Coxreels® manufactures heavy duty, professional-grade hose, cord, and cable reels of the highest quality. Our patented EZ-Coil® safety system, engineered and developed exclusively by Coxreels for the spring-retractable line, retracts up to 80 percent slower than conventional reels. EZ-Coil® works unidirectionally without any increase to the amount of resistance when pulling out the hose, cord, or cable. When engaged upon recoil, the EZ-Coil controls the aggressive spring motor energy resulting in a reel that retracts at a safe and steady pace.

The EZ-Coil safety system enhances operator and workplace safety by significantly reducing retraction speeds. This feature acts as the ultimate control for hose, cord, and cable whip hazards and is guaranteed to increase productivity and safety in any conceivable application.

Coxreels® has remained steadfast and focused on manufacturing high quality professional grade hose, cord, and cable reels since 1923. Offering a full product line serving the industry in every channel and application, Coxreels® takes great pride in designing, building, and supporting all of their products right here in the U.S.A.

For more information, visit www.coxreels.com.

By Coxreels Staff

Even in this day and age, our fire service men and women still struggle with the issue of preventable firefighter accidents and injuries in the fire station. Fire station apparatus organization and safety is a primary concern in the design of fire service apparatus and equipment.

New safety technologies and advances are available that can significantly reduce the potential for operator injury and accidents related to fire service apparatus and equipment failures or shortcomings. It is important to understand and explore the technologies and innovations available today. We must also consider the best practices that can be implemented to improve firefighter safety, thereby reducing the potential for injury and even death in the workplace.

Coxreels, located in Tempe, Arizona, strives to raise awareness for the need of hose and cord reels in fire stations. The inclusion of Coxreels’ products in fire stations will provide for increased safety and organizational functionality.

Coxreels manufacturers a complete line of products designed specifically for the fire industry. Among these products are electrical cord reels to power fire rescue vehicles. Specifically, fire trucks need to be fully charged in order to operate the lights and sirens on the vehicles. The electrical cord reels can be mounted on the ceiling of the fire house so that they are not a tripping hazard for personnel in the event of an emergency.

Fire stations and apparatus also benefit from the Coxreels’ air hose reels. The primary application for this reel in the fire station is for replenishing the air in the tires for emergency vehicles. If the fire truck tires are underinflated, they can be involved in accidents. The ability to properly fill the truck tires on the fire vehicles will prevent unnecessary accidents and ensure that each fire service man and woman is able to return to his/her family safely at the end of each shift. Coxreels’ spring driven air hose reels are also designed to clean out the inside of the trucks to remove any carcinogens and dirt inside the vehicles. These spring-driven hose reels will undoubtedly be used each in every day in the fire station.

The spring-driven reels can be equipped with the Coxreels EZ-Coil® patented safety system. Engineered and developed exclusively by Coxreels, the EZ-Coil® safety system works unidirectionally without any increase to the amount of resistance when pulling out the hose, cord, or cable. But, when engaged upon recoil, it controls the aggressive spring motor energy resulting in a reel that retracts at a safe and steady pace. The EZ-Coil® safety system ultimately reduces retraction speeds by up to 80 percent, which enhances operator and workplace safety and protects costly equipment, vehicles, and property against potential whip hazards.

Coxreels’ hand crank water hose reel is also a necessity in fire stations. The water hose reels are used to clean out the bay floors in an effort to keep the station floors clean and safe. They are also used to wash fire trucks and equipment on a daily basis.

Overall, Coxreels hose, cord, and cable reels allow for more space and maximum efficiency in the fire station, increasing safety and organization. In the firefighting industry, safety is the utmost concern for the first responders and subsequent community members. When fire stations are equipped with Coxreels products and

By Chris Sheppard

A lot has changed in the nearly 15 years that I’ve been involved in the fire and rescue industry. From post 9/11 influxes of grant money to recession-driven station closures, the one constant has always been the advancement of firefighter safety. Modern personal protective equipment (PPE) features lighter, high-tech fabrics designed to shield better, yet allow for maximum movement and durability. There are also new safety and health protocols that require the gear to be washed after a run to remove possible contaminants and carcinogens. Obviously, today’s PPE represents a quantum leap in personal protection for the firefighter, but also presents a multitude of new care and storage issues for station designers.

The first things you need to do when retrofitting your PPE care and storage system is to develop a list of the upgrades that you feel are necessary, and of course, the budget figure that you’ll need to acquire them. Since this is not an article about obtaining grants, I’ll leave the funding to experts in that field and focus on the cleaning, storage, and access of your gear.

Many older stations are already filled to capacity with more equipment and apparatus than they were ever intended to house. You need to look at the organization of not just the PPE, but all the surplus gear, hoses, SCBA, and tools to maximize your square footage. If you need to install a new industrial washer and dryer in a station that was built in 1950, where are you going to put them and what’s in that space right now? This equipment will also require building-code-approved electrical, gas, water, sewage, and ventilation systems, so it is recommended to hire professional licensed contractors. We wouldn’t want to be responding to an extra alarm fire at our own station, would we?

Ideally, you have a storage room right off the apparatus bay or an area in the back of the bay that can be converted into a PPE-only laundry. This will save the hassle and contamination risks of dragging soiled PPE through the living quarters. Take an inventory of everything in the room and place a level of importance on it—surplus hose, air cylinders, and backboards rate higher than Christmas lights! You want to reduce as much of the accumulated clutter as possible and prioritize the valuable gear for long term storage. There are now a great many options for specialized surplus gear storage that can get it off the floor and organized so that you can convert that coveted floor space. Choosing a modular system that was designed to stand up to the rugged demands of the Fire Service over a big box store product made for residential use will pay dividends for years to come. I know many of you are saying “Lots of our guys work in the trades, they could just build something for less money.” Maybe, but unlikely when you consider the cost of materials, labor, time, and insurance liability. 

Specifying the washing and extracting machines is not difficult, since there are many fine manufacturers marketing their equipment specifically to fire departments. A great deal depends on the capacity you need based on your station size and the number of runs you handle per year. This goes the same for drying units, which include traditional tumble dry style and newer drying cabinets. Some PPE manufacturers specify drying cabinets for their brands incorporating the latest technology materials, so it is advisable to check with your supplier before ordering a drying system. Once you have made your decisions, download the man

MSA Cairns® 1010/1044 fire helmets with new impact cap offers new features.

Features include:

• Defender® Visor provides upgrade hardware built right in for significant time and money savings. Retractable eyewear system stows neatly, cleanly, securely inside helmet.
• Soft Goods are simple to replace, remove or launder. PBI/Kevlar or blood borne pathogen materials and under chin extension are also available for earlaps.

• Helmet Shell flexes with impact to absorb energy, with lower profile than many competitive helmets.
• Unique Shell Release System (SRS) helps to ensure that impact cap stays on your head if helmet shell is dislodged. Exclusive headband interface provides easy adjustment to fit a variety of SCBA. Standard six-point configuration.

For more information, visit www.msasafety.com.

Little Giant Ladder Systems®, (www.littlegiantladders.com), the industry leader in ladder safety innovations, unveiled at the FDIC International Conference, the largest gathering of fire professionals worldwide, the patent pending Little Giant Overhaul Firefighter’s Ladder System containing features specifically engineered to address the hazards firefighters face everyday. 

Designed by firefighters for firefighters, the Overhaul™ Ladder System is introduced to combat the challenging conditions present during overhaul, the firefighting process to contain areas that could cause a fire to spread or a building to tumble once the active fire has been extinguished.

“As a former Chief of FDNY R&D, this ladder offers more versatility than anything I have ever seen,” said Robert Keys. “The Overhaul is the biggest innovation in ladder design in my 30-year firefighting career! Climbing up a straight ladder from an uneven surface without chocking or blocks is so much safer when using the Little Giant Ratchet Levelers.  It can fit in an elevator and give firefighters access to a penthouse cockloft. Just unbelievable.”

“During the overhaul process, firefighters have traditionally used long ladders that are awkward and heavy to access dangerous parts of a structure,” said Art Wing, Chairman and President of Little Giant Ladder Systems. “When minutes count, these difficult-to-maneuver ladders add unnecessarily strain and can put lives at risk. The new Overhaul Ladder System reduces fatigue because it is much lighter and easier to maneuver, allowing firefighters to reserve their strength for saving lives.”

At just 4 feet 7 inches tall when retracted, the Overhaul ladder actually extends to 17 feet, but is compact enough to carry into an elevator, up a flight of stairs, or around tight corners. The large solid aluminum carrying handle makes it easy to grip, even while wearing firefighting gloves. Its heavy-duty caster wheels enable quick and easy transport, because in firefighting, every second counts.  

“There is a deep sense of brotherhood and sisterhood that exists in the firefighting community; people’s lives depend on it,” said Captain Aaron Ernsberger of the Phoenix Fire Department.  “As safety professionals, anytime we can engage with a product that truly makes a difference it’s a big, big deal. Little Giant’s Overhaul ladder is that type of product. It’s a game changer when it comes to how we do work around the country. It solves so many problems universal to all firefighting professionals, and enables us to work faster, safer, and more effectively than ever before.”

In addition to easy transport and easy carrying, the Overhaul ladder system also features the following innovations to help firefighters be successful:

1. Ratchet Levelers – Specifically designed for easy operation while wearing heavy firefighting gloves and bunker boots, Ratchet Levelers are ideal for workin