What do you wear underneath your turnout gear? In this video Dr. Rich Young of DuPont Protective Technologies discusses the value of NFPA 1975 certified base layers and their affect on thermal protection:

Look for more videos from LION and DuPont to come.

This post brought to you by DuPont Protective Technologies. For over 200 years, DuPont scientists, engineers and technicians have searched for ways to make life better and safer. Through our history and culture, we are dedicated to protecting more people, from more hazards, in more places around the world. Through our continued commitment to innovation and personal protection, DuPont has developed an extensive line of products and services targeting the needs of first responders and first receivers. These include a wide range of proven, science-based solutions including some of the most trusted brands in the industry, such as Nomex® and Kevlar®.

Share |

As posted on FireRescue1.com

Austin, Texas — Upon arriving at the scene of a vehicular accident, Emergency Responders can click on this Extraction Zones app and select the make and model of the damaged vehicles from an extensive databank in the pop-up list. The side and top view of these specific vehicles will come up displaying all areas of concern that are crucial to a safe and efficient extrication of trapped victims. Areas featured in these two views include ultra high strength structural reinforcements, high voltage hybrid batteries and high voltage cables, airbags and airbag canisters, seatbelt pretensioners, fuel tanks, and 12 volt batteries.

Extraction Zones LLC. has released a second more complete version of the successful original version. The new version is called Extraction Zones Pro which features an additional 150 vehicle makes and models. This addition has increased the original Extraction Zones databank of vehicles by over 300 percent. Extraction Zones Pro builds upon the success of the original version with the addition of entire production lines from many popular manufacturers to enable firefighters, EMT’s, and other first responders to know exactly how to perform vehicle extrication with maximum safety and efficiency. Having this database of knowledge in their hands while performing vehicles extrication procedures is crucial to their safety and the safety of the victims they are rescuing.

To read more click here.

Share |

By Scott Broom
For WUSA9.com

CLINTON, Md. (WUSA) — A five-year-old girl who nearly died during an asthma attack November 28th thanked the three Prince George’s County firefighter/paramedics who’s quick action saved her life.

Christina Luckett handed out personalized plaques featuring her picture and photo to firefighter/medics Edward Scott, William Philpott and Clinton volunteer firefighter Ashley Butler as she met the rescuers inside the firehouse.

The trio also received Emergency Service Awards from Prince George’s County fire chief Marc. S. Bashoor.

The rescuers took the unusual step of racing Christina to Southern Maryland Hospital in their fire truck while performing CPR, rather than waiting a few extra minutes for an ambulance to arrive.  She had stopped breathing and had no pulse.

Read the full story on WUSA9.com.

Share |

By Craig S. Semon for the Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Firefighter Paul M. “Aldo” Bastardo is not only behind the wheel of the command vehicle dubbed “Car 3,” he is also manning a mobile command center, which is equipped with everything one needs to strategically fight a stubborn blaze and help secure the safety and whereabouts of its firefighters.

As the aide to District Fire Chief Samuel W. Richesson, Firefighter Bastardo, a 35-year-plus veteran of the fire department, keeps track of firefighter personnel, engines, ladders and pumps at a scene, as well as civilians, neighboring dwellings, paramedics, police, the electric company, the gas company, and media,.

And Firefighter Bastardo does all this with the help of an “accountability board,” a magnetic board with movable pieces housed in a suitcase that resembles a suburban “Risk” game — but this is no game. The “accountability board,” purchased a few months ago for about $1,000, as well as the equipment and gear in the command vehicle, reduce the risks inherent to accountability, second-guessing, safety and fighting fires.

“What we have here is one of two vehicles we have in the department. This is a mobile command post. It’s also a mobile office,” Firefighter Bastardo said, standing in front of Car 3 inside the garage at the Grove Street fire station. “And what that means is, we bring our resources with us to the scene of a call, so that the incident can be handled by the incident commander and he has resources right there available to him to make decisions to help reduce and/or eliminate loss of life and loss of property.”

Read the full article here.

Share |

From speedwaymedia.com

One Great Cause, One Great Race: DIS Teams Up With Kevin Harvick and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation for Special Daytona 500 Offer

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Daytona International Speedway has once again joined forces with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) for a special ticket package that will deliver the excitement of NASCAR’s most prestigious race – the Daytona 500 – as well as benefit an important cause.  And this year, Daytona has upped the ante by also partnering with 2007 Daytona 500 Champion Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Budweiser Chevrolet Impala.

The NFFF ticket package, which starts at $119 for adults and $79 for children 12 and under, includes a race ticket to the 54th annual Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 26, admission to the FIRE STATION 500 hospitality tent, and an appearance by Harvick.

A portion of the proceeds from each NFFF ticket package purchase will be donated to the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation, a tax-exempt, non-profit organization created by the United States Congress to lead a nationwide effort to remember America’s fallen firefighters. Since 1992, NFFF has developed and expanded programs to honor fallen fire heroes and assist their families and co-workers.

For more details visit speedwaymedia.com

Share |

By Lt. Michael Swiman
Wake Forest (NC) Fire Department
For LION Connects

Why?  This is something that I have learned to ask in the fire service. Most of the upper command staff, even line officers hate this question due to the fact that they feel that they are being infringed on.  I look at it as a way to understand and learn what is coming from the command staff.  Now asking why does not have to be a bad thing, it can be used as a learning moment in various situations such as incident management, or returning to the basics (which everyone should do).

Asking why questions should be done tactfully. Lord knows that sometimes that this is not done and can get you in trouble. But if done with a learning intent I have found that you can obtain a lot of learning information from your command and line officers and then they will be more willing to share the information with you.  As for line personnel asking why, line officers should take the moment as a teaching moment and answer those questions or play devil’s advocate and see what your personnel are thinking (who knows their answers may be the one you’re looking for, or be a better solution to the problem at hand).

With the retirement of some great Chief’s and seasoned firefighters, the newer generation of firefighters need to ask why things are done and how they are done. We all know that we are seeing less and less of firefighting and more EMS calls, it’s just nature of the beast. But when the opportunity arises and these seasoned personnel come by the station or have a seminar/class in your local area, take the opportunity to sit and listen, ask and learn.

I take the opportunity and ask my firefighter’s why I do things the way I do. I like to receive their input. I also ask them why they did what they did. I have all faith in my crew, but I try to encourage them to think outside of the box and have them keep several back-up plans in their minds besides what they currently have in front of them.

Take the moment, learn what you can, ask those questions. Keep training; learn something new every day, return to the basics. Have a safe and joyous holiday.

Share |

By Philip C. Stittleburg, NVFC Chairman
For FireRescue1.com

As another year comes to a close, I am glad to see there have been many successes for the volunteer fire and emergency services in 2011.

At the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), we have released many new training webinars, entered into promising partnerships, strengthened international relationships, and continued expanding critical programs such as Fire Corps, the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program, and the National Junior Firefighter Program.

However, there have also been many disappointing hits to the volunteer fire and emergency services. For the second straight year, the number of volunteer firefighters has decreased.

The National Fire Protection Association’s U.S. Fire Department Profile Through 2010 shows there are 44,000 fewer volunteers in 2010 compared to 2009.

Perhaps even more troubling is that the aging trend we have seen in the volunteer fire service for the past seven years continues. In 2010, 51.2 percent of firefighters in communities under 2,500 were over 40.

The percentage of firefighters over 50 years old serving those communities has risen every year since 2000 and now stands at 28.7 percent.

Read the full message on FireRescue1.com.

Share |

As posted on IAFF.org

In one of its final actions in 2011, Congress has passed an Omnibus Appropriations Bill that makes more than $742 million in Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants available to struggling communities and extends the “SAFER waivers” for Fiscal Years 2011 and 2012. The waivers ensure that fire departments can use SAFER grants to rehire and retain fire fighters, in addition to hiring additional personnel.

“This is a significant victory for IAFF affiliates across the nation, because it will provide substantial funding to hire, rehire and retain fire fighters and paramedics,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “This funding will improve public safety and translate into thousands of jobs.”

Public safety in communities across the United States has been put at risk, as fire fighter and paramedic positions have been lost, targeted for elimination or left unfilled after a vacancy due to funding shortages as the prolonged economic downturn has decimated local tax revenue. But passage of the 2012 Omnibus Appropriations Bill enables communities to reverse that dangerous trend, with grants providing funding for as many as 7,000 fire fighter and paramedic positions.

Read the full article here.

Share |

NFPA 1975 Standard on Station/Work Uniforms for Emergency Services is open for public input.  NFPA standards go through a revision process every 5 years to make sure that standards are up to date and reflecting the latest in trends and technology.  This revision cycle the Technical Committee on Special Operations Protective Clothing and Equipment which oversees NFPA 1975 is seeking input on the use of base layer and performance clothing as part of the station work uniform.

Traditionally base layers and performance clothing are made from fabrics with high levels of stretch and compression.  The fibers used in these fabrics typically have lower melting temperatures than what is used in NFPA 1975 compliant station work uniforms today.  The committee is seeking input in order to make a decision on inclusion of these items in addition to establishing the parameters of performance.

If you have an opinion on the use of this type of clothing as station work uniforms or an opinion on the requirements in the current edition of NFPA 1975 now is the time to let your voice be heard.  For more information on the next edition of NFPA 1975, including a link to download the public input form visit their website.

Share |

From NFPA.com

This NFPA / UL video demonstrates the flammability of a dry Christmas tree vs. a tree that has been watered regularly.

Facts & figures

• Between 2005-2009, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 240 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. These fires caused an average of 13 deaths, 27 injuries, and $16.7 million in direct property damage annually.
• Christmas tree fires are not common, but when they occur, they are likely to be serious. On average, one of every 18 reported fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in death.
• A heat source too close to the Christmas tree started one of every five (20%) of these fires.
• Eighteen percent of home Christmas tree structure fires were intentionally set. Half of the intentional Christmas tree fires occurred in January and may have been related to disposal.

Source: NFPA’s “Home Christmas Tree and Holiday Light Fires” by Marty Aherns, November 2011.

Also see: Fact sheet on Christmas trees and holiday lights (PDF, 51 KB)

Share |