By Scott M. Bruner
FireRescue1 Product Editor
The proper personal protective equipment can be the difference between life and death for a firefighter, and no one may be more aware of that fact than Frederick County, Md., Lieutenant Ricky Smith. During a routine training session, a 35-foot ladder came crashing down on the volunteer firefighter’s head – and his N6A Cairns Houston Helmet protected and saved his life.
Lt. Smith, a seven-year veteran of the Independent Hose Company, was doing ladder evolutions training on Jan. 5 when a sudden gust of wind caught the 28-foot ladder above him and sent it toppling down. That ladder then struck a 35-foot ladder above Lt. Smith and sent it toppling down onto the firefighter’s helmeted head.
“The wind caught that top ladder and they both came crashing down,” Lt. Smith said. “Because of the helmet, my head is fine, the only injury I have is where the ladder fell on my foot.”
Smith was taken to Frederick Memorial Hospital for treatment, but has been given a clean bill of health. The helmet, which protected him from serious injury, was the N6A Cairns Houston Helmet manufactured by Pittsburgh-based MSA Fire.
“It is the only handcrafted, leather helmet that meets NFPA certification,” Mark Deasy, communication director for MSA, said. “The combination of the treated leather shell and the internal impact cap allows the helmet to direct and absorb blows like the one Lt. Smith received.”
The N6A Cairns Houston is not only handcrafted but also hand-shaped, can take several days to create. The helmet comes equipped with either a silk-screened 6-inch front holder in the standard configuration or a carved brass eagle 6-inch front holder on the deluxe model. It is designed with an engineered impact cap that provides both advanced impact and thermal protection.
Lt. Smith feels fortunate for the extra protection it offered. What happens if he isn’t wearing his helmet?
“I wouldn’t be talking to you now,” Smith said.
MSAFire.com has been operating for more than 50 years and you can find them on the Web at http://www.msafire.com/.