Why Does a Firemen's Helmet Have A Big Brim?

Firemen's Helmet

The big brim is designed to shed water so it won’t run down the fireman’s neck when he’s fighting a fire.

Nothing causes quite so much excitement in our everyday lives as the wall of a fire-engine siren.  It screams a warning to people to get out of the way of a fire truck as it roars through the streets on its way to a fire.

A fireman works around lots of water when he’s fighting a fire.  He wears a large, sturdy helmet to protect his head from falling debris and to keep from being drenched by water spray.

The broad brim on his helmet turns up on the sides and down at the back.  It catches the water.

Then, the water runs down and off the big brim to the rear, instead of down the fireman’s neck.

On each helmet is a shield with the fireman’s number.  A fireman also wears a heavy canvas or rubber coat and thick rubber boots.  His coat and boots help keep him from getting cold and wet but they do more than this.

They help project him from burning embers and other hazards, too. – Dick Rogers