- Hose strap
municipal firefighting equipment. [cite book|title=Annual Report of the Comptroller - City of Seattle, Washington|last=Seattle (Wash.). Comptroller's Office|date=1898-01-03|accessdate=2008-09-07|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=iWIWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA78&dq=%22hose+strap%22&lr=&as_brr=3|page=78]
While the terms may be used for a family of similar tools, they share a wide variety of established uses, including carrying un-charged
fire hose , opening doors, [cite book|title=Firefighting Principles & Practices|last=Clark|first=William E.|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=AbNrjbeYmgUC&pg=PA115&dq=%22hose+strap%22+firefighting&lr=&sig=ACfU3U2ApSeglv7btdZ-e9PWjnGKPCN3FA|isbn=0878149201|publisher=PennWell Books|date=1991|accessdate=2008-09-06|page=115] closing doors,cite book|title=Structural Firefighting: Strategy and Tactics|last=Klaene|first=Bernard J.|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=JpW0nuK2p64C&pg=PA158&dq=%22hose+strap%22+firefighting&lr=&sig=ACfU3U1Y88UdzDZYdgvt28X-xJxkRtuTWg|date=2007|isbn=0763751685|publisher=Jones & Bartlett |page=158|accessdate=2008-09-06] securing hoselines, [cite book|title=Fire Officer's Handbook of Tactics|last=Norman|first=John|page=65|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=hhsY_mL1H8YC&pg=PA65&dq=%22hose+strap%22+firefighting&lr=&sig=ACfU3U0SWEWY09hwBeBigpjg9aC44TEjcg|publisher=PennWell Books|date=1998|accessdate=2008-09-06|isbn=0912212721] dragging victims, [cite book|title=Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills Workbook|last=International Association of Fire Chiefs|page=99|publisher=Jones & Bartlett |date=2007|isbn=0763742597|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=wrqzggJS5BQC&pg=PT155&dq=%22hose+strap%22+firefighting&lr=&sig=ACfU3U0oH8MLV53-NWFQrFn74sNg2AX4rg#PPT96,M1|accessdate=2008-09-06] and even carrying boots. The use that gives the tool its name, however, is securing a charged hoseline, allowing a firefighter to better control and maneuver the line while flowing water. To use a hose strap in that manner, a firefighter secures the tool to the hoseline three to five feet behind the nozzle, using either the hook or agirth hitch , and loops the other end of the tool around his or her opposite side shoulder. [cite book|title=Fire Stream Management Handbook|last=Fornell|first=David P.|page=412|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=50Um1ijJCOYC&pg=RA3-PA402&dq=%22rope+hose+tool%22+firefighter&lr=&sig=ACfU3U1oBn2dOaoK4eE41LbUuhSro02oEQ#PRA3-PA412,M1|date=1991|publisher=PennWell Books|isbn=0878149279|accessdate=2008-09-06] Since the tool is attached several feet behind the firefighter, its use will not hinder a firefighter wearing aSelf-contained breathing apparatus . For larger attack lines, such as a 2½ inch (6 cm) hand line, second or third firefighters can use additional hose straps to secure the hose farther behind the nozzle operator, to provide additional leverage against the water pressure. Since multiple hose straps will typically be available to a team of firefighters, they can be used in combination to handle a variety of other tasks. For example, if a task requires greater length than that of a single hose strap, two hose straps may be connected via girth hitch.References
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