The fire service has always prided itself on attempting to be proactive versus reactive. So many issues are still being evaluated and trained on that sometimes it seems impossible to remember everything. One of the areas that we must continue to be proactive in the fire service is staging equipment for the prolonged incident. That is why the KrusePak was created.
The KrusePak is an innovative, patent pending piece of firefighting equipment, or essentially a transport sling, for SCBA air tanks and various small tools used in the fire service. Although it was originally created to assist specifically in high rise fires, the Krusepak has expanded its usage to residential, commercial, rural and industrial fires, extrication, water rescue, technical rescue, haz-mat and various other emergency operations. The Krusepak allows each firefighter the ability to carry two spare SCBA bottles and other various small tools completely hands free.
Depending on each individual’s strength, comfort and/or preference, it may be carried several ways – hung over your air pack, on your shoulder, or cross-body to distribute weight most evenly. All methods offer hands-free movement for easy spare bottle transport and increased safety for the firefighter. The KrusePak is highly durable, water resistant and boasts a handle, padded strap, grommets to attach various tools by use of carabineers and two pockets for small rescue tools such as wedges, wire cutters, window punches, etc. Additionally, the KrusePak allows for easy identification of “full” bottles vs “empty” bottles while at the fire scenes resource/staging areas and also identifies each department/companies bottles in a mutual aid situation.
High rise incidents are probably one of the most complex incidents we will face in the fire service. Carrying spare equipment to upper floors has always been a challenge. Placing two SCBA bottles in your KrusePak and carrying those bottles hands free will allow yourself to use the handrails if necessary when ascending the stairwell. Also, preloading your KrusePak pockets with chocks, spanner wrenches, sprinkler tongs or any other hand tools will make you more proactive if the need for those tools should arise.
Although the KrusePak was initially designed to carry spare bottles to replace the ones we utilize in our air packs, the KrusePak can also be utilized in incidents using air bags or air chisels. Carrying the bottles for these tools will also keep the bottles confined so they won’t roll around and also allows for quick deployment when the incident you may be using these tools are off the roadway and a distance from your apparatus. Again utilizing the grommets, and carrying your spare hose and regulator for your air bags or chisel will allow you to carry everything you need for this incident in one complete pack.
Haz-mat, technical rescue, rural fires, commercial/industrial fires and even residential house fires are all incidents where your apparatus can’t always be parked next to the incident. Hauling spare equipment to your incident, specifically spare SCBA bottles, is not easy and is sometimes not even being done. Utilizing the KrusePak will make your department more proactive by hauling your necessary equipment closer to the incident and staging that equipment ready for deployment or replenishment.
For more information, go to www.krusepak.com
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