Stationwear news

From a single pair of gloves to thousands of protective garments delivered to fire departments around the world, Fire-Dex has grown from small beginnings to become a leading provider of lifesaving gear. Currently, 40 years old and currently the country’s fastest-growing manufacturer of PPE for first responders, the company has consistently led through customer-driven product innovation and a focus on family that starts at the factory. reputation for safety “We are incredibly fortu...

Our 2023 training schedule continued recently as we supported engineers participating in the Accelerated Development Programme by Chubb Fire & Security. The session, led by DT’s Paul Gatens and Simon Flavell, covered products from across the DT portfolio with a focus on Testifire – a system of choice for Chubb due to the ease at which it offers compliant testing. The training covered; the set-up and use of the product and ensured each engineer was able to deliver compliant te...

Avon Protection’s range of protective equipment will be on display at CBRNe Protection Symposium on 20th-22nd September on booth #54 and #61. Avon Protection subject matter experts will help shape the future of CBRNe protection at the 14th CBRNe Protection Symposium in Malmö, Sweden, with two company presentations to focus on critical issues facing the CBRNe protection community worldwide.  CBRN protective equipment Avon Protection’s CBRN experts Hamish de Bretton-Gordon...

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...

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...

Community members and business owners must understand the importance of protecting their structures from ember and fire exposures (radiant, conductive, and convective heat). Preparing for all fire exposures, not picking and choosing only one, is vital for improving home and building survival chances. Information for the community Wildfires spread primarily by: Ember generation and deposition: Burning or smoldering pieces of material generated during a wildfire event can land on combustible...

Get a 2-page Checklist for Communications Technology in Training and Exercises PDF that provides planning and evaluation considerations for statewide interoperability coordinators and other emergency preparedness personnel when incorporating new communications technology into a training or exercise. The checklist Offered by the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators' Planning, Training and Exercise committee, the checklist, developed directly from emergency communications...

Landing a medical helicopter is a delicate operation that requires skilled flight crews and trained personnel on the ground following well-rehearsed, pre-planned procedures for the safety of all involved. Fire and emergency medical services agencies can access free resources to review their procedures for establishing a safe air medical transport landing zone: A June 2022 FirefighterCloseCalls.com article provides tips and links to training videos on landing zone safety. Responder Safety Le...

Integrations will enable alerting authorities to disseminate wireless emergency alerts to the public in near real-time through vehicle navigation and entertainment systems. The Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate concluded a proof-of-concept demonstration of the wildland urban interface (WUI) integration model that integrates next-generation technologies with FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) and GPS navigation applications and cutting-ed...

To use the fluorine-free foams currently on the market safely and effectively, fire departments will need to adopt different tactics and new training on how to select, use and dispose of these new foams. Fire Service Roadmap outlines the transition from the fluorinated aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) currently used to extinguish flammable liquid (Class B) fires to fluorine-free foams (FFFs). AFFFs going away AFFFs use of a class of chemicals containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances,...

As those first on the scene to respond to disasters and emergency events, first responders prioritize the safety and well-being of the communities they serve. This often means first responders are facing dangerous and challenging situations, to high-stress levels, and possible development of burnout, compassion fatigue, or unhealthy coping mechanisms. The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently featured 2 behavioral health resources for first responders. Disast...

DuPont (Dupont Personal Protection) has partnered with a renowned UK fashion design university to develop Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) that is fit for today’s changing workforce. The collaboration between Heriot-Watt University’s School of Textiles and Design and DuPont Personal Protection aims to innovate protective clothing in line with evolving worker needs. Evolving demographic makeup of the workforce The demographic makeup of the workforce is evolving. The share of Eur...

Avon Protection's priority is the health and safety of its employees, customers, channel partners, and suppliers. It is focused on continuing to protect the capability of Militaries and First Responders around the world. Avon Protection has been classified as “critical infrastructure” by the UK and U.S. Governments and as such its manufacturing facilities have remained open during this time. Avon has closely followed the advice of Governments and health authorities in the locations...

Steph Archbold and Gillian Pickles of Love, Amelia are pictured with Mark Stewart, Kyle Shaw, and Andrew Lane of TWFRS outside of the charities offices holding examples of the donated waterproof clothing. The firefighters have been praised for re-supplying kits provided in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks to local good causes. Charities across the North East have thanked Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) for donating hundreds of ‘re-robing kits’. Contents and us...

Safety is the basic right of every worker and every employer must provide all the safety protection to its employees. The importance of safety becomes all the more imperative for the workforce operating in risky sectors like construction, the oil and gas industry, electricity and utilities, foundries, melting and welding, etc. FR clothing Also called flame-resistant (FR) personal protective equipment (PPE), these must meet standards prescribed by the relevant regulatory bodies. FR clothing a...

When people store and charge their mobility devices inside their homes, garages, or businesses, there is the potential for battery fires to lead to structure fires. Just one example is a recent apartment fire in New York City that resulted in injuries to 12 citizens and a Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) firefighter. Best practice tips Motivated by the surge of fires started by batteries in mobility devices, the FDNY has created best practice tips for firefighters confronted by...

NIST released the WUI Structure/Parcel/Community Fire Hazard Mitigation Methodology (HMM) PDF to provide guidance for homeowners and communities to protect themselves from wildfires. Integrating the latest post-fire field observations and fire science research, this report defines dozens of clear, measurable, and cost-effective protective actions homeowners can take to defend their homes. Wildfires can spread through a community very quickly, especially one with dense housing. Often, the progr...

Midas Safety, a private label supplier of hand-protection to more than 50 countries in the world, has expanded its global marketing team with the appointment of Andrew Blackburn as Global Marketing Director and Diane Dawkins as Global Marketing Manager. Both are joining to support Midas Safety’s strong growth and drive increased brand awareness. About Midas Safety Founded in 1979, Midas Safety is a global, vertically integrated manufacturer of safety gloves and arm protection, leading in...

South Yorkshire’s firefighters have been kitted out with a brand new piece of protective clothing, bought as part of a regional collaboration with neighboring fire and rescue services. The multi-function rescue jackets are worn by firefighters at non-fire rescue incidents like road traffic collisions, as well as small fires in the open. visibility, waterproof jackets The high visibility, waterproof jackets are designed to be as lightweight and breathable as possible, helping fire crews...

Pac Fires’ new model earmuffs are effective at reducing exposure to hazardous noise and other loud sounds. They feature durable metal arms and a 25mm tongue that fits the Pacific earmuff bracket. Earmuff Features: Helmet mounted earmuffs Fits most ear sizes, with thick cushions for extra comfort Suitable in areas with high noise levels SNR rating of 31dB (equivalent to Class 5) and CE Marked to EN352-3 Compatible with the Pacific 25mm earmuff bracket

Pac Fire is pleased to introduce the AS/NZS 2161.6:2014 certified, composite structural firefighting gloves from premium PPE supplier Bristol Uniforms. The composite gloves combine Nomex® fabric on the back of the hand with hard-wearing, cowhide leather on the palm, thumb, and flexible absorber. Antibacterial and antiviral properties The GORE-TEX CROSSTECH® moisture barrier is both waterproof and breathable. It also offers protection against the penetration of viruses and bacteria foun...

Pac Fire introduces another advancement in structural firefighting outerwear from MSA Bristol. EOS is the latest structural firefighting ensemble from MSA Bristol. MSA Bristol EOS builds on the success of XFlex and the UK Collaborative Framework ranges, retaining the popular, ergonomic sports styling and advanced protection achieved from the combination of quality technical fabrics and advanced moisture management technology. protection and cleaning efficiency Why EOS? Named after the Greek g...

A new study suggests that the presence of very highly reflective markings may decrease drivers’ ability to see first responders working adjacent to their vehicles. Traffic incident scenes are a dangerous place. Secondary crashes, including struck-by incidents, are a leading cause of line-of-duty deaths among emergency responders. One significant variable impacting the safety of responders operating along a roadway is their visibility to approaching and passing motorists, especially at ni...

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment has launched the first aircrew lifejacket to secure approvals under the latest European Aviation Safety Agency ETSO for an emergency breathing system. The VIKING YouSafe™ Crew Pro (PV9366) lifejacket’s innovative Emergency Breathing System (EBS) is the first complete system to merit the European Technical Standard Order stamp. The approval verifies that the new lifejacket’s compact and lightweight system surpasses the technical standards from the C...

The everyday clothes are made of traditional materials such as cotton, wool, linen, and leather. While some are plant-based or animal-based; many other garments are composed of synthetic fibers. The company is sure fabrics hardly cross the mind. Suppose a user is a firefighter, utility worker, electrician, electric utility lineman, military aviator, or a race car driver. In that case, the user will be familiar with synthetic fibers such as Aramid blends for FR protection, a treated fabric cre...

Since the early 1960s, the US Forest Service has gone through one color change and several shirt iterations to improve firefighter safety.  Did the users know the yellow shirts worn in wildland firefighting today were originally orange? These orange shirts were often mistaken for fire by aircrafts carrying fire retardants, and due to the confusion, they often sprayed down the fire crews holding the line. A “Single Engine Airtanker (SEAT) can deliver up to 800 gallons of fir...

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...

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...

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,...