Protective Apparel news

The National EMS Education Standards (the Standards) PDF have been updated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Standards are a core element of a nationwide integrated system approach to developing emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians who are competent in the appropriate knowledge, skills, and abilities for their licensure level. They define the competencies, clinical behaviors, and judgments required of EMS personnel to perform their roles. 1996 EMS Agend...

A new version of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Program Planning Toolkit has been designed to aid alerting authorities and alert originators at federal, state, local, tribal and territorial levels in developing an alerting program plan using best practices. The new interactive, web-based toolkit walks the user through an alerting plan template in 5 steps, resulting in a downloadable, formatted draft of a comprehensive alerting plan tailored to their agency's operational...

Taylor Burke Gilman, the President at Gear Wash, highlights when departments should consider renting fire gear in a guest spot from Carolina Fire Journal. NFPA 1851 recommendations The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1851 guidelines recommend two cleanings per year for turnout gear. All departments know the importance of proper care and maintenance for firefighting protective garments, but what can be done when primary helmets, jackets, pants, gloves, and boots...

The longevity of the turnout gear and its effectiveness against carcinogens relies heavily on one factor: proper maintenance. Firefighters handle dangerous materials regularly and the turnout gear can pick up several highly toxic contaminants. Keeping up with maintenance on the turnout gear can help users in three ways: Reduce the risk of being exposed (or exposing someone else) to carcinogens. Save the department money. Extend the usable life of the garments. Negative effects  T...

Adjust accordingly to best suit unique incidents or the department’s protocol. Before a fire call 1) Invest in individually customized PPE that is properly fitted to each firefighter. When budget allows, consider particulate barrier hoods; light, breathable turnouts; and a set of alternative PPE for non-structural calls (this may also reduce heat stress and cardiac fatigue). 2) Stock the apparatus with decon supplies, including: 5-gallon bucket A hose with a small nozzle Scrub bru...

NFPA 1851 is the standard for PPE selection, care, and maintenance. The purpose of this standard is to reduce health and safety risks associated with improper maintenance, contamination, or damage like exposure to harmful carcinogens that are often present in structural fires. Sometimes it's hard to get to an ISP to get the cleanings done. That's why they've created a guide to walk through the proper cleaning for the turnout gear.  Step 1: Preparation  To begin, don the necessary un...

Everyone knows cleaning turnout gear twice a year is recommended by the NFPA, but do users think about hoods too? It's easy to forget this small piece of gear, but that doesn't make it any less important! Follow these 4 quick and easy steps to get the fire hood properly cleaned. Step by Step  Tools Needed: Examination gloves, apron, & safety glasses. A large utility tub or programmable extractor that doesn't have a G-Force that exceeds 100 G. Step 1: Preparation Observe nec...

Fire-Dex is thrilled to welcome two new associates and announce the promotion of Agnes Baker. Fire-Dex is excited to welcome Destiny Brooks and Guy Crawford to the team. Destiny will serve as Office & Accounting Assistant at their headquarters in Medina, Ohio. Guy will be based out of the Pelham, Georgia location as HR Business Partner.   Agnes Baker, who has been with Fire-Dex since February 2021, has been promoted from Office and Accounting Assistant to Accounting Clerk, suppor...

Vital equipment has been donated by West Yorkshire firefighters to help those battling to save lives in Ukraine.  West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) has added to the special convoy that left the UK this weekend to head to Poland. Once it arrives the equipment will be handed over to the Polish State Fire Service, with support from Germany en route, to help support firefighters in Ukraine. boats and PPE Among the equipment are six inflatable boats and a box of PPE equipment don...

A leading professor has praised a North East fire service for their commitment to firefighter safety and innovation. This week, Professor Anna Stec from the University of Central Lancashire provided insight into the importance of reducing contaminants and improving safety to firefighters, fire service staff and members of the public. In an event ran by the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) and the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) local representatives, Professor Stec addressed a number of...

No matter the kind of work to be accomplished, it always involves the use of hands. In sports, such as cricket, where the batsman and the wicketkeepers are wearing gloves, or goalkeepers in football or hockey, the need for gloves remains relevant. Coming to heavy-duty industries, the work that the factory personnel do often entails many risks. In addition, such work needs a certain extent of deftness and precision. This is because industry workers oftentimes deal with delicate machinery or oper...

The fire, which started on the 16th floor of Twinnell House, Easton, in the early hours of 25 September 2022, led to the evacuation of the entire building – 90 people in total. Eleven fire appliances were deployed to the block of flats along with two turntable ladders and other specialist vehicles, and firefighters were sent into the building to search and clear the flats. Author's quote Dave Hodges, Duty Group Commander for the Avon Fire and Rescue Service (AF&RS), said: “On...

MSA Safety Incorporated, a pioneer in firefighter safety equipment and technology, opens a newly expanded, state-of-the-art facility for producing firefighter protective apparel in Yate, near Bristol, UK. The modernized facility provides new and enhanced work areas for MSA associates, as well as much-needed space for future growth and international expansion. Celebrated this morning with a ribbon-cutting event, the building establishes MSA Bristol’s Yate campus as a global center of excel...

The European standard used to evaluate mechanical risks for hand protection is EN 388. NBR Gloves such as the foamy flex M35NBV seamless nitrile gloves have an EN 388 rating of 4131X. EN 388-rated NBR gloves undergo independent testing and are evaluated for resistance to abrasion, cuts, tears, and punctures. All these other physical performance variables are scored 1-4, while cut resistance is rated 1–5. To test for cut resistance, the EN 388 standard solely utilized the “Coup Test&...

Fire-Dex is excited to announce the promotions of three members of the Fire-Dex Family and the addition of two new associates!  Elizabeth Martinez, Amber McCloud, and Misty Rackley have all received recent promotions. Elizabeth has been promoted to HR Business Partner at Gear Wash, Amber has been appointed to IT Systems Manager, and Misty has been promoted to Production Supervisor at their Pelham, Georgia location. New hires Fire-Dex is currently hiring multiple positions across several...

Port Pirie residents may notice an increase in aircraft activity in the coming week as the SA Country Fire Service (CFS) conducts a range of aviation exercises as part of its annual preparations for the bushfire season.The CFS, along with contractors from Aerotech and Helifarm, will be conducting the exercises out of the Port Pirie Aerodrome from Sunday, 25 September to Friday, 30 September between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. Residents within the Port Pirie and surrounding areas should not be alarmed b...

Just after 9:00 pm this evening, CFS crews were alerted to a structure fire at Karoonda in the Murray Mallee. Five CFS crews from the surrounding areas arrived to find a fire in the bedroom of a property on Railway Terrace.  The owners were able to evacuate safely and CFS crews entered the building wearing Breathing Apparatus, working quickly to stop the spread of the fire and contain it to the bedroom. SA Ambulance and SAPOL on Scene to assist crews SA Ambulance and SAPOL were on t...

Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential to the health and safety of first responders. That’s why MSA Safety, DuPont Personal Protection, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) are working together to provide volunteer fire departments with much-needed turnout gear through MSA Safety and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway. In 2022, 13 departments will each receive four new sets of turnouts and four new helmets. Additionally, the first 500 applicants also received a...

In August 2022, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) conducted a survey to determine the impact that high gas prices and inflation are having on local volunteer emergency service organizations. In total, 608 respondents completed the survey. The following provides an overview of the survey results. Respondents The majority of respondents were fire chiefs (40.36%), followed by officers (16.47%), firefighters (14%) and firefighter/EMS (13.51%). They represented every U.S. state except for...

MSA Safety Incorporated, a pioneer in firefighter safety equipment and technology, will be taking center stage at the upcoming Emergency Services Show (ESS) in Birmingham, on September 21 and 22, by demonstrating its full suite of cutting-edge, compatible personal protective equipment (PPE) for the first responder market. The MSA team will demonstrate how its fire protective clothing, helmets, breathing apparatus, advanced communications, and gas detection systems work seamlessly together in a...

Ron Alalouff reviews the tighter regulation of fire safety in the design and construction of buildings coming into effect on 1 December. In the last twelve months, the government has moved to strengthen a range of fire safety provisions in building regulations and guidance, including drawing up tougher standards on the use of combustible materials on medium-rise blocks of flats between 11m and 18m high. Changes in Act The changes are being brought about by the Building Etc (Amendment) (Englan...

At 3:18 am this morning, CFS crews were called to a structure fire on Upper Yorke Road, Kulpara on the northern end of the state’s Yorke Peninsula. CFS crews from four trucks, along with a bulk water carrier, arrived on the scene to find the house fully alight. Thankfully the sole occupant was able to evacuate and was checked over by SAAS on the scene, however, there are no reported injuries. SAPOL is also on the scene assisting CFS crews. Damages are estimated at over $200,000,...

Four CFS trucks and a bulk water carrier, supported by MFS crews, responded to a truck fire on the city-bound side of the South Eastern Freeway at 8:55 this morning. The truck which was transporting scaffolding, has been extinguished by firefighters, with the fire contained to the truck. Damages incurred Specialist HazMat-trained CFS volunteers are on the scene helping to clean up and contain any diesel and oil, that dropped from the truck during the fire. No one has been injured and traffic...

PH&S Products, LLC (PH&S), in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), provided 100 NVFC members with GET-A-GRIP Gloves for their volunteer fire departments through the 2022 ‘Glove On!’ Giveaway. This giveaway provided each department with two dispenser boxes (up to 50 pairs of gloves per box) to enhance responder health and safety. Gloves are an important part of a responder’s personal protective gear as they provide hand protection against substan...

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs) released a joint statement PDF warning firefighters that synthetic chemicals in their protective gear are associated with various health risks, including an increased risk of liver and kidney cancer. The chemicals responsible are a group of fluorinated compounds called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances commonly referred to as PFAS. They are used in firefighter turnout gear to incr...

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs) released a joint statement PDF warning firefighters that synthetic chemicals in their protective gear are associated with various health risks, including an increased risk of liver and kidney cancer. The chemicals responsible are a group of fluorinated compounds called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances commonly referred to as PFAS. They are used in firefighter turnout gear to incr...

The construction industry is consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous environments to work in around the world. OSHA reports that 1 in 5 deaths among U.S. workers occurs in the sector. And, according to the World Risk Poll, the second highest reported workplace injury rate globally (22%), was among those who worked in construction, manufacturing, or production. In this high-risk context, accurate, real-time monitoring of safety conditions can protect workers and equipment from damage en...

With more than one million helmets sold in over 140 countries, Rosenbauer’s HEROS firefighting helmets are one of the most successful firefighting helmets in the world. The HEROS’ success story began in 1992. After communicating intensively with fire departments, as well as a development phase lasting several years, Rosenbauer presented its first own firefighting helmet based on a new type of helmet shell made of plastic. This makes it one of the most modern helmets on the market, f...

Residents in Rossington, Stocksbridge, Askern, Penistone, and Dearne are being challenged to step up and join their local fire crews, as the county’s fire service launches another on-call firefighter recruitment drive. New vacancies have arisen at the stations in each of these four towns–with more staff needed to keep the fire engines’ wheels turning and respond to fires, floods, road traffic collisions, and other emergency incidents. Fire and rescue services Fire officers s...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is pleased to announce that it will host its signature health and safety focused educational conference, the NVFC Training Summit 2023, from June 23 to June 24, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. The NVFC is now accepting proposals from qualified instructors and speakers for presentations to educate first responders about critical issues in the fire and emergency services. Submit proposal by September 30, 2022. NVFC Training Summit 2023 The theme...