COVID-19 - News

The Emergency Services Show offers the perfect opportunity for fire and rescue professionals to see and handle the latest kit while sharing experiences and exchanging best practices with the entire UK emergency services community. Taking place at the NEC, Birmingham from 21-22 September, the event showcases how technology and innovation are transforming emergency response for all blue light services and first responders. More than 450 exhibitors will showcase the latest innovations, extensive l...

Dräger, an internationally renowned company in the fields of medical and safety technology, will showcase five fire safety technologies designed to further firefighter health and well-being at The Emergency Services Show (ESS) 2022, including the FireGround Accountability System; the newly launched BG ProAir (Long Duration); the PSS® AirBoss; Dräger’s cleaning solution; and the FireCore® thermal imaging camera. With a focus on how connectivity and firefighter communicati...

Firefighters and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) staff will be out in force at the Calderdale Pride event, as it makes a triumphant return this year. It will be part of the celebrations complete with fire engines and even a stilt walker, as the experience returns to Halifax for the first time after two years. Calderdale Pride The last Calderdale Pride was in 2019, but the previous two years were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2022's static, free event, which cele...

Semiconductors are the main application scenarios for specialty gases. According to "Global Electronic Specialty Gases Market Research 2022", the global electronic specialty gases market size will be USD 4.423 billion in 2021. However, rising inflation, soaring energy prices, the impact of COVID-19, and other reasons have caused the semiconductor industry to enter a downward cycle and weaken consumer electronics demand. Chip and Science Act On August 9, the United States signed the "Chip and...

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), in partnership with Pierce Manufacturing Inc., announced the 2022 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year honorees. Volunteer Fire Chief, Marshall Turbeville, of the Northern Sonoma FPD in Sonoma County, California, and career Fire Chief, Gary Ludwig, of the Champaign Fire Department in Champaign, Illinois, have been named this year’s honorees. The IAFC began recognizing one volunteer and one career Fire Chief of the Year in 1996. A selection commi...

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), in partnership with Pierce Manufacturing Inc., announced the 2022 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year honorees. Volunteer Fire Chief, Marshall Turbeville, of the Northern Sonoma FPD in Sonoma County, California, and career Fire Chief, Gary Ludwig, of the Champaign Fire Department in Champaign, Illinois, have been named this year’s honorees. The IAFC began recognizing one volunteer and one career Fire Chief of the Year in 1996. A selec...

The data shows 77% of the UK population deal with unwanted noise whilst in their homes, with almost a third (33%) said they have noticed more noise since COVID-19 lockdowns began in March 2020. Their research reveals that 31% of the UK population have had their sleep affected by unwanted external noise, with three in ten (30%) reporting that it stops them opening doors and windows, and a quarter (25%) saying it stops them relaxing. Impact noise pollution The increase in unwanted noise is also...

The agenda for this year’s AFAC22 Conference and Exhibition (AFAC22) is loaded with big topics, such as reducing risk in the changing climate, the new Australian Fire Danger Rating System, women in emergency management, lithium battery fires and so much more. It is the first time since the start of the COVID-19 global pandemic that the Australian and APAC emergency management industry is coming together in person. AFAC22 Conference and Exhibition will be held in 2022 at the Adelaide Conve...

International Paramedics Day has been launched by the College of Paramedics to recognize and celebrate the work that paramedics and first responders around the world do, in order to give their patients the best possible treatment and care, and improve the outcomes for those who are injured or unwell. North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) employs 812 paramedics across the region, working in both front line and support service roles, touching the lives of thousands of members of the public every ye...

Coronavirus was first discovered in 2019, it has since spread across the globe. It is believed to be transmitted in a similar manner to the normal flu/cold virus. APE takes very seriously the safety and welfare of all its staff, and any clients that they may come into contact with and consequently they move swiftly to maintain everybody’s safety. No member of APE staff will knowingly be sent to any client site if the staff member is infected with a virus. Self-Isolation procedure If a m...

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, leading 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....

BigChange, the globally renowned field-service management software solutions company, has announced that it has signed almost 200 new customers and £14 million worth of new contracts in the first half of 2022. This was the company’s most successful half-year of sales in its ten-year history of existence. In addition to the strong growth reported in the United Kingdom (UK), BigChange has also secured its first customer in Canada and expanded its international presence across France,...

The staff at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) has been praised, after inspectors rated the service as one of the top performing in the country. Tyne and Wear’s most senior fire officer has praised firefighters and fire staff after the Service was rated as ‘Good’ by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS). It is the second inspection in a row that the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service has been graded ‘Good&...

The National Collaborative PPE Framework is celebrating five years of success in delivering high-quality PPE to Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) across the UK. Launched in June 2017 to streamline the PPE procurement process, the scheme has since delivered protective clothing to around two-thirds of FRSs across the country, equating to more than 30,000 firefighters. Created with a view to sharing best practices and delivering efficiencies, the National Framework is managed by the National Fire Ch...

Zitko Group has dedicated July to focusing on and improving the EDI policies, specifically regarding mental health and disability awareness. The pandemic caused a shift in society’s perception of individual needs and, as the effects from the disruption are still being felt, the need for empathy and special considerations is greater than ever. This need rightfully extends to the treatment of staff by management. Unprecedented upheaval The unprecedented upheaval of the last few years has...

Fire prevention remains essential even in the current economy. However, the design, installation, and maintenance of critical life safety systems have come under new price and process pressures. Costs must be optimized, while time on site and person-to-person contact minimized. Italy’s home-grown Argus wireless fire systems offer fire professionals the optimal solution in the current environment. Wireless fire detection and alarm systems Wireless fire detection and alarm systems offer k...

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...

WAGNER Group GmbH (WAGNER) has been awarded the ‘Innovative through Research’ seal by the Stifterverband, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). This seal is awarded to companies that participate in the survey on research and development (R&D). The aim is to obtain a picture of the German research and innovation system in the business sector. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, WAGNER has been able to significantly increase its spending on the R&D dep...

DripDrop and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have teamed up for the third year to provide dehydration relief to firefighters, as they battle wildfire and other strenuous response situations. In 2022, DripDrop has donated 400,000 servings of its oral rehydration solution (ORS) to volunteer fire departments across the U.S.A (United States of America). DripDrop – NVFC partnership While the program is now closed, volunteer firefighters can still receive a 20 percent discount on o...

WAGNER has received the "Innovative through Research" seal from the Stifterverband on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). This is awarded to companies that take part in the survey on research and development. The aim is to obtain a picture of the German research and innovation system in the business sector. Despite the pandemic, WAGNER has been able to significantly increase its spending on the department. R&D activities Graduate Engineer - Florence Daniault,...

Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) made available details of the fire and EMS activity, much of it fireworks related, occurring across the District during the Independence Day holiday weekend. For the four-hour period from 9 p.m., 4th July 2022, to 1 a.m., 5th July 2022, the District dispatched crews to 38 fire incidents. This represents at least a 300 percent increase over other Mondays, which in June, averaged nine such fire dispatches per day. For the entire Independence...

During these years, lots of additional safety measures have been installed in most workplaces. Whether this is in shops, warehouses, or offices, everyone is having to take extra precautions to stay safe from the virus. Fire risk assessments are vital for every business’ safety and there are laws to ensure a safe working environment for all. These laws and procedures are in place to keep staff safe and reduce the impact that a potential fire may have on a business’ stock, equipment,...

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) has posted 2 user notices that may impact certain respirators used by fire and emergency medical services providers. The NPPTL issued a May 2022 notice PDF for 3M Scott SCBA Air-Pak models manufactured between Nov. 1, 2019 and April 12, 2022. 3M Scott has received reports on the Air-Pak X3, Air-Pak X3 Pro and X3-21 Pro models referencing the primary and/or secon...

There have been significant improvements in the NHS and social care over the past few years, but there are major challenges ahead. Life expectancy varies across England. People are living longer, but not always healthier lives. There are more frail elderly people with complex needs and more children, young people, and adults with mental health challenges. The challenge is significant On 1 July 2022, the way health and care services are planned, paid for, and delivered is changing to better me...

When it comes to chemical protective clothing, industrial workers have a lot of factors to consider. They need a garment with barrier fabric that will prevent hazardous chemicals from permeating through, along with seam construction that won’t compromise the garment at potentially vulnerable areas, and a garment design that is appropriate for the task and potential exposure. Within the Tychem line of protective apparel from Dupont Personal Protection (Dupont), Tychem 6000 F is a popular c...

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...

At the trade fair Interschutz, Rosenbauer will present a solution for simply and efficiently combating the spread of easily communicable infectious diseases in high-traffic sites and public hotspots. The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically demonstrated one thing. Wherever a lot of people gather, germs always have an opportunity to thrive: at airports, train stations, trade fairs, hotels, stadiums, hospitals, or shopping malls. With the Rosenbauer RPS AeroGate disinfection bridge, which reliably...

Further to the announcement on 7 August 2019, Avon Rubber is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition of 3M’s ballistic protection business (the “Business”) and the rights to the Ceradyne brand. Over the next 12 months, the company will transition the critical business functions to Avon in a phased and controlled manner. During this transition phase, the business will be operating as usual as a stand-alone business alongside Avon Protection. As a reminder, th...

The National Volunteer Fire Council and Color Health, in partnership with the CDC, are supporting free COVID-19 lab testing for under-resourced communities across the nation. Your fire department can play a critical role to increase access in your area by becoming a testing location. It takes little effort from your team and no certification is required. Participation benifits In exchange for your participation in this program, your department will receive $250 for participating, $50 for ev...

June 21 is the official start of summer and Gilbert Fire & Rescue along with the Gilbert Police Department want to share a few safety tips for users to keep in mind. Limit the time outdoors during peak heat hours. Stay hydrated - drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Take frequent breaks in the shade if users are required to be outdoors. Watch children and pets around water at all times. Don't leave children or pets unattended in a vehicle - look before locking. Check on elderly...