Evacuation
Appendix 2 - Clothing For Evacuation and Sheltering in Place
Clothing should cover
the entire body and be made of non-synthetic material. Use natural fabrics,
such as cotton, heavy duty denim or pure wool.
Cotton undergarment, heavy denim pants, and a cotton long sleeve
shirt are preferred. Clothing
should fit comfortably, not tight or loose.
If polyester comes in contact with heat it will melt and attach to
the skin. Some synthetic
clothing will ignite at much lower temperature than cotton.
HEAD TO TOE
Example of wildland firefighting gear
Hat:
Cotton
or natural fiber brimmed hat (not straw) w/ chin strap. Wear a hard hat with
chin strap if available.
Eye Protection:
Sunglasses and/or goggles preferably
anti-fog, with side protection and a strap to wrap around the head
(for high wind and blowing embers).
Hair Protection:
Tie up long hair. Some fire
fighters put their extreme long hair in a bag attached to their shirt
collar.
Mask:
Smoke filtering mask made from cotton or wool such as a handkerchief
or scarf to wear over mouth and nose. Sensitive people may consider HEPA
face masks.
Shirt:
Collared
long sleeve shirt and is with a cotton tee shirt underneath
Pants:
Long pants made from pure wool or denim (preferably heavy weight with
a belt.
Socks:
Cotton or wool socks, long
and pulled over pant legs.
Shoes:
High top shoes or boots with Vibram type soles. (not soft or open
toe)
Gloves:
Leather gloves w/o
wide gauntlets to remove smoldering material.
Other items to
consider:
Thick, pure wool
blanket, large enough to cover a person completely when crouched or laying
down.
Water bottle or canteen
w/ carrying strap or looped on belt.
Drinking
water during any physical activity is very important and reduces fatigue,
small frequent drinks of water helps to prevent heat injuries. One may
consume up to a gallon of water when fighting fire. Drink before thirsty.
Remember if your
clothing catches fire to stop, drop, and roll
200 Litton Dr., Suite 310, Grass Valley, CA 95945