Abstract: In a protective glove having a wristlet and having a back face adapted to cover a back face of a wearer's hand, the back face has a thumb-covering portion and four finger-covering portions, which include an index finger-covering portion adjacent to the thumb-covering portion, and the back face has an inner liner and an outer shell, wherein the outer shell of the back face is folded and is sewn where folded so as to define inner ribs, which point toward and are able to touch the inner liner and which when touching the inner liner define pockets containing air providing thermal insulation. In one contemplated embodiment, the ribs include a rib terminating approximately where the thumb-covering portion and the index finger-covering portion meet and three other ribs, each terminating approximately where two of the finger-covering portions meet. In an alternative embodiment, in which the ribs extend across the protective glove, the ribs include ribs extending across the finger-covering portions.

Abstract: A protective boot made from a foldable material such as Nomex™ material or Kevlar™ material or, for some applications, such as neoprene has an ankle-covering portion and a foot-covering portion, which has a heel end and a toe end. Near the toe end, the foot-covering portion is foldable onto itself and is fastenable to itself when and where folded onto itself, whereby the foot-covering portion can be adjustably sized. Hook-and-loop fasteners, which are preferred, or other fasteners are used for fastening the foot-covering portion releasably to itself when and where folded onto itself, at any one of plural positions. Hook-and-loop fasteners, if used therefor, enable the foot-covering portion to be releasably fastened to itself when and where folded onto itself, at any position within a range of possible positions. The protective boot has two hook-and-loop straps, each drawn around the protective boot and fastened to itself and to said fastening means.

Abstract: A protective hood, such as a firefighter's hood, has an upper head-covering section, an anterior head-covering section having a window, through which portions of a wearer's face are exposed, a posterior-head covering section, and a lower shoulder-covering section. The anterior head-covering section is made from comparatively heavier, thermally insulative material, whereas the upper head-covering section and the other sections, or a selected one of the other sections, are made from similar, comparatively lighter material, such as mesh or netting, whereby to allow heat to pass readily through those sections made from comparatively lighter material.

Abstract: In a protective garment, such as a firefighter's garment, of a type comprising an outer shell and a reflective strip, which is sewn to the outer shell, the reflective strip is spaced from the outer shell, except where the reflective strip is sewn to the outer shell, whereby to reduce risks of thread abrasion and to provide thermal insulation. The reflective strip may be thus spaced by a single strip interposed between two opposite margins of the reflective strip, along which margins the reflective strip is sewn to the outer shell, or by two spaced strips interposed therebetween. If two spaced strips are used, the reflective strip may be also sewn to the outer shell where the spaced strips are spaced from each other or, alternatively, the reflective strip is detached from the outer shell where the spaced strips are spaced from each other so as to define an air space between the reflective strip and the outer shell where the spaced strips are spaced from each other.

Abstract: A protective garment for a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker has an outer shell, which has two expansive surfaces comprised of a surface of high visibility and a surface of low visibility. The outer shell is reversible so that, when the protective garment is worn, one such surface becomes an outer surface of the outer shell and the other surface becomes an inner surface of the outer shell. The outer shell having portions that are reflective, fluorescent, or both on the surface of high visibility but not on the surface of low visibility. The protective garment has an inner liner, which is attachable detachably to the outer shell so as to be wearable within whichever of the expansive surfaces becomes the inner surface of the outer shell.

Abstract: In a protective hood having an upper head-covering section, an anterior head-covering section, a posterior head-covering section, and a lower neck-covering and shoulder-covering section, the lower neck-covering and shoulder-covering section differs from each of the other sections in abrasion resistance properties, thermal insulation properties, and moisture barrier properties, or one or two of those properties. Preferably, the lower neck-covering and shoulder-covering section has plural layers, which include an outer abrasion-resistant layer, an intermediate thermally insulative layer, and an inner moisture barrier layer.

Abstract: A protective hood, such as a firefighter's hood, has an upper head-covering section, an anterior head-covering section having a window, through which portions of a wearer's face are exposed, a posterior-head covering section, and a lower shoulder-covering section. The anterior head-covering section is made from comparatively heavier, thermally insulative material, whereas the upper head-covering section and the other sections, or a selected one of the other sections, are made from similar, comparatively lighter material, such as mesh or netting, whereby to allow heat to pass readily through those sections made from comparatively lighter material.

Abstract: Being reversible, a protective garment for a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker has a shell of high visibility and a shell of low visibility. The shell of high visibility has portions that are reflective, fluorescent, or both, which the shell of low visibility does not have. When facing outwardly, the shell of low visibility appears black, or at least dark, in ambient light or displays camouflage. Except that the shell of low visibility does not have any reflective or fluorescent portions, the shells conform to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards for outer shells of protective garments for firefighters. The shells are equal, or at least similar, in basis weights.

Abstract: A protective hood, such as a firefighter's hood, has an upper head-covering section, an anterior head-covering section having a window, through which portions of a wearer's face are exposed, a posterior-head covering section, and a lower shoulder-covering section. The anterior head-covering section is made from comparatively heavier, thermally insulative, heat-reflective material, whereas the upper head-covering section and the other sections, or a selected one of the other sections, are made from similar, comparatively lighter material, such as mesh or netting, whereby to allow heat to pass readily through those sections made from comparatively lighter material.

Abstract: A protective garment for a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker has an outer shell, which has two expansive surfaces comprised of a surface of high visibility and a surface of low visibility. The outer shell is reversible so that, when the protective garment is worn, one such surface becomes an outer surface of the outer shell and the other surface becomes an inner surface of the outer shell. The outer shell having portions that are reflective, fluorescent, or both on the surface of high visibility but not on the surface of low visibility. The protective garment has an inner liner, which is attachable detachably to the outer shell so as to be wearable within whichever of the expansive surfaces becomes the inner surface of the outer shell.

Abstract: In a protective garment, such as a firefighter's garment, of a type comprising an outer shell and a reflective strip, which is sewn to the outer shell, the reflective strip is spaced from the outer shell, except where the reflective strip is sewn to the outer shell, whereby to reduce risks of thread abrasion and to provide thermal insulation. The reflective strip may be thus spaced by a single strip interposed between two opposite margins of the reflective strip, along which margins the reflective strip is sewn to the outer shell, or by two spaced strips interposed therebetween. If two spaced strips are used, the reflective strip may be also sewn to the outer shell where the spaced strips are spaced from each other or, alternatively, the reflective strip is detached from the outer shell where the spaced strips are spaced from each other so as to define an air space between the reflective strip and the outer shell where the spaced strips are spaced from each other.

Abstract: A combination of protective clothing, as for a firefighter, utilizes a pair of pants having a waist portion and a pair of suspenders having straps, which are attachable detachably to the waist portion. The waist portion has a plurality of horizontally extending slots, one said slot for each said strap, which slots in one contemplated embodiment are defined by strips of fabric, webbing, or other material sewn at opposite ends to the waist portion and which slots in another contemplated embodiment penetrate the waist portion and may have bound edges. Each strap when attached to the waist portion extends through an associated one of the slots, whereupon such strap is folded upwardly and is fastened releasably to itself by a fastener, such as a snap fastener, which is separated from a wearer by a portion of said strap, or such as a hook-and-loop fastener.

Abstract: A protective hood, such as a firefighter's hood, has an upper head-covering section, an anterior head-covering section having a window, through which portions of a wearer's face are exposed, a posterior-head covering section, and a lower shoulder-covering section. The anterior head-covering section is made from comparatively heavier, thermally insulative, heat-reflective material, whereas the upper head-covering section and the other sections, or a selected one of the other sections, are made from similar, comparatively lighter material, such as mesh or netting, whereby to allow heat to pass readily through those sections made from comparatively lighter material.

Abstract: A protective garment, such as a protective coat or protective coveralls, for a firefighter or for an emergency worker is provided with a shoulder pad, which is worn between the protective coat and a shoulder of a wearer. The shoulder pad is attached detachably, as by a hook-and-loop fastener, to a shoulder strap of suspenders worn by the wearer or to the protective garment. The shoulder pad contains a bladder, which is adapted to be inflated with a suitable fluid, preferably air, so to increase an air space between the protective coat and the shoulder of the wearer. The air space provides thermal insulation between the protective garment and the shoulder of the wearer.

Abstract: In a coat and harness combination for an emergency care worker, for a rescue worker, or for a firefighter, in which the coat has a thigh strap pocket and two side pockets and the harness has two thigh straps, each thigh strap having a first end, at which it is attached permanently to other portions of the harness, and a second end, at which it is attachable detachably to other portions of the harness, via a connector on such thigh strap and an interfitting connector, which is stowable in one of the side pockets when such thigh strap is not attached at its second end. While not attached at their second ends, the thigh straps are stowable removably in the thigh strap pocket. The coat has a flap having a first edge and a second edge, the flap being foldable along the first edge to close the thigh strap pocket and to open the thigh strap pocket, the second edge being attachable detachably to a rear portion of the coat, via hook-and-loop fasteners.

Abstract: A protective hood, such as a firefighter's hood, has an upper head-covering section, an anterior head-covering section having a window, through which portions of a wearer's face are exposed, a posterior-head covering section, and a lower shoulder-covering section. The anterior head-covering section is made from comparatively heavier, thermally insulative material, whereas the upper head-covering section and the other sections, or a selected one of the other sections, are made from similar, comparatively lighter material, such as mesh or netting, whereby to allow heat to pass readily through those sections made from comparatively lighter material.

Abstract: In a protective glove having a wristlet and having a back face adapted to cover a back face of a wearer's hand, the back face has a thumb-covering portion and four finger-covering portions, which include an index finger-covering portion adjacent to the thumb-covering portion, and the back face has an inner liner and an outer shell, wherein the outer shell of the back face is folded and is sewn where folded so as to define inner ribs, which point toward and are able to touch the inner liner and which when touching the inner liner define pockets containing air providing thermal insulation. In one contemplated embodiment, the ribs include a rib terminating approximately where the thumb-covering portion and the index finger-covering portion meet and three other ribs, each terminating approximately where two of the finger-covering portions meet. In an alternative embodiment, in which the ribs extend across the protective glove, the ribs include ribs extending across the finger-covering portions.

Abstract: A combination of protective clothing, as for a firefighter, utilizes a pair of pants having a waist portion and a pair of suspenders having straps, which are attachable detachably to the waist portion. The waist portion has a plurality of horizontally extending slots, one said slot for each said strap, which slots in one contemplated embodiment are defined by strips of fabric, webbing, or other material sewn at opposite ends to the waist portion and which slots in another contemplated embodiment penetrate the waist portion and may have bound edges. Each strap when attached to the waist portion extends through an associated one of the slots, whereupon such strap is folded upwardly and is fastened releasably to itself by a fastener, such as a snap fastener, which is separated from a wearer by a portion of said strap, or such as a hook-and-loop fastener.

Abstract: In a coat and harness combination for an emergency care worker, for a rescue worker, or for a firefighter, in which the coat has a thigh strap pocket and two side pockets and the harness has two thigh straps, each thigh strap having a first end, at which it is attached permanently to other portions of the harness, and a second end, at which it is attachable detachably to other portions of the harness, via a connector on such thigh strap and an interfitting connector, which is stowable in one of the side pockets when such thigh strap is not attached at its second end. While not attached at their second ends, the thigh straps are stowable removably in the thigh strap pocket. The coat has a flap having a first edge and a second edge, the flap being foldable along the first edge to close the thigh strap pocket and to open the thigh strap pocket, the second edge being attachable detachably to a rear portion of the coat, via hook-and-loop fasteners.

Abstract: A protective hood, such as a firefighter's hood, has an upper head-covering section, an anterior head-covering section having a window, through which portions of a wearer's face are exposed, a posterior-head covering section, and a lower shoulder-covering section. The anterior head-covering section is made from comparatively heavier, thermally insulative material, whereas the upper head-covering section and the other sections, or a selected one of the other sections, are made from similar, comparatively lighter material, such as mesh or netting, whereby to allow heat to pass readily through those sections made from comparatively lighter material.