Protective Apparel news

As the World braces for another rapidly advancing mutating version of COVID-19, face masks are being used to reduce the chance of spreading or capturing COVID-19 once again.  To limit the spread of the virus as much as possible, countries across the world are advising their citizens to consider making mask use mandatory both outdoors and indoors. As the world starts enforcing limited lockdowns it's important to understand the differences between various types of face masks. Three types of...

Cancer is a leading cause of death among firefighters, and research suggests firefighters are at higher risk of certain types of cancers when compared to the general population. Educating fire service members To educate fire service members about this problem and empower them to take steps toward detection, treatment, and prevention, there are several new resources available from: The Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) - In partnership with the International Association of Fire Fight...

As the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus spreads rapidly, 3M has been providing information about the company’s 3M N95 respirators, including information on where to buy them, how to ensure a proper fit, and why they are considered the standard equipment for protection. “As we have throughout the pandemic, 3M is committed to making sure everyone who needs an N95 has access,” said Raymond Eby, the President of 3M’s Personal Safety Division, adding”3M's N95 respi...

The tragic loss of life from the 19-story apartment building fire that occurred in New York City on Jan. 9 reminds of the fire and life safety challenges that tall buildings present to the emergency services and to the occupants who live or work in them. Challenges and features Because of the inherent nature of tall buildings and a series of historic fires, the practice of protecting the people who live and work in high-rise buildings has evolved over the years. Very specific sets of precautio...

Personal protective equipment, or PPE, has been widely used in the workplace for many years to protect employees from health or safety risks. But since the outbreak of COVID-19, the use of PPE has skyrocketed. While this protective clothing ensures the safety of the workforce, what about the effect that the increased production and subsequent disposal of this PPE are having on the environment? Textile destruction and recycling service In the UK, approximately one million tonnes of clothing is...

ImageTrend, Inc. released the second issue of the Collaborate Short Report: Pediatric Behavioral Health Incidents in the Pre-hospital Setting, from January 2018 to October 2021. Studies have found an increase in emergent pediatric behavioral health incidents over the last two decades and even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic. Collaborate Short Report This Collaborate Short Report focuses on how these incidents have changed across age groups and different regions from 2018 to 2021, by look...

Personal Protective Equipment, vernacularly known as PPE, is a term users have all come across several times amidst the global pandemic. From the shortage of PPE kits to countries ramping up the manufacturing process, are some of the only topics that made headlines most of 2020 and through the latter 2021. In between all this, the cardinal question of 'What is PPE?', comes to mind. Personal Protective Equipment From being used by beekeepers as reported in ancient literature, to 16th-century p...

Wildland firefighting is a physically and mentally demanding job, with many stressors that can take their toll on a wildland firefighter's mental health. To address this issue, a new module, Wildfire Mental Health, has been added to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) RT-130: Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR). The new module The new module emphasizes the importance of asking for help, offers information about accessing mental health care resources, and provid...

At 01:47 pm on 4th January 2022, Joint Fire Control received the first call of a fire at an industrial estate in Llanbadarn Fawr, Aberystwyth. Crews from Aberystwyth, Aberaeron, Tregaron, Llandrindod Wells, and Llanelli were mobilized to the incident, making a total of four fire appliances, one turntable ladder, an environmental unit, and a water bowser deployed to extinguish the fire. Police, Ambulance, and the Local Authority were also in attendance. The fire involved a single-story building,...

Without significant warning, a vicious wildfire quickly destroyed hundreds of homes in just hours in Colorado. The American Red Cross is responding there, where tens of thousands of people have had to leave their neighborhoods. Spurred by strong winds, the fire spread very quickly. Thousands are without power and gas, leaving them without heat in single-digit temperatures and facing a winter storm warning. Red Cross Response Red Cross disaster workers, some of whom have had to evacuate their o...

AW Hainsworth is proud to announce that they have been accredited with ISO 45001:2018, which focuses on occupational health and safety in the workplace. ISO is recognized worldwide as a respected standards body, and this standard focuses on improving employee safety, reducing workplace risks and creating better, safer working conditions. This reinforces the company’s commitment to their workforce by ensuring they provide their employees a healthy and safe place of work. ISO 45001:2018 ac...

To help communities plan for the threats and hazards of climate change, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released its updated Long-Term Community Resilience Exercise Resource Guide: Designing Whole Community Exercises to Prepare for the Effects of a Changing Climate PDF in November 2021. Increase preparedness As the impacts of climate change are being felt across the country, this resource offers communities low-risk and cost-effective ways to increase preparedness with: Tools...

Salomon announced a partnership with Twiceme Technology to integrate Twiceme into their helmets. The goal is to strengthen its position as a pioneering brand within innovation, with an expected product release in late 2022. ‍Technology Can Help Increase User’s Safety and Product Value It’s yet another verification that the industry is moving towards more innovative equipment to increase safety on the slopes.  In this article, they’ll learn What is Twiceme? ...

There is still time to apply for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant to help fund important fire and EMS department resources, such as gear, equipment, vehicles, and training. The application deadline is December 17. There have been important changes to the grant this year, so read the program guidelines carefully.

Marion Body Works, a manufacturer of fire & emergency apparatus, announces a partnership with the dealer, Emergency Fire Equipment. As of December 1, 2021, Emergency Fire Equipment (E-Fire) will serve Marion customers in Kansas and the surrounding area. E-Fire was founded in 1986 by Dick Goodrum after a lifetime of service in the local fire department in Mayfield, Kansas. After a recent merger, the company now has two locations in eastern and western Kansas to offer exceptional service and...

A major new order has shone the spotlight on the latest evolution of Ballyclare’s Xenon firefighter rescue jackets. The order has been awarded by three fire and rescue services in the Yorkshire and Humberside region and covers the rescue jacket requirements of some 3,200 firefighters. “PPE rescue jackets are subject to constantly evolving customer demands because of the ever-widening range of duties which fire and rescue crews face, many of which are not fire-related,...

Many of the customers work outside whether that’s in the transport industry, emergency services industry, or even utility industry. And as users are reaching the cold, wintery months, it’s always a good reminder of how to stay warm in cold weather. This article focuses on: Base Layers Thermal Workwear Accessories Base Layers Base layers are great because they not only add an extra layer underneath the workwear but also hold the muscles tight to improve blood flow, improve o...

The application period for FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program is open, but there are important changes with this year’s program that departments need to know about before applying. Join the NVFC and presenter David Lewis for this webinar on December 1 at 2pm ET to review these changes, basic grant requirements, and tips for a successful application.

MSA, DuPont, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) are helping volunteer fire departments obtain much-needed gear through MSA’s and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway. Now in its tenth year, the program has provided over $1 million worth of gear to assist volunteer fire departments in need. In 2021, 13 departments will each receive four sets of turnout gear and four helmets to help enhance the safety of their firefighters. The first 500 applicants also received a one-year ...

MSA, DuPont, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) are helping volunteer fire departments obtain much-needed gear through MSA’s and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway. In its tenth year, the program has provided over $1 million worth of gear to assist volunteer fire departments in need. In 2021, 13 departments will each receive four sets of turnout gear and four helmets to help enhance the safety of their firefighters. The first 500 applicants also received a one-year NVFC m...

Six fire engines and 2,000 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) have started their journey across Europe to Ukraine.  The de-commissioned fire engines have been donated to Fire Aid by Kent Fire Rescue Service (KFRS), together with a vast array of equipment, including PPE donated by fire and rescue services from across the country. KFRS Supports Fire Aid Mission In Ukraine KFRS Station Manager, Mike Pitney, said: “Last year, hundreds of Ukrainian firefighters worked for weeks...

Decontamination used to be a word used after a hazmat incident when everyone was moving slowly around in brightly-colored encapsulated suits. Suits that, if broken down into their chemical parts, would likely be as dangerous as the chemicals they were protecting the wearer from. House Insulation Then came the inexpensive furniture made of chipboard glued together with one chemical compound and laminated in a second.  Then houses were insulated in chemical compounds and dry walled in oth...

Every single task at the industrial site, or for that matter, anywhere else is done with hands. One small mistake of not paying attention to hand protection could lead to a lifetime regret. Every industry takes basic safety precautions for its workers. But sometimes, the workforce needs more than just the basics. Protective gloves are an essential part of the personal protective kit. The type of gloves may differ depending on the type of industry you are operating, but not wearing any gloves sh...

For the workforce, working at industrial sites or work that involves risks of major or minor hand injuries, protective gloves are the most basic and necessary equipment to be included in their PPE kit. Hand protective gloves can be of different types, suitable for different work. Some are best for work that involves exposure to harmful chemicals and sharp surfaces, while others resist punctures and make it suitable to work in extreme temperatures.  While every workforce requirement ma...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and CHEMTREC are excited to announce that in honor of CHEMTREC’s 50th anniversary, five NVFC members have been awarded US$ 10,000 for their volunteer fire departments, through the 2021 CHEMTREC HELP (Hazmat Emergencies Local Preparedness) Awards. Funding is provided to strengthen the fire department's hazardous materials incident response capabilities and increase local readiness for hazmat events. 2021 CHEMTREC HELP Awards winners: Gilsum Fi...

Notices were recently posted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the National Personal Protective Technology Library (NPPTL) concerning the safety and quality of 2 types of personal protective equipment (PPE) used frequently by emergency medical services personnel: medical gloves and N95 particulate filtering facepiece respirators. Medical gloves notice Medical gloves notice is issued by the FDA on Oct. 29, 2021. Thi...

In the field of firefighting boots, survey results showed that maximum protection with excellent day-to-day comfort is important. Ease-of-use and a cool design were also among the key points.   The project team, made up of designers, shoe technicians, engineers, sole specialists, and emergency response organizations, set themselves the task of developing the perfect firefighting boot. Fastener Process One of the first tasks, and also quite the most challenging, was the fastener...

On the 1st of October 2021, ARA Fire Protection Services (ARA Fire) purchased the Fire Suppression Services (FSS) business from Steve Howard. FSS designs, installs, and services vehicle suppression systems. Located in Perth, FSS principally services vehicles used in the mines in Western Australia. Founded 25 years ago by Steve Howard, FSS has a strong reputation in the vehicle suppression market in Western Australia. With the expertise of Steve Howard and FSS, ARA Fire is in a good position to...

Congratulations to Chief Garland Goracke from Meadow Grove (NE) Volunteer Fire & Rescue for winning a personalized MSA Cairns® XF1 Fire Helmet. Goracke is the third and final winner to receive a helmet from MSA in 2021 through the MSA Cairns® XF1 Fire Helmet Giveaway in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). Innovative and up-to-date equipment can help improve responder health and safety. That’s why MSA and the NVFC teamed up in 2021 to provide a Cairns...

MSA Safety, the global pioneer in the development, manufacture, and supply of sophisticated safety solutions that protect people and facility infrastructures, is exhibiting at this year’s ADIPEC event in Abu Dhabi from 15-18 November. Hosted by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), ADIPEC is the world’s most influential meeting place where oil, gas, and energy companies and professionals convene to engage and identify opportunities that will unlock new value in an evolving ene...