Firefighter Health and Safety - News
A dynamic new digital community is bringing together fire experts and policy makers to share insight and information as well as inspire improved building fire safety in Europe. Since its official launch in November, the European Fire Safety Community (EFSC) has attracted more than 260 individual members, ranging from firefighters, fire engineers, non-governmental organizations, and researchers to policymakers, architects, association members, and fire specialists. Fire Safe Europe The communi...
As of 6th May, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is changing its response to automatic fire alarm activations during the coronavirus pandemic. Full statement from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service: Pre-determined attendance at automatic fire alarm actuations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is taking all necessary measures to minimize disruption to the emergency response during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Demand on front-line resources...
Throughout April and into the foreseeable future the FIA will continue providing its online CPD sessions across the breadth of the fire industry with '99% of delegates saying that the training meets their needs well to extremely well and 98% are satisfied or very satisfied with the CPD content. Hundreds of enthusiastic delegates took part in the FIA’s second industry-recognized online CPD day. The fire industry has adapted incredibly well to the impacts of COVID-19 and it has not hindered...
Since the presentation of the Concept Fire Truck (CFT) in autumn 2016, many fire services and fire service experts have been able to get an idea of the special functionalities and ergonomic advantages of the vehicle concept. Concept Fire Truck (CFT) It turns out that some of the fire service trends for which the CFT is intended to offer solutions appear particularly important. At the forefront are the topics of health and safety, followed by the new ecology trend, which has been reinforced b...
The safety innovators at Fire & Safety Specialists (FSS) have developed a unique solution to the dangers of missing handrail sections, open holes and stairways, turning a hazard zone into a safe work zone, while saving time and money. Temporary Barricade System More cost-effective and simpler than a custom job, the Temporary Barricade System is a no-weld solution with practically no downtime. What’s more, one person can safely install the barricade’s portable, reusable and stro...
In the first three months of 2020, Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA (Dräger) has announced reporting an extraordinary increase in order intake, as well as a rise in net sales. Earnings were up significantly year on year. Order intake saw a sharp rise, increasing by 116.7 percent (net of currency effects) in the first three months. High order intake At EUR 1,392.7 million, order intake was up 115.1 percent year on year in nominal terms (3 months 2019: EUR 647.6 million). Orders increased...
Fire Chief Michael Patterson and Police Chief Michael Kent are pleased to announce that the Burlington Police and Fire Departments will be among several first responder agencies throughout the region paying a special visit to Lahey Hospital & Medical Center of Burlington, on May 4, 2020, to show their appreciation to the hospital’s employees. tribute to frontline medical staff The Burlington Police and Fire Departments, which are organizing the event, will be among several neighborin...
Property fires across South Yorkshire look to have dropped by almost a quarter during lockdown, according to the county’s fire service. 23% reduction The reduction, South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue says, is pleasing with firefighters expecting a slight increase due to large amounts of people spending more time at home. Latest figures show that crews attended 157 primary fire incidents across Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster, and Barnsley, between 23 March and 23 April. This, when compar...
The Clark County Fire Department (CCFD) is temporarily taking up to 12 suppression units out of rotation since they are experiencing a significant reduction in calls for service, particularly in the Las Vegas Strip resort area. Clark County Fire Chief John Steinbeck said the factors considered for the temporary shutdown include call volume, fire response, patient transporting, and additional in-station or surrounding resources. This is a very fluid situation. A unit that makes sense to temporar...
HURST Jaws of Life, an industry renowned global manufacturer of rescue tools, has earned the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) 1936 2020 compliant status for HURST’s two highest-performing product lines, eDRAULIC watertight extrication tools (EWXT) and eDRAULIC 2.0 (E2) battery-powered tools. The third-party test results also include HURST Jaws of Life earning high ratings in the NFPA’s new F Bar Cut testing for cutter performance, against the design and metal type...
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.
Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) Fire Chief, Bryan Collins, announced at a media briefing, plans to provide the Spokane Valley Fire Department with a Firefighter Wellness App to support their mental health and well-being. The wellness tool will be an App installed on phones to help Spokane Valley Firefighters with their personal health and wellness needs. Many Firefighters experience PTSD after years of service in traumatic situations. “Our firefighters face tremendous mental and phy...
ImageTrend, Inc. is pleased to announce an offering to connect its License Management solution with the National EMS Coordinated Database, for the electronic exchange of licensing information, by June 2020. A National EMS-ID number will be generated to link EMS personnel records across multiple state licensing systems and the National EMS Coordinated Database. ImageTrend License Management Leveraging the automated licensing workflow capability, new and updated EMS personnel data can be report...
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, “...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
KIMTEK has added six new ultra high-pressure models to its brush truck series skid unit lineup. The new 400 Series FIRELITE® FCUHP-401, -402, -403 deluxe, -404, -405, and -406 basic model skid units are desired by departments needing affordable brush truck units with a CAT ultra-high-pressure pump. To additionally meet departments' specific needs, KIMTEK offers the new 400 Series in options that include a patient transport area which can hold a long board or stokes basket or accommodate oth...
Fire Safety Matters Magazine has launched a new podcast for the fire safety industry. Fire Safety Matters (FSM) launched their inaugural podcast episode featuring the new BAFE campaign. The Don’t Just Specify, Verify! campaign focuses on the important verification stage of Third Party Certification when sourcing a competent provider to help meet fire safety obligations. Verification is extremely important, as BAFE Registration or any Third Party Certification...
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.
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.
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...
Big Bear Fire Department announces that it will suspend its popular chipping program for the 2020 season. This grant-funded program has been highly successful in helping residents create defensible space around their structures. denied grant letters The Fire Department actively researches and applies for hazardous fuel reduction grants to keep the chipping program and the hazardous tree removal program going. The Department recently received denial letters for the three grants appl...
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...
Rosenbauer has developed a face cover with which people who often come into close contact with others, even in times of the Coronavirus, can better protect themselves: employees in supermarkets, delivery personnel, as well as emergency services personnel, healthcare workers, etc. Tried-and-tested components of the HEROS-titan firefighting helmet are used for the new face cover, the helmet harness system, in particular, has been adapted to current needs. It can be quickly adjusted in multiple dir...