Wrenches are crucial to include in every firefighter's standard kit. Similarly to screwdrivers, they loosen or tighten with rotational force. Firefighters can use them for pipe fittings, nuts and bolts. Wrenches come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and the most useful ones that fire service personnel can carry include:

Or to give this sign it's full title: ‘area in which cameras are used to enforce traffic regulations’ sign. These will often appear with national speed limit signs and maximum speed signs.

The sign is often accompanied by a plate reading “For X miles” to prepare you for the full length of a tricky road. Show caution, as traffic authorities are encouraged to use these signs sparingly so their message isn’t undermined.

A door chock is a wedge that inserts above, under or alongside a door to prop it open. Most door chocks are small devices made from wood. They are large enough to jam the door open, but small enough to keep in a jacket pocket. Any fireman should carry two or more door chocks on their person at an emergency scene.

When firefighters carry a variety of useful tools, they are safer and more ready to respond to numerous circumstances. Bunker Gear Specialists provides critical firefighter safety and performance tools, as well as services that ensure their functionality. You can browse our collections online or contact a representative to discuss cleaning, testing, maintenance, repairing and renting tools.

A white circular sign with a single black diagonal stripe through it tells you that the national speed limit applies on the upcoming stretch of road. It supersedes any previous speed limit signs you may have had to adhere to, such as passing through temporary roadworks. But what are the national speed limits?

When you see a rectangular blue sign with a large white arrow and small red arrow pointing in opposite directions, it means you have priority over vehicles travelling from the other way. Drivers are often confused by this as it’s not always clear who has right of way.

It will often appear with the word ‘ZONE’ written underneath with a local authority-selected image, to show you’re entering a local speed zone.

The queues ahead might be hidden, so make sure you’re aware of vehicles behind you that could be following too closely. If you brake sharply they could run into the back of you, so when you see the sign, start slowing down gradually and brake smoothly.

This triangular sign is one of the most frequently seen on UK roads and is used to warn you of a junction ahead. Traffic on the road you will be joining has priority, so you must wait for a safe gap before continuing.

Tubular webbing is one of the most versatile tools available to a firefighter and, therefore, one of the most common to carry. Webbing is a piece of strong fabric capable of lifting or supporting hundreds of pounds without tearing. The fabric is usually woven from strong nylon fibers.

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With such a wide variety of features, a multi-tool can enable any firefighter to respond quickly and effectively in various circumstances. For instance, a multi-tool could break through a window, cut through a seatbelt, slice through wires or shut down a gas line.

A multi-tool is a pocket-sized device with numerous tools that fold out from its handle. Multi-tools offer the benefits of portability and versatility. A firefighter can slide a multi-tool into their coat pocket to use when a situation arises.

Tubular webbing features a wrap-around design to increase tensile strength. The tube can become even stronger by running a rope through the canal. Manufacturers create tubular webbing either by folding one piece of fabric over itself and stitching it into a tube or weaving the fibers into a tube from the start.

If you see a triangular sign with a row of cars on it, it’s warning you that you’re approaching a congested area, so be prepared to stop.

Drivers of larger vehicles should look out for signposted diversions once they see the triangular warning sign before they get confronted by the circular restriction sign.

The signs are almost always used alongside (or within) rectangular yellow signs which show details of enforcement hours.

A side road is joining the continuing road sign

One of the most common road signs you’ll encounter – it displays the maximum speed permitted on a road within a red circle.

‘No waiting’ signs are easily confused with ‘no stopping’ signs. Rather than displaying a red cross they feature a single diagonal red stripe on the same blue background.

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The NFPA code 1971, or the Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting sets standards and establishes minimum protection levels against various hazards. The most recent edition prioritizes several critical areas, size being one of the most essential. A glove that fits correctly will offer the most protection and dexterity to the wearer.

A wire cutter is a half tool with ends that clap together to make a clean cut through a cable or wire. The blades should be sharp enough to cut through the casing and wire swiftly and without causing the wires to fray.

Australiaroad sign

Each firefighter should have multiple flashlights with them when entering a building so that they can improve visibility and signal their location to others. Carrying more than one flashlight is important in case one loses power or gets lost.

You’ll commonly see this sign when a road or bridge becomes very narrow, or as part of traffic calming measures where there is only room for one vehicle to pass. If there’s another vehicle travelling towards you that is already in the narrow area, wait for it to pass.

The safer you are, the more you can potentially save on new driver insurance too, so it actually pays to know your road signs. Let’s start with the basics.

A red cross over a blue background indicates a clearway, which means you’re not allowed to stop – not even to set down or pick up passengers.

If you want to pass your theory test, it's a good idea to learn what each road marking means with an interactive app. Driving Theory Test UK is a great place to start, with all necessary learning materials, hazard perception clips and Highway Code info included. You can download it here:

A multi-purpose screwdriver is the best one for the job because it is an all-in-one solution. There are various kinds of screws with a range of threadings that require different screwdriver heads to rotate. The most common are:

All firefighters should have one or more sets of wire cutters on them. Ideally, the firefighter would keep them in separate pockets at different parts of the body so that at least one is accessible at all times.

A sign showing the silhouette of an adult and child holding hands lets drivers know that pedestrians might be present on the road ahead. Like other warning signs it appears in a red triangle.

The T-junction sign shouldn’t be confused with the ‘no through road’ sign, which is a blue square with a red and white T shape on it.

Driving in stop-start traffic could potentially cause your engine to overheat, so it’s always advisable to have breakdown cover just in case.

Many drivers believe an exclamation mark in a red triangle is solely used to warn of a hidden dip in the road. However, the sign can indicate any temporary and permanent hazards that aren’t easily represented using symbols.

Visibility is critical to crew safety in fire rescue situations. However, buildings on fire often lose power and fill with smoke, reducing visibility. Additionally, 19% of all fires and 49% of deadly fires that occurred from 2015-2019 broke out between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when sunlight is low or nonexistent.

This is one of the most commonly misunderstood signs, and many drivers have fallen foul of the law by parking on a clearway.

This is one of the tools every firefighter should carry. A screwdriver is small and easy to carry, and it is a must-have item. Firefighters use it to remove covers on electrical panels and air conditioning units, but it is applicable to any object that requires rotational force to turn and has threaded fasteners. Fire personnel can use it to assemble or disassemble a range of components.

Wires and cables are prominent in any building. There may be wires in place to enclose a building, transmit gas, run electricity or secure equipment in place. Regardless of the type of wire or cable, it may interfere with a firefighter's ability to reach critical areas.

Sometimes you’ll see a red triangular sign with two black arrows pointing in opposite directions. These are used to make you aware that you’re about to leave a separated one-way street and enter a two-way road.

You should keep to the left-hand side of the road and be aware of oncoming traffic. If they’re horizontal, it indicates that you’ll have to turn either left or right to join the two-way road ahead.

A black camera symbol appears on a white background on sections of road covered by speed cameras and average speed cameras.

A firefighter should have at least four of these in one screwdriver. Instead of running back and forth to the truck or searching various pockets for different screwdrivers, a multi-purpose screwdriver allows a firefighter to save crucial time.

There are several reasons why you might see this sign – it is often displayed when the road has poor visibility or if it’s too narrow for safe overtaking.

The ‘dual carriageway ends’ sign appears in a red triangle. It shows two carriageways coming together to indicate two-way traffic will continue ahead on a single carriageway road.

This sign appears in a red triangle with arrows at the top and bottom, and features two measurements. The equivalent imperial and metric measurements let drivers know that vehicles over a certain height should avoid a route – the signs should appear well in advance of the bridge or restriction up ahead.

You might notice a very similar sign on your travels, with arrows at the left and right. These indicate that vehicles over a certain width should avoid a narrow route.

It also warns you when there’s a high risk of vehicles pulling out from parking spaces or driveways that would increase the risk of a head-on collision.

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Tubular webbing can function as a harness for self- or assisted rescue from a high or low elevation. Alternatively, a firefighter could tie loops into the webbing that would function as footholes that they could use as steps when hurdling objects or structures. A user could also tie a cow's hitch knot around an object or person they need to lift, lower or secure in place.

Road hump signs show a humped surface in a red warning triangle. They can be used to indicate a single road hump or a series of humps. The signs must be used with a second plate to indicate the distance road humps cover on a road, or the distance to a road hump.

It’s especially important if you’re recently passed your test, as you won’t have direct experience of every different type of road layout.

Fire rescue scenes are dangerous environments. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates that 64,875 United States firefighters were injured in the line of duty in 2020. Preparing a fire crew with the appropriate tools can save lives. There are various firefighter hand tools available that improve safety while enhancing their performance by improving visibility, enabling forcible entry, providing weight support and ensuring access to important areas at the scene.

You’ll notice that the triangle is upside down compared with other warning signs. That’s so it can still be recognised if it gets defaced by snow, for example.

These low clearance signs are also used in red circles, usually on the low bridge itself or a short distance ahead of it:

This no motor vehicles sign showing a motorbike over a car is sometimes misunderstood to mean only cars and motorcycles are permitted. Nor does it mean motorcycle stunts aren’t allowed - you can be reasonably confident that they aren’t anyway!

There are two types of Give Way sign – either with distance in yards to the junction under the sign, or with the words written in the middle of the sign.

It’s important to reduce your speed when driving over humps. Some motorists are tempted to speed up between them, but such erratic driving can lead to premature damage to brake pads and suspension.

Dead end or ‘no through road’ signs are easily recognised by their horizontal red stripe sat on top of a vertical white stripe. The t-shape appears on a blue background.

There are hundreds of different road signs, each with their own meaning. However, most fall into one of three categories based on their shape. The general rule is:

Of course, even when the national speed limit applies, it might not always be safe to drive at that speed, so use your common sense on this.

This sign means that you must not drive any motor vehicle down a road where this is displayed. It could be that the area is reserved for pedestrians and cyclists only.

Firefighting gloves are available in various sizes on a numeric scale from 64-82. The numbers represent the index finger's length, but each number is also available in a normal, wide or extra-wide variation.

Another warning sign in a red triangle, these are used to alert drivers of hills on the road ahead. Steep hills downward show a decline to the right of the sign, while steep hills upward show an incline to the right of the sign.

Emergency scenes are often calamitous environments with numerous first responders moving through doorways in both directions. Propping a heavily trafficked entryway will expedite the emergency response, allowing firefighters to retrieve victims and extinguish flames faster. The first firefighters through a doorway should prop open the door so crewmembers and equipment can swiftly pass through. Firefighters can keep a door open for entry and egress using a door chock.

Only pay for the cover you need until you’ve passed your test. Get learner driver insurance so you can practice outside of your lessons.

A T-junction is a place where a minor road joins a major one without crossing it, forming the shape of the letter T. The T-junction sign is often placed in busy areas to warn you to be careful as vehicles may be stopping to turn. It can be particularly useful if you’re driving on dark roads at night to let you know you’re approaching a busy junction.

This ‘bottleneck’ sign looks very similar to the ‘dual carriageway ends’ sign, except for one key difference; the vertical lines remain separate despite coming closer together.

Most multi-tools feature one primary tool at the end such as a hammer, wrench, wire cutter or plier. The primary tool is the standard size or near the standard size for that type of tool. Common components found inside a multi-tool include:

Firefighting gloves have three layers. The first is a rugged outer shell that protects against abrasions and lacerations. The outer layer is usually made from leather or a synthetic material like aromatic polyamide. The middle layer is a moisture barrier made from water- and heat-resistant materials like polytetrafluoroethylene. The final layer is a thermal barrier that prevents burns while keeping the wearer's hands warm in cold environments.

Exposure to hazards like flames, hot surfaces and sharp objects puts every firefighter's hands in danger. Consequently, firefighters need protective gloves, but the gloves must also ensure hand mobility and dexterity are critical in high-risk rescue situations. Structural firefighting gloves prioritize protection while enabling as much dexterity as possible.

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The percentage shown refers to the tangent of the angle ahead and is sometimes expressed as a ratio on older signs. You may find that the gradient of a hill becomes steeper as you drive so look out for new signs at all times.

This guide looks at all the ones that you will see in your theory test – but if you have any questions, then let us know in the comments below.

When preparedness is a virtue, tools that fulfill multiple needs are valuable. Every firefighter should keep a multi-tool on hand.

In some instances, restrictions may only apply at certain times of the day. You tend to see this sign on major commuter roads, such as Red Routes, or outside schools.

You’ll also see the sign as you leave a local speed zone. Look out for the words ‘ZONE ENDS’ and a diagonal stripe through the speed limit zone you’re leaving.