Technology breakthroughs in clothing materials and design have benefited all of us, but perhaps none more so than first responders.
Burn injuries among firefighters have plummeted in the past decade. There’s just one problem: cases of heat stroke, exhaustion and cardiac arrest deaths have spiked upward because protective gear is much more insulated.
New research from Florida State University Assistant Professor Meredith McQuerry, an expert on protective clothing for first responders, aims to shape the design of that gear to maximize protection and minimize heat buildup.