If you’re in charge of purchasing firefighting equipment for your department, how do you determine which of the many sources of fire boots, fire helmets and other firefighting gear should receive your business? There are many different web sites and catalogs that sell firefighting equipment and some of the things to look for are the range of products the store offers, if the gear has been field tested and whether the employees are experienced and knowledgeable.
Range Of The Retailer’s Firefighting Equipment
Your department will most likely be purchasing large quantities of firefighting equipment throughout the years, so finding one source you can trust for everything will be convenient. It will be difficult to keep track of purchases if you need to buy fire boots from one source and fire helmets from another.
A store with an extensive selection will be able to provide clothing and other firefighting gear like gloves and eye protection, hoses, lights, sirens and all types of safety and rescue equipment. Creating a business relationship with one source means you know exactly where to go when it’s time to make a new purchase and you won’t have to spend hours researching online to find what your department needs.
Field Tested Firefighting Gear
Finding a store with a great selection of firefighting equipment isn’t necessarily useful if the items haven’t been tested and put through real-life situations. For instance, fire helmets may be up to safety standards, but if they’re not practical for field use, they may hinder rescue attempts or even cause a dangerous situation. Firefighting equipment is constantly changing and evolving, so it’s vital that any company providing gear stays up to date with the latest technology.
A company should also offer equipment that is appropriate for fire departments throughout the country. A fire department in the Southwest will likely have different needs than a department in the Northeast, simply because of the vast weather differences between the two areas.
Knowledgeable And Experienced Employees
Any business that depends on providing firefighting gear to fire departments should have employees that are experienced and knowledgeable in what types of items fire departments around the country need.
Employees and store management should be willing to listen to customer recommendations. Fire departments put their lives in the hands of the people designing and selling items like fire helmets and fire boots so it’s vital that companies selling firefighting gear listen to what their customers need.
If you’re in charge of purchasing equipment for your fire department, finding a one-stop shop for everything with the most current field tested firefighting gear and knowledgeable employees will make your job easy. With so many sources of firefighting equipment around the country, finding the one you know you can depend on means you won’t have to spend hours searching for the right equipment for your department.