Courageous Kids Climbing unveiled their new fire helmet at their recent climbing event for people with special needs in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Local first responders come out to support the free events, seizing the chance to enhance their knowledge in regards to working with people with special needs. In an effort to lessen the participants' fears of people in uniform, firefighters take the kids out to the fire engine for a private tour.
However, concerns were expressed about the kids possibly becoming sick as the result of exposure to the products of combustion on the turnout gear that the firefighters would let the kids try on. An old turnout coat and helmet was cleaned up and provided to Courageous Kids Climbing by a couple of California firefighters.
As part of a collaborative initiated by Firehouse Magazine, MSA Safety recently provided Courageous Kids Climbing with a new Cairns fire helmet. This was a welcome addition to the new structural firefighter’s turnout coat that was contributed by MSA earlier this year. Both of these items replaced the older gear.
“This helmet is a very much appreciated addition to the cache of equipment that we travel with around the western US," Courageous Kids Climbing Executive Director Jeff Riechmann said. "It has always been a special treat for the kids to try on our clean firefighter gear. Now, with this new helmet, their experience will be even more rewarding.”
Sam D'Uva of MSA Safety added, “When Peter Matthews, Editor in Chief of Firehouse Magazine, contacted us about possibly supporting Courageous Kids Climbing with a new fire helmet, we didn’t even hesitate. We stand behind our brand promise of ‘When you go in, we go in with you,’ and are proud to support our communities and organizations like Courageous Kids Climbing.”
“At Firehouse Magazine, we have a great appreciation for the efforts that have been made in recent years to reduce the exposure of firefighters to the hazardous substances that may be found on a firefighter’s turnout gear," Matthews said. "We understand that many of the kids that Courageous Kids Climbing works with have unique medical issues that could make the child especially sensitive to these same hazardous substances. At the same time, since the early days of Firehouse Magazine, we have continually recognized the work of the fire service in serving their communities, not related to fire suppression. This was an opportunity for us not to just recognize community service, but to play a part in community service."
Courageous Kids Climbing provides free opportunities for children between the ages of 3 months and 103 years with special needs, physical or developmental, at events held in Idaho, Washington, California, Nevada and Arizona. For more information, contact Riechmann at [email protected].
