Are you a new firefighter trying to wrap your head around all the different tools? Read here to learn about the different firefighter tools and their uses.
Every career has industry jargon and common knowledge that people often don’t figure out until they’re a year or two into the job. Public safety––especially firefighting––is one of those career paths that has a lot of jargon and tools to know. For instance, if someone asks you to hand them the pig, they’re not talking about the farm animal. If you’re a new firefighter—or just interested in learning more about the industry—continue reading to learn the different firefighter tools and their uses.
Jaws of Life
These tools don’t look like much, but the jaws of life are staples in firehouses throughout the country. Firefighters often use the jaws of life when responding to serious car accidents where they must pry passengers out of the vehicles. The jaws of life mesh together two other common tools: spreaders and cutters. In fact, the jaws of life have up to 16,000 pounds in spreading force.
The pig and piglet
The pig or piglet are two tools that are easy to forget—that is, until you realize how useful they are. Essentially, the pig is like an axe, only it has a more evident point. Similarly, the piglet is just the smaller version of the pig. These are best-known for their ability to break something up, whether that’s a roof, a door, or drywall.
Hooks
Sometimes the best response while you’re in a burning building is to punch holes through drywall to improve ventilation. Hooks are one of the best tools for this—they’re long and sharp, and the hooks help with pulling extra drywall or insulation out of your way. Some hooks are also great for forcible entry responses.
Pro-bars
Last is the trusty old pro-bar. This tool is arguably one of the best for forcible entry, as it’s simple, reliable, and durable. You can pry open doors relatively easily using a pro-bar—in a worst-case scenario, you may need to bust out the pig.
In addition to high-quality firefighter hand tools and the jaws of life, many firefighters also use a range of everyday tools. For instance, firefighters commonly use power tools and saws as well. Whatever the case may be, new firefighters must understand the different firefighter tools and their uses.