How to avoid curling and tangling of fire hose during use

Fire hoses are essential and important equipment in firefighting operations. Their performance and use effects are directly related to the efficiency and safety of firefighting. Curling and knotting problems not only affect the deployment speed of the hose, but may also cause water flow obstruction, affect the firefighting effect, and even bring safety hazards. Therefore, mastering professional methods to avoid curling and knotting of fire hoses is crucial to improving the combat capability of firefighting teams.

Analysis of the causes of curling and knotting of fire hoses
The curling and knotting of fire hoses are mainly caused by improper operations in storage, laying and use. First, the hose is wound on the drum for a long time. If the winding is uneven or the tightness is too high, it is easy to form a "memory" curl, resulting in bending and wrinkling when unfolding. Secondly, during the laying process of the hose, if it is not smoothly spread out, the hose is unevenly stressed, and folding and twisting occur frequently, which in turn causes knotting. Finally, the folding and storage of the hose after use are not standardized, which can easily cause permanent creases on the hose, increasing the risk of curling during subsequent use.

Standardized storage reduces hose curling
Reasonable storage environment and methods are the first step to prevent hose curling and knotting. Fire hoses should be stored in a dedicated warehouse that is ventilated, dry and without direct sunlight to avoid aging and deformation of the hose material due to humidity or high temperature. When winding the hose, it is necessary to keep the winding even to avoid winding too tight or too loose in some areas, resulting in uneven tension. Use a special hose reel for winding to ensure that the hose maintains moderate tension and reduces curling "memory". In addition, the hose should be checked and replaced regularly during storage to prevent the hose from being subjected to force in the same part for a long time, resulting in local deformation.

Correct laying techniques to avoid knotting
Laying fire hoses is a key operation link at the fire scene. The correct laying method can effectively prevent hose curling and knotting. When unfolding the hose, the reel should be placed at the starting end of the hose first, and slowly unfolded along the natural winding direction of the hose to avoid twisting the hose due to forced pulling. Keep the hose straight during laying to prevent folding and cross-stacking. For complex terrain or obstacles, the laying route needs to be planned in advance to avoid the hose from circling or overlapping. When multiple people work together to lay the hose, they should maintain communication and coordination to ensure that the hose can be deployed continuously and smoothly to reduce the risk of knotting.

Maintenance improves the flexibility of the hose
The fire hose is mostly made of rubber or synthetic fiber. As the frequency of use increases, the flexibility of the hose will gradually decrease, and it is easy to produce creases and curling. Regular maintenance can extend the service life of the hose and reduce the probability of curling and knotting. After each use, the surface and inner cavity of the hose should be thoroughly cleaned to remove mud and impurities to avoid material hardening and corrosion. After cleaning, it should be dried naturally in a cool and ventilated place to prevent high temperature exposure from causing material aging. During maintenance, check whether the hose has cracks, wear and other damage, and repair or replace it in time. A well-maintained hose is softer and smoother when it is deployed, and it is not easy to curl and knot.

Training operators to improve usage specifications
Technology and equipment improvements are important, but the operating specifications of firefighters are equally critical. Systematic training includes the process of unfolding, laying, storing and maintaining the hose, which helps improve teamwork and operational efficiency. The training emphasizes the importance of the natural winding direction of the hose, the correct application of force to avoid twisting and stretching, and the implementation of standard operating procedures. Through drills simulating actual firefighting scenarios, firefighters can enhance their understanding of the details of hose use and avoid hose curling and knotting due to tension or negligence.