WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Charleston firefighters get new safety equipment after memorial run

Charleston firefighters get new safety equipment after memorial run

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - On June 14, hundreds of runners participated in the Charleston Nine Memorial Run. Four months later, they saw the results of their efforts in four new RIP packs.

"RIP packs are Rapid Intervention Packs," said Bill Haigler, president of the Charleston Firefighters Association. "They are air bottles, masks and assorted tools to get firefighters out."

It's basically an air pack contained in a bag. If a firefighter is trapped, a hose gives him extra air.

"Fill his tank or we can swap his out completely and just leave the air pack that he has," said Haigler. "If he's too entangled, we can just get him out with the bag."

Each Rip Pack is equipped with an adapter. They could also help firefighters in James Island and Mount Pleasant.  

The first two Rip Packs were donated by Louis Mulkey's parents.

"It will help the fireman so much.  It is a very important piece of equipment that should be in every truck," said Ann Mulkey.

In order to find a trapped firefighter another device called the pack tracker is used.  The city now has six pack trackers, which are strategically placed through out the area.

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