Radio Harnesses for firefighters, also known as firefighter radio straps, have proven themselves to be extremely useful for firefighters. Many have come to know them as the New York style radio strap. There has been some debate as to where the radio strap actually originated, but the FDNY has seemed to get most of the credit through the years as being the forerunners of it’s use. Hence the popular name, New York Style Radio Strap.
None the less, the practicality of a fireman’s radio strap has proven itself time and time again. It is imperative that Fireground personnel have the ability to hear and broadcast communication in a clear, concise and timely manner. Firefighters that utilize a radio holster or radio harnesses are ultimately safer on the fireground due to improved communications.
What makes up a Firefighter Radio Strap System?
The complete system of a fireman’s radio harness is composed of 3 main parts. The first part is the radio case itself. It holds the radio in a cradle. There are several different versions of a radio holder that you have to choose from depending on your radio type and preference.
The second is the Radio Strap. The strap is usually attached to the radio case by scissor hooks, and the radio strap itself is slung over the firefighter’s body and worn on whichever side of their body that they prefer. The fireman’s radio strap has a buckle that allows the user to adjust the length of the radio strap to help determine how low the radio hangs at the side of the body. It also has two attachment points for the lapel mic to connect at a high-chest or high-shoulder position, depending on user preference.
The third part is the anti-sway strap. The anti-sway strap is utilized to prevent the fireman’s radio case and radio strap from swinging around and helps keep it stabilized at your side when you lean over. It simply connects to the radio case on one end and the other end connects to a belt loop or other desired location. This feature works great when leaning over and taking vital signs or picking up bags and equipment on medical aid calls.
The most commonly used and probably most popular material utilized in the Firefighter Radio Harness System is leather. There are some manufacturers that use ballistic nylon or cordura as well.
Fireground Communication Benefits
Study after study continues to cite communication as an integral part of firefighter safety and survival. Having a firefighter radio strap system may help improve communications while performing on the fireground. It is fast and convenient to slip the radio strap system over your shoulder and ensure you have a radio with you. Engineers pumping apparatus at an emergency scene have reported that it is much easier to hear what is occurring at the scene with a fireman’s radio strap in place despite the loud roar of the engine. Firefighters on the roof and those involved with interior ops have stated that having the lapel mic next to their ear connected to the radio strap, helps them hear the communication between Companies and Fireground Commanders much better than just shoving their radio into a pocket.
Radio Protection
The radio case for a radio strap provides excellent protection for many of the hand-held radios that fit inside of them. Fire Departments across the world pay top dollar for high-tech radio equipment for their personnel, only to fail to protect the item that is not only costly, but so critical to a firefighter’s safety.
Another form of radio protection comes from the lapel mic attachment point on the radio strap. These mics often slam to the ground and break. We’ve all seen the bungie cord affect from our lapel mic cord attachment. Any fire department radio tech can attest to the fact that a large part of the communication budget goes towards repairing broken lapel mics.
Many departments have realized the fiscal benefit to investing in radio straps for firefighters and thereby are realizing the longevity in their hand-held communications equipment.
Models and Types
The Firefighter Radio Strap and anti-sway are fairly standard. What mostly varies is the radio case section. Depending on what you need, the cases are broen into two types: Universal and Custom.
The universal style radio strap is designed to accommodate just about any radio style and manufacturer. The securing cords and straps are usually adjustable.
The other style is the custom case. These cases are often radio brand and or radio model specific. If this is what you desire, it is important to know your manufacturer and model. For example, the motorola 2500 or 5000 fits perfectly into a custom cut 5480RC radio holder by Boston Leather.
Options
The Fireman radio strap comes in two different sizes; a regular size, and an extra-long which is usually good for people over 6’4″. The radio strap and anti-sway strap can also come with reflective material sewn onto the leather.
The Firefighter Radio Strap has proven itself to be a valuable asset to a firefighter’s arsenal. It is widely used from the east coast to the west coast. Firefighters from the FDNY (New York Style Radio Strap), Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and San Jose have all found the excellent benefits to using the firefighter radio strap.
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