pelican of some sort(I love my M10), much cheaper than surefires and whole lot better burn time, Nothing pisses me of like running out of light at a wreck @ 2am.
Trauma Shears: Fun!!!
A good multitool: Leatherman, SOG, etc. or a "nice" SAK
Stethescope: Littman Classic II works great for me.
Window Punch: Never know when you'll need it... ;)
Hope this helps.
MNU
 
Lithium Batteries are expensive. Checkout the new Streamlight rechargables (Stinger HP is what Chicago PD uses if memory serves me). At 40,000 to 75,000 candle power, you have a strong light. The SuperStinger is a little big and bulky in my hands but, the standard Stinger HP with the BIG head is a nice one. The large button to turn it on/off with heavy bulky gloves gives it a favorable nod as well.

Small light - an LED powered pen style light definitely. Personally, I would go with an ARC LE which runs ~140 hours on a single AAA. A Streamlight Stylus is a viable option as well but, AAAA batteries can be a little tough to find in some areas.

http://store.yahoo.com/flashlight/

EMT -shears are a lot of fun and pretty cheap to! :D

Stethoscope - Get a long Littman. The Master Cardiology is a great one. This one is super sensitive so, road noise in the ambulance will be a problem but, that's true for any good stethoscope. In the end, a cheaper model will probably get the field use but, when training, great acoustics helps you learn. The $8 stethoscopes I used where a crime. If only knew then what I know now.

http://www.allheart.com/littmannscopes.html

A good knife on the tough and large side of things. A benchmade Axis lock with a sheepsfoot style blade. Spyderco Rescue would work as well.

A wilderness belt. When you back is to the wall and the only way out a multi-story window, having a belt with a repelling buckle could save your life. Plus, its just a darn good belt.

http://www.thewilderness.com/Pages/belts.html
 
I have been a firefighter going on 5 years and I have used a number of different knives, lights, and multi-tools. What I have found through experience is that it is mainly personal preferance as to what to carry and use. I'll give you an example of what I use every day to make me feel a little safer out there.

Flashlight: Streamlight Survivor (Class I, II, III Division 2 model, orange)

This is the best flashlight for firefirefighting applications to date. The smoke cutter beam does its job well and I have yet to have it burn out after 5 years on the job and numerous drops, burns, and getting runover. This light is recharable with either a quick charger or a 10 hour trickle charge. I opted for the quick charge. You never know when you could be out all night on jobs. This light stays clipped to my turnout coat on the right shoulder. For everyday flashlight use around the firehouse or small jobs, I use a Sure Fire E2e. Small, lightweight and packs a helluva beam.

Survivor Light

Knives: Spyderco Remote Release & Spyderco Rescue

I carry the RR clipped to my turnout coat. It is easy to get to when I need it in a hurry. The blade and hole are larger than normal for ease of opening with gloves on. The Rescue stays in my pants pocket for everyday use.

Remote Release

Rescue

Multi-tool: Gerber Legend

This tool is great. What makes it special is the replaceable carbide cutters. These things chomp through anything. They are especially useful when the need arrives to cut door chains on doors at the ol' fogeys home. The rest of the tools come in handy in a pinch but stick to "real" tools for anything that requires more than what the multi-tool can give. Use the right tool for the job.

Gerber Legend

I hope this helps make your descion a bit easier.

P.S.- As far as watches go any Timex Expedition Series wathc should do the trick. For assessing vital signs I prefer analog, it's just easier to see at night if the hands glow.
 
Thread Necromancy
Bruce in Eastern CO said:
My son is transfering from a 4 year college program to Fire Science Associates Degree program with the goal of becoming an EMT qualified firefighter. He starts with EMT training this summer.
I wish to start him out with some good basic personal gear: good muilti-tool, practical watch, reliable knife, practical combo belt holster/scabbard for knife/tool.
Firefighters/EMTs: what do you recommend based on your actual experience on the job.
Bruce
A Proud Dad
Click to expand...
Don't settle for a good multi tool, get the best, a leatherman wave...
i-Ssjw9mB-L.jpg


And here's another couple basic tools no self respecting firefighter should be without, a randall fireman special & g-shock...
i-4gbhTd7-XL.jpg
 
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