Why Do Firemen Wear Red Suspenders?

Firefighters wear suspenders under their protective gear to hold their pants up.

"Why do firemen wear red suspenders?" is a classic joke exchanged among American schoolchildren that has a logical answer: "To keep their pants up!" This might seem almost too obvious, but there is a reason the suspender tradition continues.

Fire-Fighting Pants

When firefighters are called to duty, they have to slip in to some fire-resistant gear quickly. When the bell rings, they slip on "turnout pants," which are sturdy and heavily insulated. They have this name because they are left inside-out so that they can be slipped into and pulled up quickly.

Need For Suspenders

Because turnout pants are designed to be loose and pulled up over other clothing, firefighters need an easy method to keep them up. Suspenders are more practical to use than belts because they pull easily into place. Typical suspenders for turnout pants are heavy-duty and connect to the pants at eight points.

Suspender Colors

American firefighters might be perceived as commonly wearing red suspenders, but this may just be tradition. Suspenders actually come in a variety of colors like orange, yellow and silver. The common factor they all have is that they match the rest of the gear that is bright, reflective and easy to see.

References

• District Firefighter Harris County ESD #28: Q&A
• City of Davis California Firefighting Department: Firefighter Protective Clothing Tour
• Santa Clara County Fire Department: Protective Clothing
• Globe Firefighter Suits: Turnout Suspenders