Firefighter Health and Safety - News
Optimized according to the percentage of the aspirated product, the eductor’s viscosity, and the duration of the operation, there are several techniques for proportionally mixing various liquids. The simplest, least expensive, and most used by firefighters uses the Venturi effect. This effect is the consequence of a reduction in the flow section of the moving water which lowers the pressure until another liquid can be sucked in, then the premix passes through a regularly increased sectio...
ImageTrend, Inc. has announced that Resource Bridge solution has been updated, in order to accommodate the rapid evolution of the US CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), so as to improve their COVID-19 module for Acute Care Hospitals, with the addition of 11 new data collection fields. These additional data fields work to enhance the information received by the NHSN, which has proven beneficial for preparedness and response activities, on a local and national level. ImageTrend...
MSA, DuPont, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) provided 13 volunteer fire departments with needed personal protective equipment through MSA’s 2019 Globe Gear Giveaway. Each department received four sets of new, state-of-the-art turnout gear along with four helmets to better protect their members. This year marks over $1 million worth of gear that has been donated to volunteer fire departments in need since 2012. In total, 507 sets of turnout gear have been awarded to 108 depar...
CMC and Harken Industrial are proud to announce the launch of a new multi-purpose rope travel device, the CLUTCH. Now available in 13 mm and 11 mm models, this single wearable tool has been designed for efficient hauling, controlled lowering, smooth personal descent, easy ascending, and reliable progress capture. Single Wearable Tool The CLUTCH boasts an impressive range of benefits for those working in the Rescue, Rope Access, and Work at Height industries, including: Single wearable tool...
Kent Fire and Rescue Service has unveiled its new and improved protective kit, which will be worn by over 30,000 firefighters across the country. KFRS took the lead role in a collaborative project involving fire services throughout the UK to source a modern personal protective equipment (PPE) kit that is suitable for all crews. The joint partnership involved 11 other fire services, with the new uniform now accessible to 24 authorities and more are expected to join. KFRS unveils new and improve...
With more than 200 countries agreeing to usher in a new class of refrigerants, effective this year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and its research affiliate, the Fire Protection Research Foundation (Research Foundation), have released free online training for the fire service, as well as an instructor-led training module to educate firefighters about the potential hazards associated with new refrigeration and cooling units. Calls for low GWP refrigerants The new accord calls...
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has some exciting membership news to start out 2020. The NVFC strives to offer the best services for thier members, and also want to make sure membership is affordable for volunteers. That is why they are introducing a new single-category individual NVFC membership. No more categories, no more confusion — just one membership level at one low price. Access To Online Training NVFC membership still provides the same important benefits as before, su...
Rosenbauer has further developed and improved the quality of its simulation systems with the release of the new RCS Simulator Driving. Training for municipal fire department emergency journeys is undertaken on the RCS Simulator Driving, whereby particularly critical driving situations can be practised without risk. On the new RCS Simulator Familiarization, airport road users can familiarize themselves with specific locational conditions, and train for the required driving authorizations. Both s...
3M today announced that it has completed the sale of the company’s advanced-ballistic protection business to Avon Rubber p.l.c. for $91 million, before closing and other adjustments. A further contingent consideration of up to $25 million is payable depending on the outcome of pending tenders. Avon Rubber is a provider of advanced chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear respiratory protection systems for military, law enforcement and fire customers. Ballistic Helmets The business...
In 2018, HazSim welcomed Odessa College in Odessa, Texas, USA to their growing list of teams training the HazSim way. Recently, instructors from their site were featured in an article by the Odessa American detailing some of the great training they are providing in the gas detection sector. The article follows Dean McCann, a former Odessa Police officer, who now teaches oilfield safety at Odessa College. Dean McCann, also a former employee of the famed Boots & Coots, explains some of the po...
The new Turbo-Spritze 2090 from AWG Fittings has been specially developed for fighting forest and wildland fires. Capable of achieving outstanding water coverage, this highly portable solution is said to be the perfect piece of kit for call-outs. Portable firefighting solution The people tasked with saving lives and protecting valuable assets should be able to rely on their equipment and tools, especially as their own safety often depends on having fully functioning gear. AWG Fittings urges c...
Dr. William F. Jenaway, President of the Congressional Fire Services Institute, announced that Chief Shane Ray has been appointed to the CFSI Board of Directors. Dr. William Jenaway made the announcement at the CFSI National Advisory Committee meeting on December 10th in Washington, DC. Chief Ray’s appointment is to a newly created board position. President of NFSA Chief Shane Ray currently serves as the President of the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), a role he has held sinc...
The Viking Corporation, a global renowned provider of fire protection and life safety systems, has announced the availability of new specific application window sprinklers, VK960 and VK962 models. Designed to provide interior protection of windows or glazing, the sprinklers are used with fixed glazed assemblies to provide an alternative to a fire resistance rated wall assembly and feature a unique spray pattern that coats the surface of the glass with water, reducing the risk of cracking or sha...
Dry fire sprinkler systems have been around for a long time and are used to protect unheated warehouses and structures, where freezing temperatures could cause the pipes in a wet pipe sprinkler system to burst. They are also increasingly being used in areas containing sensitive or very expensive contents due to the fears that leaking fire sprinkler pipes could cause. As the use of dry pipe systems has become more widespread, concerns regarding the impact of corrosion common in dry pipe systems...
Member companies and representatives of the Open Security & Safety Alliance (OSSA) will be present at the Intersec 2020 trade show, slated to take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from January 19 – 21, 2020. Open Security & Safety Alliance (OSSA), an industry body comprised of leaders, influencers and innovative organizations from all facets within the security, safety and surveillance space, formed to help the industry focus on creating new value, by reducing market fragment...
The risk of a fire is without doubt a genuine and fundamental threat for IT operations, but what actually triggers fires in data centers? In recent years, statistics from Germany's Institut für Schadenverhütung und Schadenforschung (Institute for Loss Prevention and Loss Research) relating to the causes of all kinds of fires have repeatedly identified electronic components as the main culprit. Most data center fires are small smoldering fires caused by defective power supply units, fa...
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) releases the final set of fire and rescue service inspection scores, confirming that Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is one of the best in the country. The Inspectorate has spent the last 18 months assessing all fire and rescue services and has done so in three tranches. Cambridgeshire was one of the first to be visited and last December received its rating of ‘Good’ in each of the three...
medbuy GmbH is regarded as an experienced and reliable partner for medical products/technology and occupational health & safety. Its customers include hospitals, medical practices, voluntary fast-response units, aid organizations, fire departments and rescue services, but also both public- and private-sector companies covering a wide range of industries. In addition to dressings, disinfectants, disposable gloves, work clothing and safety shoes, medbuy’s comprehensive product portfolio...
An official passing out parade to welcome ten new wholetime firefighters to Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) took place at Rochester Fire Station. Attended by family and friends of the trainees, the occasion was held to welcome the firefighters and showcase their newly honed skills. Chosen from over 5,000 applicants, the trainees have just completed 15 weeks of intense training designed to equip them with the necessary skills and techniques required to become a firefighter. In order to reach...
When the 2018 edition of NFPA 1971: Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting was published, one of the more noteworthy additions was the optional requirements for manufacturers to work within developing particulate blocking protective hoods for firefighters. The driving force behind that addition was and continues to be, the growing awareness across the fire services in the U.S. and Canada about the skin absorption risk that firefighters face fro...
Rosenbauer International AG, a company of the Rosenbauer Group, and Brandweer Amsterdam Amstelland will be working together on the ongoing development of a new range-extended electrical fire truck over the next two years. The aim of the innovation partnership is to subject the underlying approach of Rosenbauer’s Concept Fire Truck (CFT) to comprehensive practical testing and to analyze its performance in day-to-day operations on the narrow streets of the Dutch capital. Following an implem...
Rescuing XL victims can prove particularly tricky for emergency workers, especially from great heights. But now specialist engineering firm EPV Hackenfort has created exactly what these lifesavers need - the KK1 500RE rescue unit. It's not uncommon to hear stories about the difficulties that arise when rescuing severely overweight individuals, particularly in the tabloid media. But behind these sensationalist reports and the often mocking and pitying undertones, there lies a serious predicament...
Portable gas detection equipment needs to work faultlessly and in conjunction with safety best practice. Lives depend on it. But, faced with many daily demands on a safety manager’s time, maintaining compliance across a fleet of equipment is a constant challenge. Matt DeLorenzo, Business Director for Safety io (an MSA Safety Company subsidiary), explains how the Grid Fleet Manager – software service for managing fleets of portable gas detectors – helps to ensure compliance thro...
The London Fire Commissioner, Dany Cotton, has announced she will be stepping down from her position at London Fire Brigade on 31 December. The Commissioner had previously announced in June that she intended to retire from the fire and rescue service in April 2020, but in consultation with City Hall it has been agreed that Dany will bring that forward to the end of this year to enable a timely handover to the next Commissioner, as the Brigade works to urgently deliver the recommendations of the...
The Polytron 6100 EC WL is a flexible and cost-efficient solution for plant expansions, upgrades or new installations. The wireless gas detection transmitter demonstrates its advantages even in challenging measuring tasks in loading or inspection areas. Wireless detection reduces the planning effort required while retaining the same safety levels provided by a wired transmitter. The Polytron 6100 EC WL is SIL2 capable. It uses field-proven DrägerSensors optimized for industrial application...
Under the motto ‘Space for Innovation’, Techtextil, the globally renowned international trade fair for technical textiles and non-wovens, presented the entire spectrum of technical textiles, functional apparel textiles, and textile technologies and their potential applications, earlier this year, from the 14th to 17th May 2019. Techtextil 2019 As one of the long-term international exhibitors, Lenzing participated in the event and introduced their LENZING fibers and products to the...
Make a difference. Help Big Bear Fire Department provide quick action fighting fires. Partner with them in their Adopt-A-Hydrant program. In the event of a fire, it is imperative that the fire department gain access to a fire hydrant water supply as quickly as possible, so as to prevent the loss of life and property. Residents and business owners can adopt a hydrant to make sure that the hydrant is easily accessible throughout the year. Fire crews Once adopted, the area around the hydrant sho...
In addition to the three existing locations in Karlsruhe, Luckenwalde and Viersen, the fourth Rosenbauer service center in Germany started operations in Bad Abbach-Lengfeld, in Bavaria (approx. 15 km from Regensburg), in mid-November 2019. New service center Spread on a total area of 3,300 sq. meters, the new location offers a workshop with 10 parking spaces for the repair and maintenance of firefighting and aerial rescue vehicles. In addition, there are offices and training rooms, as well a...
The Big Bear Valley has enjoyed a grant-funded Curbside Vegetation Chipping Program since 2005. Several thousand tons of vegetation have been collected and chipped each year since the program’s inception. The program has ended for the season due to weather conditions, but there is hope to have new grant funds available to resume in the spring. Fire Chief, Jeff Willis states, “The community has done an outstanding job in creating defensible space by utilizing the chipping program. It...
Thanksgiving is a time for friendship, sharing, and busy kitchens. Big Bear Fire Department reminds everyone that crowded kitchens and busy cooks can lead to serious burns and tragic fires. Thanksgiving is one of the leading days of the year for home fires involving cooking equipment. That’s why it’s important to know what users can do to help keep friends and family safe while entertaining for the holidays. Safety Tips To avoid dangerous incidents, the National Fire Protection As...