COVID-19 - News

Knauf Insulation Launches As Safe As Home Campaign To Encourage New Safe Working Environment

The campaign highlights how everyone at the company must continue to take an uncompromising approach to health and safety as Knauf Insulation adjusts to a new working environment shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. Knauf Insulation’s CEO Jean-Claude Carlin, said: “Knauf Insulation must always be ‘As Safe As Home’ and this new campaign underlines everything that we have learnt from the COVID crisis.” Well-Being of colleagues “Safety has always been our first pr...

First Responders Children’s Foundation Provides Support To First Responders Impacted By COVID-19

First Responders Children’s Foundation is providing support to first responders, including volunteer firefighters and EMS providers, who are experiencing hardship as a result of COVID-19. The Foundation is a Regional Partner of the ‘One World: Together at Home’ concert and was also featured in the ‘Fox Presents iHeart Living Room Concert for America.’ Financial support programs To help first responder families who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundat...

NVFC Seeks Support For Volunteer Firefighters And EMS Providers On #Givingtuesday

May 5 is #GivingTuesday, and National Volunteer Fire Council ask that people consider a donation to the NVFC’s Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund. This fund provides a stipend to help eligible volunteer firefighters and EMS providers who have been impacted by a large-scale disaster, home fire, or have suffered loss of wages due to COVID-19. The fund relies entirely on donations, and 100 percent of donations go to help responders in need.

NVFC Announces Year 2020 EMS Week Theme As Ready Today - Preparing for Tomorrow

EMS Week is May 17-23, and year 2020’s theme of “Ready Today - Preparing for Tomorrow” is especially meaningful as EMS providers are on the front lines of COVID-19 response while continuing to provide everyday lifesaving services to their communities. One can use this week to thank and celebrate the EMS providers as well as let the community know all they do. 

Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade Supports Local Hospice

A Peterborough-based fire station has donated more than £1,000 to a local hospice. Staff at Dogsthorpe Fire Station raised the money through their sports and social club. After seeing a social media post from Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice highlighting the need for support, White Watch agreed with the rest of the station to arrange a donation. Donations  Firefighter Matthew Johnson from White Watch presented the donation of £1,250 to the hospice. Matthew Johnson said, “...

Coopers Fire Resumes The Manufacturing Of Fire And Smoke Curtain During The Pandemic

Coopers Fire have continued to closely monitor developments of the Coronavirus pandemic as well as UK Government announcements and as of Monday 20th, April 2020 have re-opened the company’s factory and are continuing to manufacture fire and smoke curtains. By returning back to manufacturing, the company can continue to provide life-saving equipment for buildings, including hospitals, all over the world. Like many other manufacturers, the company recently received a letter from the right h...

Drones And Satellites To Be Used In Detecting And Deterring Gorse Fire Starters

In a story in the Irish Times, the use of technology using satellites and drones is being used to detect and deter wildfire starters. Conditions for the spread of fires in uplands areas, which break out annually in March and April are said to be “perfect” for forest fires after a long dry spell. Winds could also cause fires to spread faster. Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed warned that satellite imagery was being “carefully monitored” to detect when farmers or...

NVFC Discloses Survey Data From Week 5 Of COVID-19 Impact On Fire & EMS

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) created a survey to better understand the experiences of volunteer and combination fire, EMS, and rescue departments dealing with the outbreak of COVID-19 and related social distancing measures. NVFC asks that all take a few minutes to complete the survey, and that to re-take the survey each week so that NVFC can track changes over time. Based on survey and other feedback from NVFC members, answer choices related to responder mental health, morale, fun...

NVFC Announces Survey Results From Week 5 Of COVID-19 Impact On Fire & EMS

The NVFC created a survey to better understand the experiences of volunteer and combination fire, EMS, and rescue departments dealing with the outbreak of COVID-19 and related social distancing measures. NVFC encourages all to take the survey weekly so they can track changing needs and challenges. First Responders Children The First Responders Children’s Foundation is providing financial support to first responder families who are enduring financial hardship due to the coronavirus outbr...

KFRS Is Flying The Flag For Community Spirit

Firefighters are helping two young girls to spread a little positivity across their community by flying their homemade flag. Crews at Tunbridge Wells Fire Station were presented with the colorful rainbow flag by sisters Kitti, 12, and Iris, 10. The duo, with the help of their dad Rupert, came up with the ‘together apart’ message, with the use of three linked rainbows.  Purpose Rupert said, “We created a flag to encourage social distancing and to celebrate how we can all...

Production Restarts At Norfolk ‘Key Worker’ Fire Safety Factory

Production has started again at a Norfolk factory making vital fire safety equipment for ambulances, hospitals, police, the Ministry of Defence, and the rail network across the UK. A skeleton staff of 12 workers has been drafted to Britannia Fire at Ashwellthorpe after a three-week covid-19 shutdown to meet the demand for extinguishers and fire suppression systems from the MOD, NHS, fire and rescue services, and Network Rail. extinguishers and fire systems Staff at the UK’s only composi...

Construction Industry Council Announces The Third In Its Age Of Coronavirus Series Of Webinars

This is a reminder that on April 23, 2020, CIC will be holding the third in its Age of Coronavirus series of webinars. This webinar is entitled Construction’s Recovery from the Age of Coronavirus and it is to be held on Thursday, 23 April at 2 p.m. (lasting for approximately one hour). The two speakers will be Peter Kubik/Brian Johnson from UHY Hacker Young on the financial aspects of recovery and turnaround – what is available for businesses etc. – and then Alasdair Reisner...

Rave Panic Button Gets Listed On The FirstNet App Catalog To Enhance Communication With The Emergency Services

Following a rigorous review process, Rave Panic Button is now FirstNet® Listed and accessible via the FirstNet App Catalog. The Rave Panic Button mobile app, provided by Rave Mobile Safety, instantly communicates emergencies to 9-1-1, on-site personnel and first responders for faster, more effective emergency response. Through the app, public safety officials receive critical emergency data for situational awareness, allowing them to arrive on scene armed with the information needed to resp...

Halma Releases Group Update On Full Year Results And COVID-19 Impact

Halma releases an update regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Full Year Results announcement and AGM. Halma continue to expect the group’s adjusted profit before tax for the year ended 31 March 2020 to be in a range of £265 million to £270 million, in line with the guidance given in the group’s scheduled Trading Update on 19 March 2020. Halma expects revenues to be approximately £1,330 million and year-end net debt (excluding the impact of IFRS16) to be a...

Suffolk Fire And Rescue Service Works With EEAST To Provide Life-Saving Frontline Care During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Firefighters in Suffolk are joining forces with blue light colleagues at the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) to help provide life-saving frontline care during the coronavirus pandemic. Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service has volunteered and trained about 30 firefighters to work alongside paramedics to respond to 999 calls over the coming weeks. The firefighters are already blue light trained and will drive frontline emergency NHS ambulances, in turn freeing up paramedics to care for patie...

Avon Fire And Rescue Service Supports Drowning Prevention And Water Safety Week

National Drowning Prevention Week has started, which will see Avon Fire and Rescue Service (AF&RS) focus on helping people stay safe around water in line with the Government’s guidance and restrictions that remain in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The dedicated week of action runs from April 20 to April 26 and is led by the National Fire Chiefs’ Council (NFCC) and supported by fire and rescue services all over the UK. During the week messages will be shared on AF&R...

BAFE Provides Information On SSAIB Providing Certification Despite Coronavirus Crisis

Chief executive Alex Carmichael is keen to reiterate that SSAIB is fully operational and continues to provide certification for over 1,800 registered firms and new firms looking to join during the current COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Due to the restrictions imposed by the Government - relating to travel and social distancing – the UKAS-accredited certification body for the fire and security industries has embraced new technology to provide remote audits for certification, surveillance...

Infographics Supporting Clients & Undertaking New COVID-19 Duties

Infographics fire and rescue clients adapt to undertaking expanded duties as part of the Coronavirus response, Infographics has extended an invitation to seek support with new ways of managing, monitoring, and reporting on COVID-19-related tasks and absence. Infographics responded quickly to a number of client assistance requests and are offering complimentary client advice and assistance with the following areas: Managing resources, working code configuration, and dynamic views for COVID-19...

SSAIB Announces Being Fully Operational And Continuing To Provide Certification Amidst COVID-19

Chief executive Alex Carmichael is keen to reiterate that SSAIB is fully operational and continues to provide certification for over 1,800 registered firms and new firms looking to join during the current COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Due to the restrictions imposed by Government - relating to travel and social distancing – the UKAS-accredited certification body for the fire and security industries has embraced new technology to provide remote audits for certification, surveillance and r...

Secutech India 2020 Canceled Due To COVID-19

Due to the escalating coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), Messe Frankfurt New Era Business Media Ltd and ABEC Exhibitions and Conferences P Ltd, have decided that Secutech India will not take place in 2020. The decision is the result of travel restrictions and strict social distancing guidelines currently in place across India, and a lack of availability at the fair’s venue – the Bombay Exhibition Centre – during an appropriate time later this year. The fair will take place at th...

Honeywell Repurpose Two Chemical Manufacturing Plants To Produce Hand Sanitizers

To help meet demand for hand sanitizer during the COVID-19 pandemic, two Honeywell chemical manufacturing plants are producing hand sanitizer. Behind-the-scenes, those facilities had to be reconfigured to be able to make the hand sanitizer. “We leveraged remote working tools to accelerate cross-functional decision making from the regulators to Honeywell down to the operating business,” said Omar Viking, general manager, who has been in the specialty chemical industry for more than...

Protectowire FireSystems Release Their Statement Of How The Company Will Function During This Pandemic

The current global spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has prompted Protectowire FireSystems to inform all of the company’s customers that there may be interruptions in their supply chain going forward as this crisis develops. The company has been monitoring their suppliers and working closely with them to ensure that any shortage or failure to supply is kept to an absolute minimum. possibility of greater fluctuations However, the Coronavirus situation is changing daily and there is alw...

Cambridgeshire Fire And Rescue Service Firefighters Supports NHS Blue Light Colleagues On The Frontline

Nine on-call firefighters from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service have been seconded to the ambulance service. The on-call firefighters will temporarily be seconded to East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) while they experience high demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. Having now received their training, they will be using their skill as blue light trained drivers to assist in driving frontline emergency NHS ambulances alongside EEAST paramedics. The move to the NHS frontline...

Mayor Buddy Dyer Launches New City Of Orlando COVID-19 Data Tracker

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer launched a new online COVID-19 data tracker. The platform uses data provided by the Florida Department of Health to show an updated look at the latest data on COVID-19 positive cases specific to the City of Orlando.  “As we continue to respond to the impacts of COVID-19, getting critical information out to our community continues to be a top priority,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. Data integration “Facts and data are one of the most critical t...

CBI And BEIS Update Webinar On What Businesses Can Do To Mitigate The Impact Of Coronavirus

Ian Moore CEO of the FIA encourages business to join Dame Carolyn Fairbairn (Director-General, CBI) and The Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP (Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) for an invaluable discussion on UK business and economy - including: An update on the government’s major support packages including the JRS, and access to finance An overview of the government’s thinking on the UK’s recovery plan Advice on how businesses can help the government ef...

BAFE Furlough Scheme Cut-Off Date Extended To 19 March, 2020

BAFE announces that the Furlough scheme cut-off date has been extended to 19 March, 2020. Thousands of more employees will able to receive support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), after the eligibility date was extended to 19 March 2020, the government announced recently.

UK Government Announces Furlough Scheme Cut-Off Date Extended To 19 March

Thousands more employees will able to receive support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) after the eligibility date was extended to 19 March 2020, the government announced.

NVFC Helps Firefighters, EMS Providers, And Rescue Workers Financially Impacted By The COVID-19 Pandemic

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is working to help volunteer firefighters, EMS providers, and rescue workers who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These volunteers are on the frontlines helping their communities every day. A donation to the NVFC’s Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund goes directly to help these responders in their time of need. Emergency responders answer the call whenever disaster strikes, yet often they are the victims of the same disaste...

BAFE Conducts Construction Industry Council Webinar On Employment And Jobs During The Current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Crisis

The Construction Industry Council are providing two opportunities that may be of benefit. The first is a Webinar on Employment and Jobs during the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis focusing on the self-employed and freelance workers, which will take place today (15/04/2020) at 2pm. The webinar will last for one hour and is being led by Charles Homan of UHY Hacker Young. Zoom webinar 15 April 2020 02:00 PM on the topic of: Help for the self-employed in the age of Coronavirus. The second is t...

BAFE Welcomes UK Minister’s Move To Define Key Worker Status Directly To The Fire Industry Association

BAFE, British Approvals for Fire Equipment has announced that it welcomes the statement from the UK Home Office, regarding the Key Worker status for all fire industry employees, providing essential services, as published by the FIA, Fire Industry Association. The BAFE statement added that the organization was grateful for the FIA initiative to clarify this. Key Worker Status directly to FIA The Minister of State for Security, the Rt. Hon James Brokenshire, MP in the UK Parliament, has written...

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