BY ALAN M. PETRILLO
Fire departments and ambulance agencies have multiple choices in the seating that carries firefighters and medics to emergency calls. No matter what the seating location is on the rig, fire and EMS seat manufacturers have made great efforts in designing and producing seating that provides for both the safety and comfort of emergency responders.
Paul Bostrom, president and chief executive officer for H.O. Bostrom Co. Inc., says that in the fire market, Bostrom’s most popular seats include the Tanker self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) seat and Sierra driver seat. “We provide the Tanker 500, 400, and 300 series SCBA seats,” Bostrom says. “The Tanker 550 SCBA seat integrates our patented RiteHite adjustable-height seat belt that features adjustable shoulder height, enhancing safety and comfort during travel. Also, we are the only seat manufacturer producing our own SCBA brackets. Our SecureAll SCBA locking system is compatible with all major SCBA bottles.”
Bostrom continues, “Our Sierra EX8 driver seat has a rugged powder-painted steel frame for durability, complemented by integrated seat springs and high-density foam to maximize comfort. The Sierra 500 EX8 includes the RiteHite adjustable seat belt and an 8-way electric power adjustment.” Bostrom also offers Res-Q-Back wall-mounted seats and specialized options such as the fully reclining Sentinel and the air suspension Defender seat.
Bostrom says his company’s ZipClean seats provide fire departments with a method to minimize exposure to cancer-causing substances by up to 85%. “ZipClean seats feature vinyl-backed Durawear seat covers that can be easily zipped off, washed with ordinary soap and water, and air dried,” he says. “Additionally, the foam is treated with our proprietary FoamBlock, a protective barrier that helps reduce the absorption of carcinogenic off-gases from fires.”
1 The Tanker 500 SCBA series of seats is one of H.O. Bostrom’s most popular models for use in fire apparatus. (Photos 1-2 courtesy of H.O. Bostrom Co. Inc.)
2 H.O. Bostrom’s Guardian seat features a four-point seat belt with four retractors and includes an integrated child seat and an infant carrier.
3 USSC makes the Valor SCBA crew seat with antimicrobial upholstery, magnetic SCBA shoulder straps, and IMMI’s Ready Reach extended belt buckle access and strap mounts. (Photos 3-4 courtesy of United Safety & Survivability.)
4 The Valor EMS seat has a four-point, four-retractor seat belt.
5 IMMI developed MBrace in partnership with REV Ambulance Group. MBrace deploys an air bag around the shoulders, neck, and head of the wearer in the event of a collision. (Photos 5-6 courtesy of IMMI.)
6 The SmartDock SCBA retaining bracket, made by IMMI.
For the