Emergency service women to trial fire-resistant period undies and bras
A navy veteran, who realised her bra could catch on fire despite being under her protective uniform, is on a mission to improve uniforms for women in frontline services.
Navy veteran Emily Pyke has created fire-resistant period undies and bras for women in frontline services. Soon, these undies will be tested by firefighters in Western Australia and Victoria. The NSW government provided Ms. Pyke's company with a $200,000 grant to create a second-generation of the fire-safe undergarments. After serving 13 years in the Royal Australian Navy, Ms. Pyke noticed that her bra could catch fire underneath her protective uniform.
Despite wearing a protective layer, synthetic bras can melt when exposed to fire. Fire-resistant period undies and bras are crucial for frontline women as they are often required to wear uniforms for many hours, with limited access to restrooms. These undies and bras are made from a modacrylic fabric that is fire-resistant and does not drip or melt when exposed to fire.
The company has also removed hazardous parts such as wires, foam, elastic, and metal clips from typical bras. The garments are being tested by the University of NSW, with the goal of improving PPE for frontline women. The company has already tested its first versions of the fire-safe underwear with firefighters in Australia, as well as with defense forces in Ireland and the UK.
The next step is to send the garments to fire services in Western Australia and Victoria, with discussions ongoing for potential trials with mines and construction companies.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
