Training & Education - News

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....

HM Government have released ‘Our Plan to Rebuild’, a document outlining the UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy. Section 4 outlines the ‘roadmap to lift restrictions step-by-step’. Regarding returning to work, Government guidelines state ‘All workers who cannot work from home should travel to work if their workplace is open.’ Sectors of the economy that are allowed to be open should be open, for example this includes food production, construction...

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...

Homes for Heroes and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have announced a partnership to help volunteer firefighters, EMS providers, and rescue workers save when purchasing, selling, or refinancing a home. NVFC members, their families, and their first responder friends will be eligible to take advantage of the Hero Rewards program, which provides discounts, savings, and rewards on real estate transactions. Through the Hero Rewards program, first responders and other eligible heroes maxim...

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...

On the 8th June, 2020, the North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service will be opening recruitment process for wholetime firefighters. Between now and then, the fire and rescue service wants to raise awareness of the role of modern day firefighters and encourage applications from all parts of the communities. Raise awareness on fire safety When the recruitment application window opens, the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service will be recruiting wholetime firefighters for the following fire st...

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...

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 (...

According to their South African manufacturer ThoroughTec, CYBERDRIVE ARFF simulators are the perfect solution for organizations looking to dramatically improve ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting) operational readiness while also cutting costs. When ThoroughTec first started out over 25 years ago, the founders had two overarching goals – ‘to always build great products’ and ‘to only employ thoroughbreds.’ To this day, these goals are enshrined in the corporate...

As the days and week pass and the lockdown ‘continue, the FIA has been successfully running training and CPD sessions online since early 2020. Looking forward and thoughts turn to how the FIA will continue training once we begin exiting from lockdown. Online training At the start of lockdown, FIA set out its plans that there will be no classroom training until the start of July and it would fully transition to providing its training online where possible. First and foremost, the health...

Allison Transmission presented the UROVESA K6 IS, equipped with the Allison 3000 Series™ transmission, at SICUR 2020 (February 25-28, IFEMA trade fair center, Madrid). The vehicle features a chassis with a maximum GVW of 16 metric tonnes, excellent traction and extremely robust parts. It is specifically designed for off-road work on very rough terrain with full loads. It is in great demand for forest firefighting applications due to its innovative 4-wheel independent suspension system com...

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...

A dynamic new digital community is bringing together fire experts and policy makers to share insight and information as well as inspire improved building fire safety in Europe. Since its official launch in November, the European Fire Safety Community (EFSC) has attracted more than 260 individual members, ranging from firefighters, fire engineers, non-governmental organizations, and researchers to policymakers, architects, association members, and fire specialists. Fire Safe Europe The communi...

Due to the rapid spread of coronavirus, the world's trade fair INTERSCHUTZ has been postponed to 2021. The motto, “#whateverthechallenge”, that has been proclaimed for this event however still remains as guiding principle for ZIEGLER. The company now presents the latest innovations in the context of the “Innovation Rollout 2020”. User interface operating concept After the ALPAS of the latest generation has been introduced to the market, the rollout now continues with t...

The most important element of a fire curtain is the fire fabric. Coopers is woven by their specialists, in the manufacturing UK plants. After the fabric is woven, they proceed to a coating treatment. They apply technically advanced coatings developed by their chemical engineers, designed to meet and even exceed the highest standards of safety. They’re able to give each curtain a rating, based on the amount of time it will be resistant to fire. The next most important, but equally crucial...

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...

In the first three months of 2020, Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA (Dräger) has announced reporting an extraordinary increase in order intake, as well as a rise in net sales. Earnings were up significantly year on year. Order intake saw a sharp rise, increasing by 116.7 percent (net of currency effects) in the first three months. High order intake At EUR 1,392.7 million, order intake was up 115.1 percent year on year in nominal terms (3 months 2019: EUR 647.6 million). Orders increased...

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...

Leyland Trucks, a PACCAR company, located in Preston Lancashire, earned the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade 2020 for increasing exports by almost 50% over the last three years. Leyland Trucks manufactures DAF trucks and employs more than 1,000 people at its one million sq. ft. facility. Leyland Trucks produces the award-winning DAF XF, CF, and LF models for the UK, Europe, North and South America, and Asia markets. Highest quality commercial vehicles &ldq...

The campaign highlights how everyone at the company must continue to take an uncompromising approach to health and safety as Knauf Insulation adjusts to a new working environment shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. Knauf Insulation’s CEO Jean-Claude Carlin, said: “Knauf Insulation must always be ‘As Safe As Home’ and this new campaign underlines everything that we have learnt from the COVID crisis.” Well-Being of colleagues “Safety has always been our first pr...

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...

First Responders Children’s Foundation is providing support to first responders, including volunteer firefighters and EMS providers, who are experiencing hardship as a result of COVID-19. The Foundation is a Regional Partner of the ‘One World: Together at Home’ concert and was also featured in the ‘Fox Presents iHeart Living Room Concert for America.’ Financial support programs To help first responder families who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundat...

EMS Week is May 17-23, and year 2020’s theme of “Ready Today - Preparing for Tomorrow” is especially meaningful as EMS providers are on the front lines of COVID-19 response while continuing to provide everyday lifesaving services to their communities. One can use this week to thank and celebrate the EMS providers as well as let the community know all they do.