MSA, DuPont, And NVFC Enhance Firefighter Safety Through Globe Gear Giveaway

Thirteen fire departments received much-needed new personal protective equipment in 2022 due to MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway, in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC).

To keep first responders safe and protected, the giveaway awarded four sets of state-of-the-art turnout gear and four new helmets to selected departments. In addition, the first 500 applicants received a complimentary membership to the NVFC, courtesy of MSA.

annual giveaway

Too often, volunteer fire departments are forced to make do with an inadequate number of turnouts or with worn-out, non-compliant gear they can’t afford to replace. Launched in 2012, the annual giveaway aims to change that by providing free turnout gear to fire departments in need across the U.S. and Canada.

To date, 663 sets of gear have been donated to 147 departments. Helmets were added to the giveaway in 2019 when MSA found that 50 percent of program recipients did not have enough for their members. Since the program began, over $1 million worth of gear has been provided to enhance the protection of volunteer firefighters.

Safety

At MSA, helping men and women work in safety and live in health is core to our mission"

“We’re proud to partner with the NVFC to help improve the safety of the volunteer firefighters in the United States and Canada,” said Ben Mauti, MSA fire service segment manager, U.S., and Canada.

“At MSA, helping men and women work in safety and live in health is core to our mission, and this partnership allows us to help these firefighters better protect themselves and their communities.”

providing essential equipment

“We are honored to give back in thanks to those that selflessly serve others and leverage our over 60 years of science and commitment to the fire service community in bringing trusted solutions to departments with limited resources,” said Jeffrey Fackler, business development and emergency response business director in DuPont.

“The NVFC is proud to partner with MSA and DuPont in providing essential equipment to increase the safety and well-being of first responders,” said NVFC chair Steve Hirsch. “These heroes put their lives on the line to protect us. We must protect them, too.”

assessment

Nearly two-thirds of fire departments reported that some of the protective clothing was at least 10 years old

The need for the program is clear. According to a U.S. fire service needs assessment released by the National Fire Protection Association in December 2021, nearly two-thirds of fire departments reported that some of their protective clothing was at least 10 years old, and among the smallest departments that number jumped to 76 percent.

In addition, 13 percent of departments do not have enough personal protective clothing for all of their emergency responders, with the greatest need among departments staffed primarily by volunteer firefighters.

2022 gear giveaway recipients

The recipients in the 2022 gear giveaway are as follows:

• Church Hill (MD) Volunteer Fire Company
• Debusk Volunteer Fire Department (Greenville, TN)
• Delta (UT) Fire Department
• Eubank (KY) Volunteer Fire Department
• Honesdale (PA) Fire Department Hose Company No. 1
• Hurst (IL) Fire Department
• Marlboro (VT) Volunteer Fire Company
• Nevada County Fire and Rescue (Prescott, AR)
• New Elm Spring Fire Department (Ethan, SD)
• Northport (WA) Fire and Rescue
• Riverdale (NJ) Volunteer Fire Department
• Snow Lake Volunteer Fire Department (Ashland, MS)
• Springhill (NS, Canada) Volunteer Fire Department.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for the giveaway, departments had to be over 50 percent volunteer, serve a population of 25,000 or less, be located in the U.S. or Canada and legally organized under state/province law, be a member of the NVFC, and demonstrate a significant need for new gear. MSA provided NVFC memberships to the first 500 applicants to help departments meet the membership requirement.

The application period for MSA and DuPont’s 2023 Globe Gear Giveaway will open in February. Thirteen departments will each receive four new sets of turnout gear along with four helmets to increase firefighter safety.