Rather than the usual heavy gear they wear to combat fires, first responders with the Tempe Fire Department put on a different type of gear on Thursday — which proved to be a challenge. They wore headgear to muffle their hearing, heavy gloves to limit their motion and glasses to obstruct their vision. After that, they went through a simulation exercise where they were given five tasks to complete. It was all part of a training to raise awareness about dementia. “We’re trying to help firefighters and paramedics understand what it feels like to be living with dementia – to experience the confusion and frustration of everyday life,” said Jan Dougherty, special projects consultant with Banner Alzheimer’s Institute.