Everyone does it, and a lot of fire chiefs and officers do it. Often times, proper personal protective equipment is not worn while on scene. Here's some examples: the chief in his helmet and bunker coat standing next to the incident, going in and out of the smoke; volunteers or later arriving firefighters helping pull hose or working on the scene without gloves or helmets.

Hand injuries, lifting injuries, slips, trips and falls all make life as a firefighter very dangerous. You don't have to get burned or killed to effect the departments readiness. A firefighter with a cut on the hand, injured back or bruised knee from a fall is not 100 percent. Think about yourself, your family and fellow department members and keep a set of gloves handy. Be Safe.