I was published in Firehouse Magazine!

There has been an ongoing issue in Firehouse Magazine when it comes to seatbelts in the cabs of fire engines and trucks. It's so damn hard to put seatbelts on when you already have the thick bunker gear and airpack on, nevermind the excitement which makes it easy to forget even the best intentioned.

I wrote Firehouse an article about my idea. All Scott Pak's, and other SCBA, are held in the jumpseat by a round bracket that makes it easy for firemen to lean forward and pop the pack out once it's strapped on their arms and waste. Yes, I say the pack is already strapped on. So why, might one ask, are we looking towards yet a 4th belt to pass over a firefighter's body, to act as restraint?


What if the SCBA's harness was actually held to that bracket? Then yes, the firefighter too would be held in restraint to the seat. Problem is, we need to get up and out, and we need to do this fast. So the easy suggestion I had was to position a quick-release button or lever right between your legs on the seat. When activated, just like a seatbelt, the SCBA's bracket would release from the seat and the Firefighter could stand up and fight another day.

Thanks to firehouse for posting this idea of mine and I hope I've inspired someone to maybe take it a step further and get it into production.