Exploration of Firefighter Bunker Gear Part 2: Assessing the Needs of the Female Firefighter

Volume 8, Issue 2, Summer2013

Lynn M Boorady, Associate Professor Shu-Hwa Lin, Associate Professor Fashion and Textile Technology Department of Family and Consumer Department, State University of New York Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa Buffalo State Eunjoo Cho, Lecturer, Jessica Barker, Assistant Professor Department of Apparel, Educational Studies Department of Apparel, Educational Studies and Hospitality Management and Hospitality Management Iowa State University Iowa State University Susan P. Ashdown, Professor Young-A Lee, Assistant Professor Department of Fiber Science & Apparel Department of Apparel, Educational Studies Design, Cornell University and Hospitality Management Iowa State University

ABSTRACT

Female firefighters are a minority in their workplace yet also need the same protective equipment as their male counterparts. This research focused on the problems with their bunker gear that female firefighters themselves have identified. Focus groups were held in around the country and the comments made by female firefighters were analyzed. Data were organized by identifying the most common problems areas. Five gear factors (i.e. garment design features, sizing, fit, mobility, and fabrication) are discussed within two main constructs; function and comfort. Suggestions on improving bunker gear for female firefighters include altering the fit and sizing, as well as changing the location of pockets and enhancing the functionality of the suspenders.

Keywords: firefighter, protective clothing, sizing

INTRODUCTION conducted of 675 firefighters in 48 states, approximately half of which were female. There are more than 1.1 million Follow up interviews were conducted with firefighters in the United States, of which 175 women either individually or in focus approximately 800,000 are volunteers groups. Problems with ill-fitting equipment (United States Fire Administration, 2012). were reported by 79.7% of the women from Among the 342,000 career firefighters in the this study, nearly four times higher than the United States today, the United States 20.9% reported by men (Hulett, Bendick, Department of Labor (2010) reports there Thomas & Moccio, 2008). are slightly more than 12,000 (3.6%) women. In 2008, a questionnaire study was Article Designation: Refereed 1 JTATM Volume 8, Issue 2, Summer 2013

Research of protective clothing for symbolic (self-esteem, confidence and group firefighters is ongoing, yet there have been membership) among others. The most few studies focused on female firefighters. important step in this process is to acquire Standards exist for fabric performance, detailed knowledge of the user, their design aspects of the garment (e. g., location capacity and limitations, problems, wishes of reflective tape) and performance of and needs (Rosenblad-Wallin, 1985). associated equipment, such as helmets, Therefore an extensive literature review, hoods, gloves and boots. The National Fire focus group interviews with female Protection Association (NFPA) publishes firefighters, and in-depth analysis to identify required standards for structural firefighting critical areas needing improvement were (NFPA, 2007). Standards specific to bunker completed. gear can be found in NFPA publication 1971. Firefighters need to be comfortable in BACKGROUND a garment that is fully functional so that they Prior to 1989, firefighters wore long can perform their duties without additional coats and hip boots for protection (LaBar, risk or worry, yet no study has focused on 1997). However as fires became more female user perceptions of and problems dangerous firefighters needed to be more with their gear. As first responders to an aggressive (LaBar, 1997). Bunker gear, a emergency situation, their gear is critical coat and pants combination, was developed and their protection is paramount. for better protection. The transition to The purpose of this study was to combination bunker gear was slow, with the evaluate bunker gear currently worn by last department (Chicago, IL) adopting it in female firefighters and determine areas 2006 (Dudek, 2006). needing improvement, as exploration for Female firefighters, with few further design development. Firefighters exceptions, currently wear bunker gear need protection from multiple hazards, and designed and sized for men. Expecting this perform a variety of job functions. Their gear to fit women is unrealistic due to clothing systems must protect from thermal sexually dimorphic body proportions. Eiser and chemical hazards, without affecting (1988) states that there is an ongoing need to their mobility or work performance. develop protective equipment to ensure Clothing systems must be compatible with proper fit and comfort and that safety issues other equipment, such as helmets, masks, become more hazardous when the clothing gloves and footwear. Provisions must be is too loose or ill-fitting. made for additional equipment that the Women firefighters are firefighter might carry, such as an axe, underrepresented even in large fire oxygen tank, ladder or hose. Resolving these departments. As recent as 2005, Garden complex issues for the firefighting Grove, CA with a population of almost community requires knowledge of current 175,000 residents had no female firefighters equipment and garment performance, on their force (Hulett, et. al., 2008). In 2012, current fit and safety issues, design analysis New York City had 10,000 firefighters and of the current garment, prototype only 28 of them are female (Gardiner, development, testing, design and redesign in 2012). Most of the research on women in the order to find the optimal system. field of firefighting focuses on their In this research Rosenblad-Wallin’s physicality, and lack of acceptance in a male (1985) user-oriented approach to functional dominated field. Only three studies were clothing design is employed, beginning with found addressing female firefighters and analysis of the demands that the product their gear specifically: Hulett, et al. (2008), (clothing) must meet in the use-situation as Schuster (2000) and Chetkovich, (1997). described by the person who uses (wears) Hulett et. al (2008) surveyed 114 the protective clothing. These demands can departments nationwide and held in-depth be functional (protection and comfort) or

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interviews with 175 female firefighters to 32 men within SizeUSA with waist determine their acceptance in the field. One circumferences between 27.5 inches and of the issues they found was a lack of 28.49 inches had hip variations of only 5.08 support to purchase female-specific inches. protective gear even when available on the In the study by Gordon (1984), it market. was found that female body dimensions Schuster (2000) stated that the lack must be considered in the sizing and fit of of appropriately sized protective equipment Army field uniforms. U.S. Army women is a source of stress for the smaller frames of wore field uniforms designed for male the female firefighters. Indeed, Chetkovich dimensions but scaled down for the women. (1997) states that “firefighting gear and The result was unsatisfactory fit for the equipment (are) designed for a single sex women. Therefore a new sizing system was work force” and “ill-fitting uniforms, developed to fit the needs for both gloves, boots and masks continue to make populations. the work not only more uncomfortable but more difficult and dangerous” (p. 176). METHOD Gender specific bunker gear was available Semi-structured focus group by 1997, however departments even now are interviews were conducted to capture user hesitant to purchase the gear as “it would not perceptions and group dynamics (Krueger, fit anyone else if the female left the 1988). Qualitative methodologies, such as department” (Gary Woodson, personal focus group interviews, provide a deep communication). understanding of the problem by obtaining The physical differences between substantial data from participants (Esterberg, men and women have been well 2002). In focus group interviews, documented. In Tilley’s 2002 book on participants are often stimulated by the anthropometrics “The measures of a man comments of others and speak more in depth and a woman”, the 50th percentile male is about issues of concern to them, but are still 69.1” tall and weighs 172 lbs. Heights and able to relay their individual user weights for men (98th percentile) range from perceptions. 62.6” to 75.6” in height and from 100.3 lbs. to 244 pounds. A female at the 50th Focus Group Questions percentile is 64” tall and 137.5 lbs., and the th 98 percentile range is between 58.1” to Questions addressed the design of 69.8” in height and 93 to 217.6 lbs. in firefighter gear and required work actions of weight. the user. Participants were also asked to Data analysis from SizeUSA identify what they like and dislike about (Textile Clothing Technology Corporation, their current and past gear. Table 1 presents 2003), shows a difference in waist to hip the initial interview questions. An interview variation of men and women. A total of 359 protocol was followed to minimize women had waist circumferences between interviewer bias (Kvale, 1996). Additional 27.5 inches and 28.49 inches. Within this questions were asked when responses from subset, hip circumference varied from 32.91 the initial questions needed clarification or inches to 45.25 inches. This is a 12.34 inch expansion. difference in hip circumference when the waists varied only by one inch. By contrast,

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Table 1: Focus Group Questions ______

1. What do you like best about your gear? 2. What do you dislike most about your gear? 3. Can you tell me a real situation in which your gear kept you from moving in a way you needed to move? What were you doing at the time? 4. What would you change about your gear if you could? 5. What kind of adjustments do you make to your gear to improve your wearing experience? 6. What activities or movements are you doing when you make the adjustments? 7. Are there any features of your previous gear that you miss? 8. What elements of the ensemble as a whole are in need of the most improvement? 9. What would you like to see in your next set of bunker gear? ______

Procedure site. Additional fire stations were added to capture larger focus groups and additional Focus groups were conducted at urban stations. eight fire stations. Each focus group took between 60 and 90 minutes to complete. The Study Participants focus group sizes ranged from two to 11 The Human Subject Research board firefighters, with an average size of nine. All at each university granted approval. All participants were either full- or part-time participants were volunteers and gave both firefighters, career or volunteer. Each focus written and verbal consent. Focus group group session was audio recorded with meetings were conducted in four states. We participants’ written consent and transcribed purposively identified both career and for accuracy in data analysis. For some volunteer fire departments in urban and rural focus groups, it was not possible to hold the settings to ensure a broad representation of focus group interview without male the female firefighter population. Fire firefighters present. In these instances, any stations were selected based on the number comments made by male firefighters during of female firefighters employed at the the focus group interview were removed station. Table 2 shows the distribution of from the transcript before analysis. urban and rural, and the type of station Fire stations were chosen in two (career firefighters or volunteer) of each ways; first was proximity to the research focus group site, along with the number of sites and whether the researchers could women in each group. obtain approval to conduct the study at that

Table 2: Focus group sites and participant information Career/ Area of Total # of Total # of # of Female Site Urban/Rural City Pop. Volunteer Country Firefighters Participants Participants 1 Urban Career 40,000 Midwest 75 7 1 2 Urban Career 350,000 Midwest 850 8 2 3 Urban Career 27,500 Midwest 82 11 5 4 Urban Career 650,000 South 900 2 2 5 Urban Career 900,000 Pacific 1200 6 6 6 Rural Volunteer 17,300 Midwest 73 3 3 7 Urban Career 450,000 Midwest 250 3 3

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Data Analysis and Interpretation from the interpretive process, each of which encompasses a critical requirement of The female firefighters’ responses firefighter turnout gear: function and from focus group transcriptions were comfort. Data were organized by grouping analyzed by two researchers both participants’ comments related to each of the individually and cooperatively using an five primary factors of the gear and the two iterative part-to-whole interpretive analysis critical requirements, allowing researchers method (Spiggle, 1994). To ensure accurate to identify the most frequently repeated representation and interpretation of the data, comments for each area, and therefore the each transcript was read a minimum of three issues of greater concern to participants. times throughout the process. First, researchers worked independently to RESULTS identify prominent themes and ideas from the transcripts. Participants’ comments Gear Function centered around five primary gear factors, The two main constructs that emerged including design features, sizing, fit, from the data were function and comfort. mobility, and fabrication. Function, as we defined it, related to the The researchers then worked ability of firefighters to perform their job together to evaluate the comments grouped functions while wearing their gear. This within these themes and, through a back and conceptual area received the highest number forth process, examined transcripts and the of comments from participants and was the previously collected lists of recurring only area to receive comments related to themes to identify abstract constructs that each of the five gear factors (i.e., garment emerged from the initial categories. These design features, sizing, fit, mobility, and constructs represented common issues and fabrication). See Figure 1. recurring themes across all the study responses. Two major constructs evolved

15 Comfort Function 10

0 Garment Design Sizing Fit Fabrication Mobility

Figure 1. Number of Comments by Category

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Garment Design design. The suspenders should hold the pants on the body in an optimal position and Of the five gear factors, are available in two configurations – A-style participants’ comments overwhelmingly or H-style. The A-style has a strap over focused on garment design features (Figure each shoulder, fastened on the left and right 1). The majority of remarks centered on front of the pants but joined in the back to design issues that females perceived were create a single fastener at center back. The more problematic for themselves than for H-style suspenders are separate in the back their male counterparts. (fastening on the left and right on both front Turnout gear normally has a variety and back of the pants) with a horizontal of pockets placed on the outside of both the strap to hold the straps on the shoulders. coat and pants to hold items such as Firefighters can purchase different sizes of hammers and flashlights that were needed suspenders in leather or webbing materials when firefighters enter a fire. Firefighters and most suspenders are able to be adjusted also store their gloves in pockets to be for length. available when donning their gear, and Female participants generally agreed return them to their pockets for storage that the placement of suspenders was not when removing their gear. appropriate for females. One participant Participants noted that pocket stated: They run right up over your boobs placement was often inconvenient for the (Site #6). Another participant agreed, It female figure. Large, bellows style pockets rubs, so I’ve had to wear like my little sports are often located on the side of the upper leg bra underneath (Site #7). The suspender or hip. Participants indicated that this was a placement also conflicted with the air pack poor location. One female recounted that her straps, further complicating the issue for hip pockets affected her ability to move females. through tight spaces or climb. When you’re using a sternum strap on I think the pockets are in strange your air pack, you have extra sort of places, too. Maybe it’s just a bunching going on in your top half woman’s hip consciousness, but that must be different for them [males] having all this stuff like right here because they’re configured differently. seems like a bad idea to me and on my … suspenders and all this end straps legs, too. I always just feel so totally and boobs… the whole thing unwieldy ….. You know, those heavy squishing together (Site #4). pockets and you’re trying to get up

into a truck. It’s like, ugh! Heave ho. Sizing And somebody push me, please (Site #7). Participants expressed great concern Participants also stated that the chest about the sizing and fit issues related to their placement of radio pockets on some gear is gear. For this study, comments that dealt inconvenient for females. with gear that was overall too large or too …you have so much by the time you small were considered a sizing issue, while put on your pack, by the time you have comments focused on more specific a flashlight hanging there, a pass proportions of the gear (e.g. pant waist is too device and stuff. So it’s kind of not in large, coat sleeves are too short) were the greatest place and maybe not for a grouped as fit issues. Equal numbers of girl (Site #6). comments related to the effects of sizing and The second most common issue for fit on firefighters’ function. female firefighters related to suspender

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The majority of participant comments too long (Sites #3, #4, #5), and they cinched revolved around the lack of female-specific their suspenders up higher to try to deal with gear for female firefighters. Few of the the excess length. participants indicated they had gear Female firefighters also stated that designed and sized for women. One the crotch on their pants was too low, either participant stated, Pants are too long and due to the pants not fitting properly or coats are too big in general. I feel like I am because the suspenders would stretch out wearing my dad’s, you’re a little kid…. over time, allowing the pants to drop lower you’re trying to fit into your dad’s coat and on their bodies. The low crotch posed one of trying to make the best of it. It’s just bunches the bigger issues for females, greatly of material everywhere (Site #3). Another affecting their ability to perform specific female firefighter said, So we just stick with tasks that involved squatting or stepping up. the guy’s clothing, even the pants. They One firefighter described the issue, Literally, think everybody has a waist this big around the crotch is like clear down almost to my and hips this wide. They’re terrible” (Site knees, so when you go to step up or do #7). One participant made the simple anything. And part of the problem is they statement, Wearing males’ gear is a fall, they fall down (Site #7). Another told problem (Site #5). how she couldn’t fully participate in a They also reported their suspenders training drill because of the low crotch. were too long, even when they adjusted Pants are real long and they are down. You them to the shortest length, and that they did know? And he said, you all drop to one not have gloves and boots that were knee and I couldn’t even. I couldn’t even adequately sized for their smaller hands and get my legs far enough from each other to feet. One volunteer firefighter was only go on a knee because the crotch was so low allowed a choice of male gear owned by the (Site #4). department. Consequently, her boots were much too large for her feet. It’s like the Mobility of Wearer second coming. Yeah, the boots will be left Firefighters must be able to move behind. Like if you’re climbing away, you’ll quickly into a wide variety of body lose a boot. I’ve had that happen plenty of positions. In the course of their job they times (Site #6). Another volunteer firefighter may climb a ladder or stairs, check for indicated that she struggled to find gloves to people under objects and reach overhead to purchase in smaller sizes. take down objects. Above all, they also Gloves have to be redone because must be able to leave the building quickly if they just always feel so huge and it’s, conditions are too dangerous. Wearing gear I mean, for me, one of the difficult that does not allow for mobility endangers things is actually finding the right the firefighter. size. …Almost everything is large, Firefighters related that their extra-large. And so, you know, it was mobility is reduced by the weight and bulk like lobster claws (Site #6). of the gear. One urban firefighter said, I

think it’s too bulky. Need to kind of do Fit something with that. The weight and the Female firefighters reported that bulkiness of it. You know, you walk around, their gear was generally too long to fit their you can’t, you can barely move (Site #2). bodies, even if the circumference Another participant recounted conversations measurements were correct. Participants with other firefighters about increased from two focus groups (Sites #5 and #7) weight of new gear. See the gear seems a lot indicated that the coat and coat sleeves were thicker. I know it’s not my imagination. That too long. Similarly, three focus group other people say it. And at first I didn’t know participants related that the pant legs were if it was stiffer, stiffer material or thicker.

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But other people will say, ‘Oh, yeah, I like Gear Fabrication my old gear. It wasn’t so heavy (Site #7). The material properties of turnout While participants noted that excess weight gear are problematic for female firefighters. and bulk would affect male firefighters’ The highest concern to study participants ability to move as well, they felt they were was the overall weight of the gear. Many at more of a disadvantage than their male shared the same sentiment expressed by one co-workers because they were not wearing urban firefighter: It would be nice someday gear that was properly designed and sized if they could come up with something that for their female bodies, causing greater would be a little lighter, yet still be effective problems. in protecting you (Site #7). In addition to the coat and pants, firefighters wear fire and Fabrication heat resistant boots, Nomex® hoods, face shields, a Self-Contained Breathing Participants related issues caused by Apparatus (SCBA), helmet and gloves. The the materials of their gear, such as difficulty total weight of this equipment is between 50 laundering the gear. Bunker gear requires and 70 pounds; when wet, this weight specific laundering methods to ensure it is increases. One female in our study described properly cleaned without diminishing the the difficulty of the additional weight from fire and thermal protection the gear wet gear for females wearing male gear. provides. Firefighters commented that the The suspenders are only there to keep gear is not only difficult to launder, but also your pants from falling like off; …. difficult to dry after laundering, or when So, when they get wet and they get soaked with perspiration or water after use. that added weight. So then what One participant described how the slow happens, you get shoulder aches. So drying time of her gear affected her. the things dig into your shoulder. (Site It doesn’t dry quickly. …. we were out #6) training and I got my pants wet. Well, Female firefighters in this study because we keep our pants down noted that because their gear is so absorbent around our boots, they’re always and has multiple layers of fabrics, they scrunched up. They don’t dry out. Or struggle to get it to dry between wearings. when you come back three days later, Their gear will develop a foul smell after it your gear is still wet and it stinks like has stayed wet for a few days that kitty litter. So my biggest complaint is participants noted bothered female it takes too long. And like in the firefighters more than male firefighters. wintertime, when your gear gets wet, Some participants reported that they you’re not dry and you have to go laundered their gear at home to try to dry it back out in wet gear and you become out or get rid of the smell. One participant a popsicle. You can’t move because said, You’re not supposed to hang it in the everything is frozen (Site #7). sun or dry it. But mine smelled real bad a

couple weeks ago. I was like I can’t take Wearer Comfort this. This is stinky (Site #4). The second conceptual area that emerged from the data was comfort, which Sizing received approximately 20% of the comments in our focus groups (Figure 1). Participants discussed how wearing Comfort, as it is defined here, relates to the gear sized for males affected their comfort. absence of discomfort while wearing their The majority of comments were about the gear. The female firefighters said that gear being too big overall, causing fabrication and sizing of the gear have the additional bulk beyond what they would biggest impact on comfort. experience with properly sized gear. They noted this additional bulk made them

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uncomfortable, particularly where it females to avoid having the straps cross bunched at joints or under the SCBA straps directly over the bust. on the shoulders and upper chest area. There is much ongoing research of protective clothing for firefighters, yet no DISCUSSION studies address sizing and fit of the garments, areas of critical concern for This study identified critical issues participants in this study. Few participants in female firefighters have with their gear that our study wore gear sized specifically for affects their ability to perform their job women, and those that were able to wear functions or hinders their comfort. Aspects female gear reported that the sizing affecting female firefighter function availability and fit were still problematic. included garment design features, sizing, fit, Female firefighters can purchase bunker mobility, and fabrication. Sizing and gear designed for women, however in the fabrication issues impacted the overall Hulett et. al. (2008) study 39.8% of female comfort of female firefighters. firefighters reported wearing male bunker The two greatest concerns related to gear. The main reason given for not garment design for female firefighters were purchasing this type of gear was “the simple pocket placement and suspender function. lack of departments’ responsiveness” (p. 8). Study participants found pocket location to This means that many departments will not be cumbersome and awkward. Bunker gear invest in female specific bunker gear for manufacturers generally let firefighters their female firefighters. Participants in our specify pocket placement on the right or left study faced this challenge. Some side of their body (for the thigh pockets, participants were unaware that female gear chest pocket or arm pockets) and the was available for purchase, while others firefighters may have some choice in the were told the fire department did not have placement of pockets when ordering new the resources to purchase personally-sized equipment. There is often choice of pocket gear. Female firefighters are often given a design (i.e. or whether the pocket has inside choice of gear currently owned by their divisions). However, from the comments department, generally not including any received, many firefighters are not given female specific gear. Fire departments must these choices. It may be more critical that be made aware of the greater challenges and fire departments allow females to customize impacts of firefighters wearing improperly pocket placement than males, since common sized and ill-fitting gear and strongly pocket locations caused specific frustration encouraged to ensure all firefighters are for the female firefighters in this study. provided good fitting gear. Many of the participants agreed that The most recent edition of the the suspenders stretched out quickly and National Fire Protection Association’s this, combined with the weight of the pants, structural firefighting standards includes caused the pants to hang too low on the required size increments for bunker gear body. Another issue was that the weight of labeled as NFPA compliant (NFPA, [2007], the pants was transferred to the suspenders Table 6.1.11, p. 24). It is not required that all instead of being partially supported at the sizes be offered by manufacturers to be waist. Female firefighters struggled to compliant, just that the size increments be perform their duties with this additional within or at the 2” tolerance level set forth weight hanging on their shoulders, along by the NFPA committee. Therefore, with the weight of the heavy SCBA unit. manufacturers who offer a limited range of Furthermore, participants felt the sizes, still meet the requirements of the configuration of suspenders was not NFPA standard. Standards do not include appropriate for the female figure. The information on proportions between suspender design should be modified for measurements. This standard could be more

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fully developed to address issues related to for the health and safety of firefighters that gear sized for females. they wear properly sized clothing. It is also important that The women in this study noted that manufacturers that do offer female specific one of the greatest hindrances to their gear reevaluate their fit to make mobility was caused by the low pant crotch. improvements to the fit of the gear by This impacted their ability to crawl through correcting the proportions of length to windows and buildings, get down on their width. Females in our study reported that knees, and climb ladders. Structural even when they could find gear correctly firefighters enter a building on their hand proportioned for their smaller waists and and knees or in a “duck walk” stance in larger hips, the length of sleeves and pant order to be under the smoke and see the legs was still too long. Pants designed for layout of the building. It is critical that they women are available; however, the only are able to crawl, kneel, and climb without control measurement is the hip. Therefore restriction caused by poorly fitting gear. the pants may be made in a larger hip to Study participants described waist ratio for the women but with no other frustration with keeping their gear clean and body proportions taken in to consideration, dry. Some participants reported laundering for example crotch length, fit remains a their gear at home. Laundering gear in the significant problem for study participants. home can expose firefighters and their Issues of fit and sizing reported in family to toxins and cause deterioration of this study extended beyond the protective protective materials used in the gear. coat and pants for most participants, to Women also struggled to dry their gear include other gear. Hulett et al. (2008) between wearings. Because the participants reported that 79.7% of women firefighter in are wearing gear that is already too big for their study reported problems with their them, they had more issues when the gear equipment. Within that total, gloves were was wet and heavy. Improving the drying the most problematic with 57.8% of the time of the coat and pants would greatly complaints, boots received 46.8%, then improve the female firefighters’ comfort and bunker coats (38.9%), helmets (28.4%) and function. breathing masks (25.6%). These findings are confirmed through our focus groups; CONCLUSION participants in our study also noted that Critical issues for female firefighters gloves and boots were most problematic for identified in this study are primarily caused them, specifically that these items were too by women wearing incorrectly sized gear. large and cumbersome. Female firefighters can purchase female Improvements in firefighter specific bunker gear, however most females protective clothing can decrease the number in our study reported they were still wearing of firefighters who die in the line of duty, male gear. Respondents discussed sizing but heat stress remains a major problem issues with gloves and boots, and fit issues, (Pye, 2006). According to the U.S. Fire such as the pants being too large in the waist Administration (2008), heart attacks caused or too long in the crotch. Participants also by heat stress are the leading cause of death reported female specific problems with the among firefighters. Wearing oversized design of the gear that negatively impact clothing adds to the weight and bulk of the their comfort, such as suspender placement garment requiring additional physical over the bust and pockets being awkwardly exertion, leading to additional heat stress placed on the hips and bust area. The gear is (Huck & McCullough, 1988). This also also heavy, weighing as much as 70 pounds impacts wearer mobility; females in our or more when wet, diminishing the ability of study described effects of excess bulk in the smaller framed women to move quickly, a gear which will increase metabolic heat necessity for firefighting. production when firefighting. It is critical

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Female firefighter gear should be region/new-york-fire-department-gains- sized specifically for female wearers. minority-and-female-applicants.html. Furthermore, female firefighters could 6. Gordon, C.C. (1984). Anthropometric benefit from fit adjustments to the bunker sizing and fit testing of a single pants to shorten the crotch and/or battledress uniform for U.S. Army men improvements in suspender function. and women. Natick Technical Paper To complete the Rosenblad-Wallin Number 2324. Natick, MA. (1985) method of functional product design, 7. Huck, J. & McCullough, E. A. (1988). observations of female firefighters in action Firefighter turnout clothing: are recommended along with collection of Physiological and subjective evaluation. ergonomic and anthropometric data on this Performance of Protective Clothing: population. It is recommended that sizing Second Symposium, ASTM STP 989, S. systems be developed specifically for female Z. Mandorf, R. Sager, and A. P. Nielsen, firefighters, based on anthropometric data Eds., American Society for Testing and obtained from the female firefighter Materials, Philadelphia. population. Development of lighter, more 8. Hulett, D.M., Bendick, Jr., M., Thomas, breathable fabrics for bunker gear is also S.Y. & Moccio, F. (2008). A National recommended to reduce bulk and improve Report Card of Women in Firefighting. drying time. It is recommended that Retrieved on February 2, 2010 from prototypes be developed and tested for www.i-women.org improved garment design features, such as 9. Krueger, R.A. (1988). Focus groups: A pocket and suspender placement. practical guide for applied research. Sage Publications, Newbury Park, CA. REFERENCES 10. Kvale, S. (1996). Inter-views. Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA. 1. Chetkovich, C.A. (1997). Real Heat: 11. LaBar, G. (1997). Firing up: Protective Gender and race in the urban fire clothing selection. Occupational department. Rutgers University Press, Hazards, 59(5), pp. 73-74. New Brunswick, NJ. 12. National Fire Protection Association. 2. Dudek, M. (2006, July 21). Chicago (2007). Standard 1971: Protective firefighters to get safer gear. Chicago Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting Tribune. Metro Section, p. 3. Retrieved and Proximity Fire Fighting. NFPA, on January 14, 2013 from Boston, MA. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1- 13. Pye, S. (2006). Firefighers at risk for 148468744.html. heat stress. Retrieved on March 17, 3. Eiser, D.N. (1988). Problems in personal 2008 from protective equipment selection. http://www.efilmgroup.com/Emergency Performance of Protective Clothing: -Responders-at-Risk-for-Heat- Second Symposium, ASTM STP 989, S. Stress.html. Z. Mandorf, R. Sager, and A. P. Nielsen, 14. Rosenblad-Wallin, E. (1985). User- Eds., Philadelphia: American Society oriented product development applied to for Testing and Materials. functional clothing design. Applied 4. Esterberg, K. G. (2002). Qualitative Ergonomics, 16(4), pp.279-287. methods in social research. McGraw- 15. Schuster, M.P. (2000). The physical and Hill, Boston. psychological stresses of women in 5. Gardiner, A. (2012, May 8). New York firefighting. Work, 15, pp. 77-82. City Fire Department Doubles Minority 16. Spiggle, S. (1994). Analysis and and Female applicants. New York Times. interpretation of qualitative data in Retrieved on January 14, 2013 from consumer research. Journal of http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/ny Consumer Research, 21, pp.491-503.

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17. Textile Clothing Technology http://www.usfa.fema.gov/statistics/esti Corporation. (2003). SizeUSA, mates/nfpa/index.shtm. Unpublished raw data. 20. United States Department of Labor, 18. Tilley, A.R., 2002. The measure of a Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2010) In man and woman. John Wiley & Sons, Labor Force Statistics from the Current New York. Population Survey, Table 11: Household 19. United States Fire Administration. Data Annual Averages. Retrieved on (2008). In Fire Statistics: Firefighters. February 21, 2012 from Retrieved February 21, 2012 from http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.pdf

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