Abstract
Fire fighter and other rescue personnel who have to use the radio harness to hold their radio often face a problem when the belt holding the radio and the mic starts swaying away from the body. This can create further problems as the personnel would be forced to use one of their hands to restrain the radio and it creates an issue of personnel safety. The Boston Leather Radio Strap is designed to hold the radio close to the body and save the personnel from such issues. This paper analysis the device to understand its benefits. The conclusion offered is that in spite of the higher acquisition costs, the Boston Leather Radio Strap should be recommended for use.
Why Boston Leather Radio Strap
According to a report by Associated Press (October 08, 2007), some 15 firefighters have died in the last year because some of the safety devices they used did not function properly. Also included in the report is the problem faced by firefighters when they are climbing ladders or dragging fire hoses into burning, smoke filled buildings. One of the main support systems in such events is communication with team members through radio. Firefighters have only two hands that they must use to hold the fire fighting equipment. While fighting fires and when the operator is not standing straight, the radio strap tend to sway this way and that and firefighters have to reach out with one hand to pull the radio close so that they can speak. When this is happening, one of their hands is otherwise engaged and there is a severe possibility that the operator would get injured while fighting the fire and risk his life. There is also the possibility that the swaying radio strap along with the radio may get entangled and trap the firefighter. In such cases, there is an urgent need to ensure that the firefighter is free from these problems. The Boston Leather Radio Strap helps to prevent the sway of the radio strap away from the body.
About the Boston Leather Radio Strap
The Boston Leather Radio Strap (Boston Leather, 2008) is a device that holds is the safety device that mates to a radio holder with rust free scissor snaps for easy removal. The radio holder device has to be purchased separately. The strap is available in heavy-duty leather of 1 1/4″ width and it is provided with a reflective backing for extra safety. The buckle locking is positive and allows clamping and removal easily. Shown below is an image of how the device appears.
There is another unit called the anti-sway strap that actually fits to the gear and stops the radio from swaying and swinging around. An image of the device is as shown below.
The length of the strap can be adjustable and for taller fire fighting personnel who are more than 6’1”, the item is manufactured in extra large size. The speaker microphone is attached to a leather loop so that it can be accessed easily. The strap can be fitted in over any of the shoulders. The buckles, hooks and eye bolts are made of high temperature resisting Nickel. The devices are lightweight and weigh less than 1 pound.
Survey of preferences for the belt.
A poll was done to assess the user acceptance of the device and among 100 fire fighting personnel. The personnel was asked for reasons as to why they would like to use the device. Among the 100 people polled, 67 people said that they liked the device while 20 said that they did not like the device. 13 people said that they had no comments about the device or that they did not care. The results of the survey are shown in the following graph.
As seen in the above figure, 67% of the respondents have agreed that the device is useful and would be ready to accept them. Among the reasons for liking, the respondents have suggested:
- Ease of caring for product
- Holds radio microphone in place
- Slides easily over turnout gear
- Keeps radio knobs reachable
- Keeps radios from falling on the floor
Disadvantages of the device
It is reported that the device costs between 40 to 50 USD and there is also an adjustment period that some of the people did not like.
Conclusions and Recommendations
The discussions in the paper have shown that the Boston Leather Radio Strap has many advantages as it can save personnel from injury and protect the radio from being damaged. There are also some benefits such as Ease of caring for product; Holds radio microphone in place; Slides easily over turnout gear; Keeps radio knobs reachable and Keeps radios from falling on the floor. The only issues is the cost of the strap that is about 40 – 50 USD. A survey showed that 67% of personnel liked the product while only 20% did not find it acceptable.
Considering the life and safety of the fire fighter that is irreplaceable and the cost of the radio that costs much more than the 40-50 USD of the strap, it is recommended that the Boston Leather Radio Strap be purchased and can become a part of the regular attire of the firefighter.
References
- Associated Press. 2008. Safety device may be linked to firefighter deaths. Web.
- Boston Leather. 2007. Firefighter’s Radio Strap.