By David Whiting
for the Orange County Register
It was a day of heroes at the Pacific Coast Triathlon on Sunday with firefighters, military and police honored for their service.
Washington, D.C., firefighters Dennis Carmody and Daniel Gerdy stunned the crowd after they swam a half-mile in the ocean, bicycled 12 miles and then put on full firefighting gear to run 3 miles.
Carmody, 32, also grabbed an American flag while Gerdy, 29, carried a red and gold flag honoring New York firefighters.
Other men and women in uniform also received special honors with a “heroes” division of military, police and firefighters kicking off the race at 7 a.m.
The athletes started by swimming in the ocean. Then they ran across sand and up a hill, where they transitioned to the bike portion of the triathlon.
With rays of sun breaking through clouds, they completed two six-mile loops on Pacific Coast Highway before tackling the run.
Several hundred onlookers cheered athletes as they crossed the finish line. But the biggest cheers of all were for Carmody and Gerdy. Both entered the triathlon and decided to run in full gear to honor the firefighters who died 10 years ago.
Read the full article on the Orange County Register site.
By FRANK BORELLI
For Officer.com
Just a couple weeks ago I was teaching a handgun course and there came a point on the range where I realized, looking down the line of students, that every one of them was wearing / carrying their handgun differently. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but the follow on was me examining each platform trying to ascertain what specific purpose it had been built for. Obviously it had to carry the handgun securely but one guy had two magazine pouches also mounted; another had a flashlight and a knife; another yet had a grenade pouch on his… things that make you go “hmmm…” So, with those thoughts in mind, I felt it would be good to discuss a few options and offer up a few suggestions for what they’re worth.
Understand up front that I’m only talking about “tactical” platforms. Of course, they were deemed “tactical” because, back in the day, they were most often used by SWAT folks. Since then we’ve (shooters) come to realize that all of the characteristics that make them great for use by SWAT guys and soldiers also makes them great for use by we “commoners”. (I’m not a SWAT guy anymore) What makes them so great?
Read the full article on Officer.com.
Now is the time to prepare and submit your 2011 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) application. According to FEMA, applications are due by 5:00 P.M. EST on Friday, September 16, 2011. It’s not too late to start your application – just start today!
Follow these helpful steps as you finalize your application.
- A DUNS Number is required for your application
Obtain a DUNS number by calling 1-866-705-5711
- Central Contractor Registration (CCR) System Registration (optional)
Successful grantees will be required to register in the CCR. We recommend that you do it now in case you receive an award
Visit https://www.bpn.gov/ccr/default.aspx to register
- Needs Assessment
Conducting a needs assessment will help you determine and justify your requested items/activities and costs
- Research and Collect Information
Determine the quantity and costs of the items/activities you are requesting assistance for
- Application Completion
Enter the information required in the online application
Make sure the information you entered is correct and that your narratives are detailed
- Application Review
Print your application section by section and have someone else review it for errors and inconsistencies. You will not be able to make any changes to your application after you submit it, so use this review to make your application is the best it can be.
Click here to find out more information.
From The Washington Examiner
Dogs in the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office will be getting four new bulletproof vests, thanks to a grant from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation, founded by the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback.
The dogs receiving the vests are trained to detect explosives, as well as to help officers on their regular patrols.
“The grant funds will provide our dogs with vests that protect them from attacks with firearms and knifes while engaged in their duties,” said Sheriff Darren Popkin.
The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation is distributing grants like this one to police and fire departments in Pittsburgh and the cities and surrounding communities of each Steelers regular season away game. The Steelers are playing the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
You can read more about the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation and the latest grant on their website.
By STEVE SCHWARTZ
Message from LION CEO
Th
is Sunday marks ten years since 9/11.
It’s a time for remembrance. Nearly 3,000 people were murdered. Each loss creates an unfillable void for family, friends, our fire service and first responder community, and the nation.
It’s a time for reflection. Right after 9/11, as a country, we stood as one. That sense of oneness has looked and felt increasingly fragile over the past two years of economic and political turmoil in our country.
It’s a time for renewed solidarity: to recommit ourselves to a belief in that oneness that we felt so strongly 10 years ago. The challenges we face in each of our communities and in the nation can only be solved through believing in oneness not divisiveness. Divisiveness is what our enemies hope for.
We must also recommit ourselves to the defense of our country – and to its core values. On 9/11, we were attacked by radical Islamist forces not for a specific policy, but for who we are. Remember: in 1993, under a different president from a different party, there was another deadly terror attack on the Twin Towers. It’s America – and what we stand for – that’s the target.
I thank each of our first responders for putting your lives on the line daily to keep our families and communities safe. I hope our nation never experiences anything like 9/11 again, but if we do, know that we as a company are doing everything we can to keep you safe and ready to respond to whatever challenge you face.
Stay Safe.
By Michael Krueger, FireLife
A study was recently released that indicated many centenarians have lived a long life filed with incredibly bad health habits including lack of exercise, smoking tobacco, and eating habits that would make a frat boy gag. Unfortunately, some people take those results and conclude that this proves that it doesn’t matter how they behave with regard to their health and fitness. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Quality of Life vs. Quantity of Life
No one knows how long they are going to live. A truck running a stoplight can put an end to a promising life in a microsecond. The quality of your time, though, is greatly within your control. I can’t tell you the number of times someone has observed my eating and exercise habits and has commented, “What, you think you’re going to live forever?” I’m in this life for quality since I don’t know what my quantity is going to be. I want to feel healthy and strong every minute of every day, no matter how many minutes that turns out to be.
I have heard people say that they believe their heart will only beat so many times and they aren’t going to waste any of them exercising. This is one of my favorite health myths to debunk. The following shows how that just isn’t so.
Click here to read the entire article on FireLife.com
by Adam K. Thiel, FireRescue1
Fire departments can definitely make a difference by spreading prevention-related messages
As this story demonstrates, even though Hurricane Irene has now departed our shores, members of affected communities are still at great risk while they continue dealing with flooding, power outages, and storm-inflicted damage.
Beyond maintaining responders’ personal vigilance, and getting ready for the next potential storm, fire departments can definitely make a difference by spreading prevention-related messages.
While trained firefighters might take generator safety and other basic safety measures for granted, the average citizen is likely unfamiliar with portable power equipment.
Click here to read the entire article on FireRescue1.
From FireEngineering.com
Ralph and Barbara Geidel have spent close to $100,000 on his medical treatment since 2003, when the former fireman and 9/11 first responder was first diagnosed with tongue and neck cancer.
“We’ve already used up all of our savings,” said his wife, Barbara. “We’re now living paycheck to paycheck.”
The Geidels were hoping to finally get some health insurance help with their mounting medical bills, when President Obama earlier this year signed into law the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.
(more…)
Do you feel overrun by laptops, phones, GPS and other technology while on the job? Lt. Dan Marcou from PoliceOne.com offers a few suggestions for coping with information overload:
- Shut down all personal devices and place them in your locker, upon beginning your tour. To some they are no longer an occasional distraction they have become a constant distraction.
- Learn to log arrival on scene without looking at your keyboard.
- When you have to use the computer on the beat — don’t type more than one line before you lift your eyes to scan and process.
- If you must text, prop the device on top of your steering wheel (never while driving!) and develop the ability to utilize your peripheral vision to keep the rest of the world in focus.
- If you must write up reports in your squad, save your work and change locations periodically. Do not stay in one place too long.
- Train to survive while using technology.
Visit PoliceOne.com for the full article.
We want you to feel the comfort and dexterity offered by our LION Protective Gloves — and get your feedback on how to improve them to better meet the needs of your intense work, day in and day out.
Would you like to wear trial a pair of our new Commander gloves? All you have to do is comment on our Facebook wall post about this story to be entered as a potential wear trial candidate. We’ll randomly select a handful of entrants tomorrow, September 2 at 3 p.m. EST and contact the winners via Facebook to get your sizes early next week.
The Commander is NFPA 1971-certified, featuring a leather gauntlet with Eversoft thermal split leather and CROSSTECH® Direct Grip® glove insert, giving you the best combination of comfort, durability and dexterity.
So, comment on our LION Facebook wall and tell us that YOU want to try a pair of our new structural firefighting gloves!
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