Firefighter Health and Safety - News

On Friday, August 23, 2024, Jesse Love, driver of the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet Camaro, took to the Daytona International Speedway with a mission greater than crossing the finish line first. His car carried the names of 226 fallen firefighters, representing Whelen’s partnership with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). This year marked the third consecutive season of this important partnership and is a testament to their shared commitment to...

Dräger, an international pioneer in the fields of medical and safety technology, will showcase a range of systems designed to protect fire and rescue and police personnel, and ensure they return home safely at the end of every shift.  Ultra-light design products Taking center stage will be Dräger’s next generation Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), the PSS® AirBoss with a Type 4 Nano cylinder. The kit combines best-in-class ergonomics and an ultra-lig...

Sepura are pleased to announce that their Norwegian Partner, Northcom, has won a tender to supply radio terminals to Norwegian fire departments. This prestigious contract will see the supply of over 18,000 devices to fire departments and 110 central units and was awarded after an extensive evaluation and testing process by NKS110. TETRA radios for Norwegian Fire Departments This recent contract win is a testament to Northcom’s dedication to quality and innovation. Their radio terminals...

From 1 January 2026, the regulation of firefighting foams on ships will start to catch up with the global rejection of perfluoro-octane sulfonic acid (PFOS). From that date, the use of PFOS will be prohibited onboard new ships, with existing vessels needing to replace them by their first survey thereafter. Persistent Organic Pollutants Recognized as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), PFOS was discontinued by major US chemical producers over a decade ago under Environmental Protection Agenc...

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation business, in partnership with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), is pleased to announce the 2024 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year honorees. Volunteer Fire Chief C. Reid Vaughan of the Cuba Fire Department in Alabama and Career Fire Chief Randy Royal of the Colorado Springs Fire Department in Colorado have been named this year’s recipients. Since 1996, the IAFC has annually recognized one volunteer and one career fire chief for...

As a pivotal moment for both environmental and firefighter health initiatives, the Victoria Fire Department has placed into service its first electric fire truck, a Rosenbauer RTX.  With a target to electrify or renewably power 80 percent of its vehicles by 2040, the city has already placed an order for a second unit.  state-of-the-art electric fire truck With the new Rosenbauer RTX, this addition to the Victoria firefighting fleet is an agile, climate-friendly emergency respon...

As the nation moves towards stronger responsibility and accountability for fire safety measures, the BAFE Fire Safety Register reiterate their message on the significance of UKAS accredited third-party certification. BAFE’s ‘Don’t just Specify, Verify’ campaign launched in March 2020 identifies the important second, and sometimes overlooked, verification stage when premises management source competent third-party certificated organizations to help comply with their fire...

The Engineered Solutions division of Dräger, an international leader in the fields of medical and safety technology, has opened its Flame Engulfment Testing Cabin to provide an in-house facility for testing self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). It is designed to test well beyond existing standards and guarantee the very highest levels of safety.   Flame Engulfment Testing Cabin Based at Dräger’s Centre of Excellence manufacturing facility in Blyth, the...

The firefighting helmet HEROS H10 is the latest member of the acclaimed HEROS helmet family. It complements the already familiar HEROS Titan and HEROS H30 models. But wait a minute – what exactly is the HEROS H10? HEROS H10 The HEROS H10 was specially developed for forest and wildland fires, as well as for technical rescue. It conforms to five different European standards, which also qualify it for high-altitude and water rescue operations. In addition, the new HEROS H10 is a...

Wildfires pose a significant challenge to travel and can be associated with substantial health risks for travelers. Experts predict that wildfires' frequency and intensity will increase dramatically in 2024. The free 'Wildfire Informer' provides a comprehensive overview of the global wildfire situation, categorized by the economic regions of EMEA, AMER, and APAC. mapping fires Safeture, a platform for professional people risk management, has published the report in collaboration with Ri...

MSA Safety, Inc., a pioneer in the development of safety solutions that help to protect people and facility infrastructures, has partnered with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to supply its agencies with the MSA M1 self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The partnership sees MSA Safety equip the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, and Royal Australian Air Force with the state-of-the-art M1 SCBA. All three of the ADF services will be using the M1 SCBA by the end of 2025, helping to pro...

TFS takes immense pride in fostering a culture of growth and constant improvement, which is why they are thrilled to announce that Health Safety & Compliance Manager, Donna-Marie, completed the IOSH Managing Safety training course. high safety standards This certification, awarded by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), is a testament to Donna-Marie’s dedication to maintaining the highest standards of safety within organization. Her achievement not only...

A heat warning is in effect for Great Victoria. Environment and Climate Change Canada is predicting daytime temperatures in the low 30s, with overnight lows near 16 C. There are 13 misting/water bottle filling stations, drinking fountains and places to stay cool located throughout the city. Residents can take steps to reduce the risk of heat-related illness by drinking more fluids regardless of their activity level, and by not waiting until they are thirsty to have a drink. Avoid liquids t...

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced a final rule to protect firefighters and improve public safety. The final rule requires railroads to proactively provide first responders with real-time, electronic information about rail hazmat shipments to the primary Public Safety Answering Point (for example, a 9-1-1 call center or emergency responder phone app, such as the AskRail Mobile App), as soon as the railroad...

This week is Firefighter Safety Stand Down, and fire departments are encouraged to suspend non-emergency operations to focus on training and education relating to this year’s theme - Fire Training: Back to Basics. Daily topics focus on the fundamentals of a successful training program, culminating in the 12 Foundations of Fire Department Training. Many resources are available to help departments implement Safety Stand Down and enhance their training initiatives throughout the year....

For nearly three decades, Graham Lowe has been a guiding force in fire safety, serving as Managing Director of Hochiki Europe. Now, as he steps into retirement, Lowe offers a unique perspective on the remarkable transformations within the fire detection industry and how Hochiki Europe has strategically adapted to stay at the forefront. In this interview, Lowe shares his insights and thoughts for the future not only for the team at Hochiki but also for the broader industry. Over your tenure at H...

Over 100 representatives from across Illinois’ fire service organizations gathered in River Grove, IL, for the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association of Illinois’ 18th Annual Fire Services Home Day, held this year at Triton College’s EMT/Fire Science Program Building. The fire professionals were joined by elected officials and staffers from a number of state and federal offices with 18 fire service vendors displaying key equipment used in the fire service. Various pieces of equ...

Dräger, an international pioneer in the fields of medical and safety technology, has donated five HPS® Safeguard helmets to a group of firefighters who regularly compete in global firefighter fitness competitions, in order to support their efforts, and promote fitness as a means of furthering firefighter health. The helmets are being used in the European and North American FireFit Championships, the German Firefighter Combat Challenge and the British Firefighter Challenge. Dräger...

Fire-Dex is excited to announce a game-changing service for fire departments everywhere: The new FXR Express and FXM Express lines offering premium turnout gear shipped in just five-10 business days. FXR and FXM Express lines FXR and FXM Express provide fire departments with a stock option for two of Fire-Dex’s most popular lines. It means that bunker gear can arrive in under two weeks when needed, ensuring firefighters have fast, reliable access to essential gar...

Whelen Engineering is excited to announce the launch of its annual Everyday Champion Program for 2024. The program is officially open for nominations beginning June 3, 2024, and will remain open until September 6, 2024. Everyday Champion program Whelen’s Everyday Champion program celebrates and recognizes outstanding emergency service departments, individuals, or groups by honoring demonstrations of bravery and courage during an act of exceptional valor or tireless efforts to make a com...

The City of Victoria’s first electric fire truck has rolled into its new home at the Fire Department Headquarters. The newest addition to the firefighting fleet, the Rosenbauer RTX, is an agile and climate-friendly emergency response vehicle with enhanced features and safety for Victoria’s firefighters. Rosenbauer RTX fire truck The new fire truck marks a milestone in the City of Victoria’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint by electrifying or renewably powering 80...

Firefighters serve their communities in a unique and impactful way, going into the emergency when everyone else is going out. But what many people don’t realize is that the majority of firefighters in the U.S. are volunteers. These are neighbors helping neighbors when they need it most. It is this commitment to service and giving back that Mike Rowe highlights on the May 28 episode of The Way I Heard It podcast.  Episode #387 features Episode #387 features conversations with Dr. Ca...

Aldeburgh Fire Station and Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service are inviting people to get on their bikes and set off on 2024's Suffolk Fire Ride. The annual event is a popular fundraiser for the Fire Fighters Charity, which helps past and present fire and rescue service personnel and their families. Suffolk Fire Ride The event is on Sunday, July 7, 2024, and is being hosted by Aldeburgh station, from where two routes will start and finish via the beautiful countryside and the iconic coastline of...

Following their showcase at FDIC International 2024, Wylie Fire Rescue will be receiving and placing into service two new Rosenbauer Roadrunner elevated water towers. These apparatus are quintuple combination pumpers, or quints, featuring a pump, water tank, aerial device, and ground ladders. Wylie Fire Rescue is a four-station, fully paid department with 98 employees. These two new fire trucks, Quint 141 and 143, will be housed at Station 1 and 3, respectively. The department uses the elevated...

Over 50 countries came together for the first-ever World Fire Congress in Washington DC last week. Hosted by the United States (US), the Congress (7th–8th May, 2024) was aimed at increasing international collaboration on the growing challenges faced by fire and rescue services across the globe. The two-day event also saw nations signing the World Fire Congress Charter, indicating their continued commitment to work together to tackle pressing fire-related issues. At the close of the event,...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) continues to raise awareness on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) proposed Emergency Response Standard and offer resources to help first responders take action. On February 5, OSHA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to replace the agency’s ‘Fire Brigades’ standard with a proposed new ‘Emergency Response Standard’. This NPRM’s publication triggered the beginning of a public...

Responding to His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services’ (HMICFRS) report – State of Fire and Rescue: Annual Assessment of Fire and Rescue Services in England 2023 – National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Chair, Mark Hardingham, said, “Our fire and rescue services undertake a vital role in keeping communities safe, they do this across a variety of different fire service roles often moving towards danger while helping others to escape it."...

Idaho Falls - The Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 1565 will continue their long-standing tradition of collecting critical funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) through the Fill the Boot campaign this weekend. critical funds for MDA Idaho Falls firefighters will be at the intersection of Hitt Road and 17th Street on Friday and Saturday, May 10 and May 11, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They will ask pedestrians, drivers, and others to donate to the MDA, which raises funds...

Dräger, an international major in the fields of medical and safety technology, has been shortlisted for the FSM Fire Safety Innovation of the Year award, in recognition of the company’s commitment to enhancing firefighter safety through technological development and improvement.  The Fire Safety Innovation of the Year Award is open to any fire safety manufacturer or service provider and recognizes the products or solutions that have been developed for either active or passive fi...

MSA Safety, DuPont Personal Protection, and the NVFC annually team up to provide volunteer fire departments in need with state-of-the-art turnout gear and helmets. In 2024, a total of 52 sets of gear and helmets will be awarded to 13 departments. To be eligible, the department must be over 50% volunteer, serve a population of 25,000 or less, be legally organized in the U.S. or Canada, and the person applying or department chief must be an NVFC member. Apply by June 1, 2024.