NEEDA - National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) recommends property owners with dry sprinklers with O-ring water seals have samples of those sprinklers tested immediately. The sprinklers may not operate in the event of a fire because water pressure may not be enough. 3-3-00

SW PA FLOOD VICTIMS CAN BORROW $200,000; BUSINESSES $1.5 MILLION
Originally Posted: March 3, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Homeowners can apply to borrow up to $200,000 for damage to their homes and both homeowners and renters can borrow up to $40,000 for possession replacement. Businesses can borrow up to $1.5 million for business-related losses. The interest on the loans ranges from 3.8 percent to 8 percent. 3-3-00

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES SUPPORT INCREASE IN MINIMUM WAGE; BUT WHAT ABOUT IMPACT ON SMALL BUSINESSES?
Originally Posted: March 3, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

McCain: I have opposed increasing the minimum wage because of its detrimental effects on small businesses. However, recently I supported an amendment increasing the minimum wage because it was combined with tax and regulatory relief to offset the negative impact of increased personnel costs on small businesses and the economy as a whole.

Bush: I support raising the minimum wage as long as states are given flexibility not to price entry level workers out of the market. 3-3-00

NEW RESCUE TRAILER FOR SEARCH TEAMS RESPONDING TO COLLAPSES
Originally Posted: March 3, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

The life-saving tools trailer will be made available free of charge on a first-come, first- serve basis to any federal, regional or local urban search and rescue (USAR) or collapse rescue team. 3-4-00

PUBLIC SAFETY VOICE AND DATA SYSTEM FOR INDIANA BY MOTOROLA
Originally Posted: March 3, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

The IPSC will award the grants, which are funded by a combination of state and federal funds. The grants include a $2.5 million federal appropriation made in November 99. The IPSC is made up of representatives from local governments and public-safety agencies including law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical services, and emergency management agencies. 3-4-00

INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION SAYS IRS FAILS IN ACCOUNTING
Originally Posted: March 3, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

The General Accounting Office (GAO) audit highlights the fact that the IRS doesn't
know how much is coming in or how much is going out. GAO is the investigative arm of the US Congress. 3-4-00

NEW CA OVERTIME LAW FACES PROTEST
Originally Posted: March 3, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

CA law effective March forces small businesses to pay overtime for any day an employee works over 8 hours or any week they work over 40 hours. As the result of the passage of AB 60 in 1999, starting March 1, California law requires that any hourly worker receive overtime if they work more than 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week -- time-and-a-half up to 12 hours, double-time after 12. The information technology people don't like it. As a small business owner what is your position on this new law? 3-4-00

NEW IRS RULES FOR COMPANIES WHICH SPONSOR A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, TEAM, OR CAUSE
Originally Posted: March 3, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Feb 29 regs from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) say what is a charitable sponsorship and what is not. When is acknowledgement of the sponsoring company advertising and when is it charity? 3-4-00

UNIVERSITY TRIES CD TO ENSURE EMTS MASTER SKILL BEFORE PRACTICING ON HUMANS
Originally Posted: March 2, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

CD lets EMT students master administering an EKG without having first to practice on humans. Early results show the CD as teacher is effective. 3-2-00

EMERGENCIES CAN NOW BE MONITORED BY CITIZENS THROUGH NEW INTERNET SCANNER BROADCAST SYSTEM
Originally Posted: March 1, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Anyone with the time to listen to scanners can now use the internet to hear the raw exchanges among emergency responders, EMS units, and rescue teams by tuning in to their computers via internet. The service is already available in many cities. For many years, citizens in the tornado belt have used scanners to be alerted to approaching tornadoes. Now all computer users can do the same thing for any emergency or crisis in their area. 3-1-00

MICHIGAN IN UPROAR OVER LAW REQUIRING TWO-THIRDS OK FOR LAWS WHICH IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Originally Posted: March 1, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Michigan voters in November will decide on a ballot issue which keeps anyting from affecting local governments unless the legislature says yes by a two-thirds vote. The ballot proposal is advocated by the Michigan Municipal League. It is opposed by those who see gridlock on legislative initiatives on such topics as local 911 systems. 3-1-00

JUSTICE OFFERS $146,000 TO MA FIRE FAMILIES
Originally Posted: March 1, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

The US Justice Department is providing $146,000 to each of the families of the Worcester MA firefighters who were killed in December, 1999. The money comes from the Justice Department's Public Safety Officers' Benefits program. 3-1-00

RECENT ILLINOIS LAWS ADVANCE USE OF DEFIBRILLATORS BY EMS AND OTHERS TRAINED IN USE; RED CROSS OFFER
Originally Posted: March 1, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

The Illinois legislature has ok'd two laws that help widen the use of defibrillators to save heart attack victims and others in trauma. Training is needed by those operating this emergency equipment. 3-1-00