Why do firefighters wear hearing protection?

We can't wear earplugs if we're crawling down a dark hallway looking for a missing person. We won't be able to hear them if they are crying out. We might not be able to hear critical radio traffic advising us to clear the building or change tactics. read more

Firefighters don't wear hearing protection unless they are working with tools that usually require it such as when using the"jaws of life". What most people see are firefighters using headsets on fire apparatus. This is a communication device. read more

For a while when I was a medic the law stated that not only were we not to wear hearing protection, but that we must also drive with a window down so we could hear -other- emergency vehicles and avoid collision. read more

On all the custom cab rigs (flat front, 'classic' fire truck) the engine is under the cab so the firefighters are sitting around it essentially. The headphone system has an intercom integrated into it so we can talk to each other. read more