Public Education - News

Currently, in times of COVID-19 Coronavirus, the healthcare sector has maybe become the most vulnerable industry as it places the health systems of many countries to the test. The last thing hospitals want to be worried about now is their fire detection system. In the event of a fire alarm, some patients will need assistance to evacuate. For those in critical conditions or being in isolation due to a COVID-19 infection, evacuation can be extremely challenging or even impossible because of the u...

In the frame of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), Airbus and Fraunhofer FKIE have created an independent panel of experts on the responsible use of new technologies to define and propose ethical as well as international legal 'guard rails' for Europe’s largest defense project. The expert panel, which was first initiated in Germany in 2019, currently includes stakeholders such as the German Ministry of Defence, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, foundations, univers...

Rosenbauer America is donating 24,000 KN95 face masks to first responders, as thanks in appreciation for their dedication throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The facemasks will be distributed to fire departments across the United States and Canada. KN95 face masks “Our communities rely on first responders answering calls for service. We need to protect their health and safety,” said John Slawson, Chairman and CEO of Rosenbauer America, adding “COVID-19 is personal and the virus...

Coopers fire have continued to closely monitor developments of the coronavirus pandemic and are making use of the UK government guidance and advice to ensure the workplace is a safe environment. The safety of the employees is the number one priority and understanding how important it is to work safely and support the workers’ health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The business has adopted strict rules on social distancing at the manufacturing facility in Waterlooville, UK. Ri...

Ian Moore, CEO of the FIA, has been working closely with the Government’s Department of International Trade (DIT) on behalf of the FIA members for some time now; and given BREXIT and now COVID-19, this is more important than ever. He states “DIT are doing their best to inform SME’s of their options in the current climate and they have just released a series of webinars that would be really useful to listen into – try to find the time as there is some really useful inform...

The industry’s first watertight battery-powered extrication tool line is expanding, as HURST Jaws of Life introduces nine new tools that will give first responders a full selection of extrication solutions that are completely operational underwater. HURST Jaws of Life’s EWXT line The company that has revolutionized the rescue industry time and again, HURST Jaws of Life, introduced its innovative eDRAULIC watertight extrication tool (EWXT) line, with water-resistant casing, in 2019....

With the window to invest time in training while on furlough extended until October 2020, over the next few months, it will be vital for individuals to continue to improve their skillset and keep boredom at bay, during an extended time being furloughed. From CPD sessions to online training, the Fire Industry Association (FIA) offers a broad portfolio of industry-renowned sessions and courses for individuals to invest their time in while being furloughed. Engaging in CPD sessions and online tra...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) joined with other major national fire service organizations in asking Congress to provide full funding, $750 million each, for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs in FY 2021. The letter also asks Congress to waive local matching funds requirements under AFG and SAFER and to increase flexibility for using SAFER funds to retain personnel in FY 2020, FY 2021, and for any s...

To help support the firefighters, EMS providers, and medical workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic and provide protection and peace of mind to their families, Wiser Estate Plan is offering a Family Protection Plan free to front-line responders. This is a savings of up to $5,000 on the creation of a trust and healthcare/financial powers of attorney. This offer will save thousands of dollars in fees and help families avoid probate if something should happen to one of the front-line...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) created a survey to better understand the experiences of volunteer and combination fire, EMS, and rescue departments dealing with the outbreak of COVID-19 and related social distancing measures. NVFC asks that all take a few minutes to complete the survey here and that one re-takes the survey once a week so that NVFC can track changes over time. The more responses the survey receives the more robust and useful the data are, keeping NVFC informed about...

Bryx, a globally renowned provider of first responder technology products, is selling t-shirts to raise awareness of mental health resources available to first responders and emergency rescue personnel. mental health Awareness All proceeds for the sale of the t-shirts will benefit The Code Green Campaign, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving mental wellness for first responders and eliminating the stigma surrounding the discussions around mental health. Resources available specifi...

In the past two years, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has issued several new reports that lend more in-depth insight into the top causes of residential fires. This post summarizes the top causes of home fires and some of the interesting trends identified in these reports. Drop in number of residential fires The number of residential fires and fire deaths has dropped by about half over the past 40 years. However, the data also shows that while there were fewer fires and fire de...

The Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service (RBFRS) is supporting the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) week-long sprinkler campaign, taking place from 18-24 May, 2020. Sprinklers are widely recognized as the most effective method of fighting the early stages of a fire, can save lives and reduce damage to property. RBFRS’ Area Manager for Prevention and Protection, Doug Buchanan, said “Although times are challenging at the moment, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we w...

Apollo Fire Detectors is delivering online training to members of the fire industry throughout the government lockdown thanks to a series of online events, including CPD webinars and virtual product training courses. Online fire focused CPD webinars Created in response to a significant volume of requests from consultants and specifiers for technical training, each week Apollo is delivering an online fire focused CPD, covering topics such as EN 54-23 Visual Alarm Devices (VADs) and An Introduct...

Evita V600 and V800, and Babylog VN600 and VN800 are Dräger's new devices for the intensive care ventilation of adults to premature babies. For the intensive care and neonatal ventilation devices, Dräger has developed an operating concept that makes orientation even easier and provides clearer user guidance. Evita and Babylog ventilators The user is intuitively guided through the individual menus with larger icons, important functions at the top menu level, and a clear, color-coordin...

FIREX International is proud to announce the free Digital Week content series to be held online from May 18 to May 20, 2020. This five-day digital gathering delivers interactive and curated webinars, video interviews, technical reviews and live Q&A sessions to keep you connected with one's fire safety colleagues. Digital Week content series The Digital Week content series program will address major industry issues, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the fire sector, sourcing PPE (...

If there’s one thing that everyone has learned in the last few months, it is that the world can change at a moment’s notice. While there will certainly be more surprises to come in the future, a few things are certain, including population and climate change. How will humans change the way they build to tackle these challenges? and How can fire safety be maintained in the buildings of the future? These are some of the key questions. Ageing global population The world’s popul...

Since the presentation of the Concept Fire Truck (CFT) in autumn 2016, many fire services and fire service experts have been able to get an idea of ​​the special functionalities and ergonomic advantages of the vehicle concept. Concept Fire Truck (CFT) It turns out that some of the fire service trends for which the CFT is intended to offer solutions appear particularly important. At the forefront are the topics of health and safety, followed by the new ecology trend, which has been reinforced b...

The service offers free digital and numeracy courses to build the skills. The Government’s National Careers Service state: “Digital and numeracy skills are amongst those that are most sought after by employers, and can help you progress in work and boost your job prospects. Digital skills can be anything from using social media and staying safe online to coding, programming or digital marketing.” “You can choose from a selection of high quality courses put together in co...

Throughout April and into the foreseeable future the FIA will continue providing its online CPD sessions across the breadth of the fire industry with '99% of delegates saying that the training meets their needs well to extremely well and 98% are satisfied or very satisfied with the CPD content. Hundreds of enthusiastic delegates took part in the FIA’s second industry-recognized online CPD day. The fire industry has adapted incredibly well to the impacts of COVID-19 and it has not hindered...

One of the most treacherous types of fire associated with open flames typically occurs in kitchens when cooking fats or oils are heated above their burning point and catch fire. What makes such fires so dangerous is that attempts to extinguish them with water can lead to fat explosions. Despite increasing media coverage of this risk, there is still a considerable need for information and training on fires of this kind - an opinion shared by the owner-run company BALS Brandschutz- und Sicherheit...

The Fire Safety Bill had a successful second reading in the House of Commons. The Minister of State (The Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP) discussed the tragic Grenfell fire and that the Government is resolute in its commitment to ensure that (events of this kind) are never repeated. “The Queen’s Speech committed the Government to bringing forward two Bills on fire and building safety. The first is this short, technical, Home Office-led Fire Safety Bill, which will amend the Regulat...

April 30th is the day the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) was supposed to host the 32nd Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner, an event to have been attended by 1,500 fire and emergency services leaders across the country to pay tribute to the dedication and commitment of our nation’s firefighters and emergency services personnel. Back in the latter part of 2019, CFSI considered different themes for the 2020 program and selected “Recognizing Our Nation&rsqu...

HURST Jaws of Life, an industry renowned global manufacturer of rescue tools, has earned the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) 1936 2020 compliant status for HURST’s two highest-performing product lines, eDRAULIC watertight extrication tools (EWXT) and eDRAULIC 2.0 (E2) battery-powered tools. The third-party test results also include HURST Jaws of Life earning high ratings in the NFPA’s new F Bar Cut testing for cutter performance, against the design and metal type...

Steve Hirsch, Chair of the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), has been named as an advisor to the Small Town America Civic Volunteer Award (STACVA) program. This new national award, scheduled to launch June 1, will honor extraordinary public service volunteers in small localities (under 5,000) nationwide and help shine a spotlight on a growing national problem: a decline in the availability of citizens to fill important public safety and service roles. Advisory team members will help desig...

May 5 is #GivingTuesday, and National Volunteer Fire Council ask that people consider a donation to the NVFC’s Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund. This fund provides a stipend to help eligible volunteer firefighters and EMS providers who have been impacted by a large-scale disaster, home fire, or have suffered loss of wages due to COVID-19. The fund relies entirely on donations, and 100 percent of donations go to help responders in need.

Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) Fire Chief, Bryan Collins, announced at a media briefing, plans to provide the Spokane Valley Fire Department with a Firefighter Wellness App to support their mental health and well-being. The wellness tool will be an App installed on phones to help Spokane Valley Firefighters with their personal health and wellness needs. Many Firefighters experience PTSD after years of service in traumatic situations. “Our firefighters face tremendous mental and phy...

ImageTrend, Inc. is pleased to announce an offering to connect its License Management solution with the National EMS Coordinated Database, for the electronic exchange of licensing information, by June 2020. A National EMS-ID number will be generated to link EMS personnel records across multiple state licensing systems and the National EMS Coordinated Database. ImageTrend License Management Leveraging the automated licensing workflow capability, new and updated EMS personnel data can be report...

A Peterborough-based fire station has donated more than £1,000 to a local hospice. Staff at Dogsthorpe Fire Station raised the money through their sports and social club. After seeing a social media post from Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice highlighting the need for support, White Watch agreed with the rest of the station to arrange a donation. Donations  Firefighter Matthew Johnson from White Watch presented the donation of £1,250 to the hospice. Matthew Johnson said, “...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) created a survey to better understand the experiences of volunteer and combination fire, EMS, and rescue departments dealing with the outbreak of COVID-19 and related social distancing measures. NVFC asks that all take a few minutes to complete the survey, and that to re-take the survey each week so that NVFC can track changes over time. Based on survey and other feedback from NVFC members, answer choices related to responder mental health, morale, fun...