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Firesuit info: Friend of my Dad was severely burned, 3rd degree burns on 60 –70% of his body. Looked like one of those chickens you see in the deli at the grocery store. He lived went through hell with recovery, nurses scrub the dead skin off with a stiff brush after he soaked in a bath. It may not be the fire that burns your skin so much as the heat boils the sweat lying on your skin. Burns are a very serious injury; your skin protects your body from many infections, take care of it. Use fire resistant underwear and be sure it’s the good stuff; a T-shirt just won't get it done. Another item you have to take into consideration is whether you race on a ¼ mile with walls or a big ½ mile without walls. How long is it going to take the safety crew to get to me in an accident and will my safety gear hold up long enough? Safety precautions can prevent loss of work, income, sky-high medical bills, health problems rest of your life, and the loss of life. Burn scars can be damaged very easily causing cuts; you could loose your job and be unable to work or race again or spend much time in the sun. Find out the TPP - thermal protection penetration that is how long it takes for the heat to cause a 2nd degree burn on your skin
---------- Post added at 12:04 AM ---------- Previous post was Yesterday at 11:56 PM ----------
More: Your firesuit should be a loose fit but not to the point you like you have a full load in your pants. You want to be able to put your hands up without “hurting” yourself ok? Underwear will pull moisture away from your body thus reducing the chance of a burn and is more comfortable than a t-shirt I’ve seen so many drivers wear. Be sure and use a 1piece suit only a 2piece has a tendency to ride up in back exposing the body to fire and if your upside down with a fuel leak you don’t want that chance the alcohol will run inside your suit. A suit with an SFI - 5 rating (higher the number the better) suit should be loose, as air insulates but not to big. The SFI patch tells how long suit protects you from 2nd degree burns in a gas fire. NOTE 2ND DEGREE BURNS. Suit is torn send to the manufacturer for repair. Do not use anti-persperant, the body sweats to cool its self you can use it after races or ride in the back going home or in the racecar because you'll stink. Do not wear jewelry metal stays hot after heat source gone and can also cause a bad cut. Remove dentures or partials keep them in a plastic bag in the pocket of your fire suit in case you win and you're interviewed. Use coveralls if you work on your car if you get the suit too greasy and it will burn like a wick in oil lamp. Underwear can add as much as 6-7 seconds of protection in a fire. If you try on a suit wear it for a while, go through the motions of driving sitting, getting in and out of the car. Don’t buy a used suit unless it’s only been worn a few times. Suit should be a little baggy, as air will help insulate driver from fire. Suit should have fire proof sewing thread. Some dyes add to the effectiveness of a suit. Be sure there are no sharp or abrasive edges on racecar to damage your suit.
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