4 Reasons Why Firefighter Helmets Are Made of Leather

The most critical body part that a firefighter always protects is their head. Firefighters wear helmets to prevent concussions or knockouts from falling debris. And many of their helmets are leather. Here are some reasons why firefighter helmets are made of leather.

Absorb Heat

Firefighters need to protect their heads, and an effective type of hat to wear is a leather one. A firefighter entering a hot zone can cover their heads well because leather absorbs heat from fallen debris.

Leather plays a considerable role in guarding the wearer’s head against exposure to heat. Even when a firefighter stays in excruciatingly hot areas for a long time, they won’t overheat or pass out.

Lightweight and Comfortable

You may have heard that leather’s heavy, but that’s not always the case. Leather helmets are so light that many firefighters forget they’re wearing them. The helmet becomes more comfortable to wear around the department during the day, as it doesn’t weigh them down.

On top of being lightweight, it sits comfortably because leather can mold around the wearer’s head without causing discomfort.

Easy To Clean

Leather’s an accessible material to clean. Many people may not know this, but one of the easiest pieces of fire equipment to clean is a leather helmet.

After a firefighter finishes wearing a helmet, all they need to do is wash it down with water and soap. Then, they can let the helmet air dry. It’ll return to its former condition through this simple process.

Leather Doesn’t Melt

Leather is a great material, and one of its best features is that it doesn’t melt. When leather catches on fire, it can put itself out when sprayed with a unique solution. Once it catches on fire, the helmet doesn’t burn or melt.

Leather helmets are a crucial part of a firefighter’s required equipment. Firefighters do their best to protect their most vital body parts during every mission.

As you read about the reasons why firefighter helmets are made of leather, you start to understand more of the kind of thought that goes into crafting equipment for protection. Even if you’re not interested in being a firefighter, you can still have fun learning about the equipment that front liners use to protect themselves.