Firefighter Health and Safety - News

In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, Dräger has received an order from the British government to deliver respiratory protection masks (FFP3). The delivery of the order will start in 2020 and will stretch until the end of 2021. The expected net sales are roughly EUR 100 million. For this purpose, a mask production will be set up in the UK, in the Blyth area of Northumberland. There, Dräger has had a development and production site for respiratory protection technology for firefig...

On 11 July 1240, Emperor Frederick II granted trade fair rights to Frankfurt am Main, marking the birth of Messe Frankfurt. Now, 780 years later, the company can look back on an eventful history, in which the Frankfurt trade fair developed from a medieval marketplace into a global player, experiencing many successes and mastering various crises. Importance of trade fairs Peter Feldmann, Mayor of Frankfurt am Main and Chairman of the Messe Frankfurt Supervisory Board, had this to say about Mess...

COVID-19 has overwhelmingly been the biggest issue to shape and change the industry, lives, and world in recent history. The FIA has been asked directly by the Government to consult with their members as they are keen to hear how the industry has been affected and how they can work with their industry to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. fire industry professionals The company has put together this survey addressed to fire industry professionals so that the industry can effectively gather the...

The National Volunteer Fire Council has earned a 2020 Gold Seal of Transparency by adding information to the non-profit profile on GuideStar. Now, community members as well as 10+ million GuideStar users can find in-depth information about the organization's goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress. The NVFC shining a spotlight on the work we do to support the volunteer fire, emergency medical, and rescue services.

In response to the continuing effects of the worldwide pandemic, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has postponed its inaugural in-person Recruitment & Retention (R&R) Experience. This two-day, interactive conference focuses on volunteer fire department staffing issues and will now take place September 17-18, 2021, in Cleveland, OH. Those who have already registered for the 2020 event can choose to defer their registration to 2021 or receive a full refund. Registration for the 2...

On June 26-27, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) held a virtual preview of the 2021 Training Summit. This two-day online training event featured keynote speakers and panel discussions, followed by breakout sessions to enable participants to ask questions and further discuss the themes that had been presented by that day’s speakers. In-Person Event postponed to 2021 The NVFC had originally planned to hold an in-person Training Summit in Orlando in 2020 but had to postpone the eve...

BAFE SP101 fire extinguisher technician assessments and BS 5306 Exam during the coronavirus pandemic. BAFE is focused on protecting assessors and fire extinguisher technicians from the threat of COVID-19. After reviewing the risk threat posed by COVID-19, BAFE has established new safety procedures to recommence fire extinguisher technician assessments for the BAFE SP101 Scheme. BAFE SP101 Scheme BAFE is now in a position to accept bookings for assessments with immediate effect from 06/07/2020...

The Chief Executive of East of England Ambulance Service has thanked staff for embracing new ways of working which have helped deliver faster response times during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest figures show that despite the challenges of COVID-19, the Trust is consistently meeting all national standards, due in part to more staff to manage calls and more vehicles on the road. Compared to 2021, ambulance response times to reach the most seriously ill (category o...

Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the points raised under the Dame Judith Hackitt review covering compliance and competence with independently tested products, the IFC scheme was developed with the Smoke Control Association (SCA). Developed to raise the importance of smoke control and the use of the EN/BSI and ISO standards, utilizing SCA guides for fire safety in buildings alongside of sprinklers. The IFC SDI 19 scheme is the first smoke control scheme accredited to UKAS. competence an...

XPander is Apollo’s hybrid wireless range. It offers a comprehensive solution to many problems that present themselves when installing a fire detection system. It is quick to install and requires minimal cabling. Often being 75% quicker to install in comparison to a wired system! XPander applications XPander has many applications, and its versatility is key to deciding on which type of system fits best for a building. Ideal applications: Time-sensitive Projects. Minimizing Disrupt...

The world of the fire service is heavily related to tangible and tangible things. In this context, people like to think of personal protective equipment, portable pumps, pumps, rescue equipment or emergency vehicles, a dream on 4 wheels with flashing lights and a tone horn, so to speak. Intangible things like software (unfortunately) do not yet have a high priority in the fire service. Digitization In the current discussion about digitization, however, the use of information technology is gett...

M-Fire Holdings, LLC announces additions to the proven Mighty Fire Breaker® product line designed to defend property and roadway right-of-way from devastating wildfire events. Applying Mighty Fire Breaker® Fire Treated Retention Mulch eliminates the threat of wildfire along exit corridors, ensuring a new level of safety for both fire professionals and evacuating residents. Tools for wildfire management Mighty Fire Breaker® wildfire protective mulch technology was created to assis...

In 2020, Rosenbauer will be present at the Retter Messe in Wels, Austria's renowned trade fair for emergency services organizations, from October 29 to 31, 2020. Attendees can witness groundbreaking technologies and experience the innovations first-hand. Aerial rescue vehicles Rosenbauer will be presenting its key products and selected new products from the fields of vehicles, fire-fighting technology, equipment and digital solutions. Two Rosenbauer aerial rescue vehicles will be stationed on...

Rosenbauer has announced the release of a new series of RFC POLY extinguishing systems with integrated CAFS (Compressed Air Foam Systems) is presented. The extremely versatile fire extinguishing systems enable immediate and efficient extinguishing in the critical initial minutes of a fire. They are especially suited to combating spatially defined solid and liquid fires through the expansion of the extinguishing medium, as well as for the preventative protection of objects for which a fire poses...

The spread of COVID-19 has more than just physical health implications. It also creates uncertainty and changes in lifestyle that can have an emotional impact. Firefighters, EMS providers, and rescue workers may be feeling the impact especially hard as they navigate the new realities of responding and maintaining operations during this crisis. NVFC invites all to join Jeff Dill, founder of the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance, for this free NVFC webinar on May 20 to discuss strategies and...

Comtran and RSCC Wire & Cable, both part of Marmon Electrical, provide high performance solutions for circuit integrity applications. Since launching in 2000, the VITALink product line has become the most comprehensive line of circuit integrity cables, continuously innovating and developing to help protect lives. Meeting UL 2196, all VITALink cable is designed to last 2 hours in a burning infrastructure and remain operational to ensure building occupants can evacuate safely. The cables supp...

Carrier Corporation has announced that the Advisor Advanced (ATSx500A Series) security systems with the UltraSync cloud security solution have attained the 3 Shields CNPP NFA2P electronic security certification for a complete system. It is considered to be the highest level of certification that can be accorded to any system. NFA2P standard certification The NFA2P standard certification includes a certification of robustness to cyber-attacks. Advisor Advanced is a security product manufactured...

Firefighters have seen their roles change significantly in recent years, as they respond to the challenges of the modern world. Today, in addition to fire-related emergencies, fire crews attend a wide variety of other incidents including traffic accidents, medical emergencies, flooding, chemical spills, public unrest, and collapsed buildings. As a result, firefighter PPE has been steadily evolving to reflect this change, with manufacturers and designers striving to produce protective garments t...

Deep cleaning the restaurant and the commercial kitchen does not just give it a beautiful, sparkling appearance, it also keeps the customers and employees safe! During the COVID-19 pandemic, this level of safety is more important than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in a new reality for the restaurant industry: social distancing, altered operating standards, and the need for intense cleaning. Keeping the kitchen sanitary will help keep the customers both safe and happy, as well as more...

Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer, and outdoor workers who naturally spend more time outside, working in the sun, are the biggest victims. They are at greater risk of getting exposed to UV radiation and developing skin cancers. That said, sun safety is often neglected in the workplace, especially by construction companies. If proper sun safety precautions aren’t followed, workers can suffer from serious health issues.  Therefore, with the sun right on the horizon...

Wildfire smoke occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic can increase susceptibility to the virus and other infections by irritating the respiratory system, resulting in altered immune function. Populations vulnerable to smoking, including those with compromised immune systems, children under 18, pregnant women, adults 65 and over, and outdoor workers need to be aware of this risk. How to reduce risk from wildfire smoke Inform the community about these actionable steps that t...

As the COVID-19 pandemic affects communities across the United States, it has also impacted in-person fundraising for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). For 66 years, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has collected critical funds in the community, one dollar at a time, as part of the ‘Fill the Boot’ program. This summer, the program will launch virtually to address social distancing guidelines for the firefighters and the vulnerable community MDA serves....

Alarming findings are published in the 'Home Router Security Report 2020' by the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics FKIE. Of the 127 home routers tested by seven major manufacturers, nearly all were found to have security flaws, some of them very severe.  security flaws The problems range from missing security updates to easily decrypted, hard-coded passwords and known vulnerabilities that should have been patched long ago. A team led by Peter...

Purchasing, production, logistics, distribution, and markets form a network spread over continents and nations, the details of which are difficult for companies to keep track of. However, such an overview with a focus on one's own company contributes to the company's success in many ways. FIFI project The project, 'Fraud Information-Fusion Intelligence' by Fraunhofer FKIE adapts proven approaches, procedures, and tools used by security authorities to the requirements of companies, develops t...

It's the baby of the fleet of the Henkel Plant Fire Department: the new environmental protection equipment truck with radio call name Florian Henkel 01 GW-U-01. In terms of type, this is a rescue vehicle in accordance with DIN 14555-3: 2016-12, with extended crew capacity executed in Advanced Technology (AT), the Rosenbauer premium quality. The vehicle is realized on a 2-axle chassis from MAN with a 4,500 mm wheelbase and a permissible total weight of 18 tons. Space beneath the s...

Fireworks are synonymous with the Fourth of July. They are beautiful, but can also be very dangerous if not used properly. The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office not only encourages residents to attend professional fireworks displays and practice fireworks safety but also practice social distancing and wear masks. “Professional fireworks displays are a great way for residents to safely enjoy fireworks, but with the spread of COVID-19 we are also encouraging everyone to practice soc...

The Polytron 8900 UGLD is an early warning system that quickly detects gas leaks in compressed gas lines and containers. The ultrasonic sensor allows the system to react more quickly than conventional gas detection technology, as it detects the sound of the leaking gases rather than the gas concentration of a gas cloud. Conventional industrial gas warning systems only detect gas leaks when the gas is in the immediate vicinity of the gas detection transmitter. This means environmental influences...

When a CO2 extinguisher is used in a confined space there is danger that the user may become overwhelmed by the sudden increase in carbon dioxide emissions. This occurs as CO2 is an asphyxiant, and the confined space means oxygen will be replaced by CO2 much faster. powder extinguishers Similarly, care must also be taken when using powder extinguishers. When the powder is discharged it can impair visibility and impact the breathing of the user, possibly jeopardizing their escape.  The p...

The Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 was the initiating legislation for the development of Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). This legislation encourages communities to develop these plans to help reduce their risk to wildfire loss, as well as create healthier natural ecosystems. The ambiguity in the legislation allows communities to develop effective plans that are relevant to their conditions and can change as community capacity, and other conditions change. Why it is important...

BAFE is pleased to note the announcements made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Most notably, the one meter plus rule (in England) will help in the continuation of the fire safety industry by gaining access to buildings to perform essential fire safety work and maintenance as required by legislation. BAFE awaits further guidance to be released by the Government shortly, which will assist the industry to determinedly continue with extreme care and diligence. fire safety provisions and systems...