While structural helmets have long been the stalwart of firefighter personal issue PPE, there is a notable discrepancy between the frequency of structural firefighting operations and the necessity for full structural helmets. With approximately 8% of callouts defined as 'structural', it seems logical that a lighter-weight, more practical solution is long overdue. Our PAB Rescue/Wildfire helmets were designed and engineered to make outdoor firefighting and rescue more comfortable and less restrictive, making them perfect for line and height work.
More and more fire services across the UK are reassessing the issue of traditional structural helmets as personal gear as standard. These decisions are being made in the light of real-world safety, cost-effectiveness, and decontamination issues.
Safety: compact firefighting helmets, like the PAB range from Vimpex, are manufactured from lightweight yet robust materials, such as high-impact thermoplastics and composite fibres, to achieve a delicate balance between protection and weight reduction. This material selection minimises wearer fatigue while upholding structural integrity against impact resistance and heat. For example, PAB helmets can withstand extreme temperatures up to 1,000ºC in a ten-second flash over flames or long-term temperature resistance to radiant heat tested to 14 kW/m2. The impact resistance of these compact helmets is equally impressive. Equipped with innovative impact mitigation systems, PAB helmets effectively dissipate and absorb kinetic energy, reducing the risk of head injuries with advanced shock-absorbing liners and cradle suspension systems to enhance wearer comfort and provide superior protection against mechanical impact.
PAB helmets from Vimpex can integrate communication and alert systems for effective coordination and situational awareness during firefighting operations with real-time communication between team members and incident command.
Decontamination Protocols: Beyond technical innovations, the transition to compact, second issue helmets addresses critical health considerations. The latest guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) on firefighter PPE decontamination acknowledges the elevated risk of cancer among firefighters due to exposure to carcinogens. In 2022, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a World Health Organization body, identified firefighting as a 'cancer risk occupation' due to the cocktail of carcinogens released in almost all fires. To mitigate this risk, effective cleaning and decontamination processes for turnout gear, clothing, and equipment are imperative in safeguarding firefighters from increased cancer, lung, vascular, and heart disease risks.
With the likelihood of more frequent decontamination of structural fire helmets, issuing a second rescue helmet for non-structural use may be a natural progression.