The plethora of emergency equipment choices available to the safety professional can be quite daunting. Where in the past there were fewer manufacturers offering substantially fewer product alternatives, today things have certainly changed. And, making matters more complicated, there is an ever-increasing universe of potential commercial and industrial risks from which to protect employees and others. So, how does one navigate through the maze of alternatives? Answer: With your eyes wide open!
The first thing to realize is that emergency equipment is a product category in which you get what you pay for. There is no free lunch! The better equipment, offering superior features and content, will be more expensive than lesser products. So, the first rule becomes: Decide which features and capabilities are mandatory, and make certain that your brand-to-brand comparisons compare "apples to apples." You certainly don't want to buy features and content that you don't need. Avoid over-specifying as a way to save on cost without cutting corners.