Category: General

By Olivia Schwartz Fire Prevention Week’s theme for 2018, “Every Second Counts: Plan Two Ways Out” calls all of us to be aware of fire safety measures in the home. Fire Prevention Week started in 1925 when former U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signed the proclamation recognizing the occasion, and igniting a fire service tradition. The event always falls across the week of October 9th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which destroyed more than 17,400 structures across more than 2,000 acres. In result, over 100,000 people were left homeless and more than 250 people loosed their lives This…

By: Olivia Schwartz Cancer is a life-threatening disease that affects millions of Americans each year. However, this disease affects the men and women who risk their lives for us every day at a higher risk level than the general U.S. population. Firefighters withstand higher chemical exposures on the job, causing them to be at a high risk of digestive, oral, respiratory, and urinary system cancers1. According to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), about 60 percent of career firefighters will die of cancer2. Dermal Absorption Rates Dermal (skin) absorption may increase as skin temperature rises.3 PLANTAR FOOT ARCH 1%…

Brian McQueen shares his story with the Not in Our House campaign. It’s been just over three years since I’ve been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s B-Cell Lymphoma. To tell you that my life as a volunteer firefighter has changed is an understatement. My family has suffered along with me through the rigorous treatments and frequent visits to New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, which reinforced my belief that every day is a gift from God. Thanks to my wife Sarah, and my fire service family, I’m able to share my story of cancer in the fire service, to influence change…

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times more powerful than heroin, and 100 times more powerful than morphine, has become a growing concern for first responders. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), opioids continue to be the “most significant contributor to overdose deaths throughout the United States.” 1 With this increase, first responders are faced with taking extra precautions to protect themselves when they enter a call with an opioid exposure risk since Fentanyl can be absorbed through the skin via accidental contact, or inadvertently inhaled on emergency overdose calls where Fentanyl is disturbed and particles become airborne. In August…

Author: Dr. Meredith McQuerry, Florida State University Editor: Cassandra Whitley, LION NFPA 1851, Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting, mandates a retirement age of 10 years from the gear’s manufacture date. Given the differences in use, exposure, care, and storage of each set of bunker gear across the country, firefighters often wonder how valid the 10-year retirement age is. Where did this number come from? How was it determined? Has turnout gear been tested against it? The 10-year rule comes from the time span of two revision cycles for…

NEW American Legend™ and American Legend X Helmet™ A light-weight. low-profile SMC helmet shell with powder coat impact-resistant finish. This traditional style was designed with head room to spare. • LION’s American Legend X features ratcheting headband that adjusts from head sizes 5.5 to 9.5 for extra temple width to comfortably fit an array of head sizes. Ordering information will be sent later this month with product availability in early June. • LION’s American Legend features an integrated, NFPA compliant, retractable eye guard with snap in and out assembly. This helmet will be available in the fall. • For more…