What is used to connect individual sections of hose together to extend their length?

The correct answer is coupling, which is a crucial component in firefighting equipment. Couplings are specifically designed to connect two or more sections of fire hose, allowing firefighters to extend the length of the hose needed to reach a water source or to ensure coverage over a longer distance.

Couplings typically feature a male end and a female end, ensuring a secure and leak-proof connection to maintain the pressure of the water flowing through the hose. This allows for the effective delivery of water during firefighting operations.

While other options may have certain functions within firefighting, they do not serve the purpose of connecting hose sections. For instance, a jacket refers to the outer covering of a fire hose that provides protection and is not used for connections. Higbee refers to a type of coupling design used in hose fittings, but it doesn't represent the general term for the coupling itself. Rocker could refer to various tools or devices in firefighting, but does not pertain to hose connections. Therefore, coupling is the term that identifies the mechanism used to join hose sections, making it the right choice.