Personal Hygiene for a 24 Hour Shift

[tajm611]

Nope ,,,, When the station was built there was a single paid firefighter on duty and no parish medic crew, so just a small, single stall shower was installed in a very small space as that was the only area available.

A multiple stall shower is in the plan if we ever build a new, larger station.

What do you plan on doing in there that requires more room than a normal, single person shower? There should only be one of you in a stall.

[Trkco1]

Does someone who is sick enough to call an ambulance really care how you look or smell??? In 38 years of doing this, I don't know of any complaints about how I look or smell when on a call. I have never had a complaint about how I look or smell while in my turnouts and scba fighting a fire either.

You must have never worked with anyone that smells like a farm animal.

[LaFireEducator]

Does someone who is sick enough to call an ambulance really care how you look or smell??? In 38 years of doing this, I don't know of any complaints about how I look or smell when on a call. I have never had a complaint about how I look or smell while in my turnouts and scba fighting a fire either.

Generally agree.

However, when I was working 24's for a private ambulance company there was an expectation by the management that personnel would take a shower at least once during the shift, preferably in the early evening if run volume permitted. Part of the reason was that since part of waht we did was non-emergent response and transport with much more interaction with family and nursing home staff.

On avearge each crew did 15-20 runs per shift.

[LaFireEducator]

What do you plan on doing in there that requires more room than a normal, single person shower? There should only be one of you in a stall.

..As compared to a larger multi-person shower room.

Ya know, this is getting old fast.

[FWDbuff]

Ya know, this is getting old fast.

Take away your son's computer then, he's the one who brought it up.

[LaFireEducator]

Take away your son's computer then, he's the one who brought it up.

You have absolutly no idea how funny that comment is .... Honestly, it really is.

[slackjawedyokel]

uh-oh - you and me agree on something.

[BoxAlarm187]

uh-oh - you and me agree on something.

And me as well....

[Wolfn]

I have a question; what are the rules on having facial hair when firefighting?

[MidazoWHAM!]

I have a question; what are the rules on having facial hair when firefighting?

That will depend on your department, but i dont know of too many departments that allow facial hair greater than a moustache. Beards interfere with the seal of your facepiece.

[Wolfn]

That will depend on your department, but i dont know of too many departments that allow facial hair greater than a moustache. Beards interfere with the seal of your facepiece.

What if it's a very short beard or goatee? For example, this is a picture of me and my dog and I haven't shaved in about four months. As you can see, it's most peachfuzz. I agree that I will have to ask the department I plan to work for, but my facial hair can't grow any longer than this even if I tried (I'm half Native American and Indians can't grow beards)

[DeputyMarshal]

What if it's a very short beard or goatee?

No facial hair at the SCBA mask seal whatsoever. Not permitted by OSHA nor any SCBA manufacturer.

Structural Firefighters don't wear beards. Period.

[fire49]

What if it's a very short beard or goatee? For example, this is a picture of me and my dog and I haven't shaved in about four months. As you can see, it's most peachfuzz. I agree that I will have to ask the department I plan to work for, but my facial hair can't grow any longer than this even if I tried (I'm half Native American and Indians can't grow beards) Attachment 22250

take you are not on a paid department???

Do you plan on going to an interview with the facial hair?????

[Wolfn]

take you are not on a paid department???

Do you plan on going to an interview with the facial hair?????

I'm not a firefighter yet, which is why I'm asking.

[legos.8ty7]

word of advice - never show up to an interview with a beard/goatee. trust me, i wish we could have them, id grow mine back in a minute. my dept is really relax with facial hair, couple days growth isnt a big deal, but im in a unique dept so its different from city/county depts.

volunteer/POC depts, you might be able to get away with it, i know guys with facial hair that might as well be full-timers with the hours they put in. but you just getting into fire, i would highly suggest, dont show to anything fire-related with facial hair. you dont want to be "that guy".

[tajm611]

A stupid looking goatee or a job.

Pick one.

[Wolfn]

word of advice - never show up to an interview with a beard/goatee. trust me, i wish we could have them, id grow mine back in a minute. my dept is really relax with facial hair, couple days growth isnt a big deal, but im in a unique dept so its different from city/county depts.

volunteer/POC depts, you might be able to get away with it, i know guys with facial hair that might as well be full-timers with the hours they put in. but you just getting into fire, i would highly suggest, dont show to anything fire-related with facial hair. you dont want to be "that guy".

Yeah, I guess I could do that. Personally, I like having facial hair because it makes me look older and more masculine (I hope), but I can always shave it if necessary.

[legos.8ty7]

as funny as it sounds, "makes me look older and more masculine", i completely understand. appearance is part of the public perception. if im clean shaved and my hair is cut short, i look way too young and i hear it from my crew and patients (besides the fact im not a big guy).... which is why my hair is/going to be longer and i rock a soulpatch. but thats how my dept is, which is something you need to figure out.

[slackjawedyokel]

How bout a new movement for the fire service -everbodygoeshomesmellingsweet ?

[Wolfn]

I have a question: what are the rules about long hair while firefighting?

I currently shave my head but it leaves me with ingrown hairs and razor bumps on the back of my head and it looks disgusting. So my goal was to start growing my hair long at the start of the fall semester in a few weeks. However, as I'm concentrating on firefighting, I'm wondering how practical long hair would be or if it's allowed at all. My original goal was to do a ponytail, but I'm wondering if cornrows would keep my long hair neat and out of the way while firefighting.

Thoughts?