NEEDA - National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association

It took two 911 calls and 20 minutes to get paramedic help in Los Angeles, but when the emergency response team arrived, the victim had died of a heart attack the Los Angeles Times says. This is one of five instances involving a delay in dispatching EMS. Dispatchers were reprimanded.

CATERPILLARChr$(34);S FITES LANDS ON OSHKOSH BOARD
Originally Posted: September 20, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Mr. Fites served as chairman and chief executive officer of Caterpillar Inc., from 1990 until his retirement in February 1999 after a 43-year career with the company. He now serves on the Oshkosh Board. Oshkosh makes Pierce apparatus for the fire and emergency market.

HUDSON BUYS ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE LINE FROM TYCO INTERNATIONAL
Originally Posted: September 20, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Tyco International Ltd. (Pembroke, Bermuda) announced that it would sell its
The $15 million Sheridan line of endotracheal tubes to Hudson respiratory Care, Inc.
(Temecula, CA)

HERMITAGE HIRES CAUKIN AS NATIONAL SALES MANAGER
Originally Posted: September 20, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Caukin will be responsible for developing and expanding Hermitages hospital/OEM customer base.
Prior to joining Hermitage, Caukin was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Emerald Archiving, Inc.

AT&T HELPS WESTERN FIRE FIGHTING
Originally Posted: September 20, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

News from the Western Governors Association Fire Summit in Salt Lake City: $90,000 contribution from AT&T. Plus AT&T will match employee Red Cross contributions up to $10,000. Red Cross has been a major supporter of citizens and communities hit by this year's wildfires.

REP. HOEKSTRA ASKS HOUSE TO CONSIDER HR 2551: SAY NO TO PRISON INDUSTRY EXPANSION
Originally Posted: September 20, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) is prepared to seek House consideration for his bill to end the inside track enjoyed by Federal Prison Industries which can sell without any competition to Federal agencies. NEEDA supports the Hoekstra bill and opposes HR 2558 introduced by Rep. Bill MCCollum (R-FL)who wants prison industries to sell to local retail stores like WALMART as well as to state, and local goverments.

CHIEFS FOCUS PUBLIC ATTENTION ON HOME FIRE HAZARD AND ESCAPE PLANS
Originally Posted: September 18, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Home fire escape planning can make the difference between life and death in a fire. From the time the smoke alarm sounds, people may have as little as two minutes to escape from a typical house fire, according to the NFPA. A home fire escape plan includes working smoke alarms on every floor and near every sleeping area, two escape routes from every room, and a predetermined outside meeting place, like a tree or a telephone pole.

FIRE RESCUE WEST CONTRACTS WITH TERRY ANDERSON, ISLAMIC TERRORISTChr$(34);S HOSTAGE, AT 2001SHOW
Originally Posted: September 18, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Fire Rescue West will take place February 5-8, 2001 in San Jose, California at the McEnery Convention Center. Former hostage Terry Anderson will be keynote speaker.

US MEDICAL GROUP SEEKS BOOST IN MARKETING AT STATE, FEDERAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
Originally Posted: September 18, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

US Medical Group owns, manages and operates freestanding, totally self-contained, mobile surgical facilities that serve the prison systems in Florida and in North Carolina.

EMERGENCY DEALERS BACKORDERED ON BOOTS BECAUSE OF WILDFIRE DEMAND IN THE WEST
Originally Posted: September 18, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Dealers report being backlogged on orders to manufacturers for firefighting boots because so many boots are being diverted to the West for firefighters combatting wildfires. White's, maker of the Smoke Jumper, is one such company

WACKENHUT WINS DOD INDUSTRIAL SECURITY AWARD
Originally Posted: September 18, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Wackenhut Services, Inc., a subsidiary of The Wackenhut Corporation, was awarded the Department of Defense's James S. Cogswell Award for Outstanding Industrial Security Achievement.The Wackenhut Corporation, based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, provides security-related and business services, and has operations in over fifty countries on six continents.

OSHKOSH IS SELLING TO FEDERAL BUYERS DIRECT VIA INTERNET
Originally Posted: September 15, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Oshkosh Truck is penetrating the Federal defense market with new electronic ordering system to speed up deliveries to customers. Marines are the first to benefit but other agencies can participate.

ITS ONE YEAR UNTIL NEXT STAGE OF EMERGENCY LOCATORS FOR WIRELESS CALLERS USING 911
Originally Posted: September 15, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

The Federal Communications Commission continues to support the Emergency 911 system so that 911 callers using wireless phones can be located.

Emergency: What Happens When You Call 911? Knowing How the System Works Can Help Save Lives
Originally Posted: September 14, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

"We have one of the best emergency medical systems in the world," says
Brian LaCroix, director of operations, Allina Medical Transportation. "But as good as that system is and with all of the top-level professional experience and equipment at our disposal, we depend on the people who are at the scene -- family, friends, coworkers, bystanders --to help in those first critical
moments."

PHILADELPHIA CRITICIZED FOR NOT REPORTING 37,000 MAJOR CRIMES
Originally Posted: September 14, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

An audit confirms FBI's 1998 rejection of Philadephia police stats: unreliable . . .37,000 major crimes were not reported. Including all the crimes could push Philadelphia to #2 on the most dangerous city list. Stabbings were reported as hospital cases, burglaries as lost property, rapes as investigations of persons.

IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial in Colorado Springs, Colo., at 1:30 p.m., Sept. 16
Originally Posted: September 14, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

59 names will be added to the memorial's Wall of Honor, including the names of the six Worcester, Mass., fire fighters who were killed in a fatal warehouse fire in December 1999; three Keokuk, Iowa, fire fighters who lost their lives while attempting to save children from a house fire before Christmas 1999; and two Houston fire fighters -- one of whom was the first female fire fighter to die in that city -- who were killed in an arson fire at a fast food restaurant in February.

EMT CONFERENCE SEPT 18-19, 2000 RESTON VA
Originally Posted: September 14, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

International (MDI) will present its Fourth Annual Emerging Medical
Technologies (EMT) East Conference and Exhibition, September 18-19, 2000, at
the Hyatt Regency Reston in Reston, VA.

FIREFIGHTERS IN BRITAIN CUT SERVICES DUE TO FUEL SHORTAGE
Originally Posted: September 14, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

One reason the fuel blockade in the United Kingdom needs to stop: firefighters can't get through or don't have enough fuel to serve all requests.

FEMA, HANOVER CO NC, & ALERTS.COM IN JOINT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM
Originally Posted: September 14, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

FEMA has spent $25 billion to help repair and rebuild communities after natural disasters. During that time, the North Carolina coast has been ground zero for hurricanes. Six hurricanes or tropical storms hit the North Carolina coast during the 1990s (Hurricane Floyd [1999], Tropical Storm Dennis [1999], Hurricane Bonnie [1998], Hurricane Fran [1996], Hurricane Bertha [1996], and Tropical Storm Arthur [1996] ). Total damage in New Hanover County to residences and businesses from Hurricane Floyd (1999) stands at nearly $28,000,000, and damage from Hurricane Fran (1996) topped out at $236,000,000.

16 TEXAS KIDS WIN AWARDS FOR USING 911 TO SAVE LIVES
Originally Posted: September 14, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Since the inception of the 911 for Kids education program in 1996, 911 public educators throughout the state of Texas have reached more than 1,000,000 children with Red E. Fox videos and educational packages in schools and child care centers. The CSEC hopes every parent and educator will reinforce instructions to children to call 911 in a police, fire, medical, or poison emergency.

Carbon Monoxide Week is Sept 18-24 2000
Originally Posted: September 13, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

September 18-24, 2000 is Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week, when attention is focused on carbon monoxide poisoning, a problem that actually occurs year-round, but really begins to gain momentum in the fall and winter months. During this "peak season," when homes are "sealed tight" for the winter and furnaces begin to be switched on in American households, many homeowners and apartment dwellers unwittingly expose themselves to a poison that claims more American lives than any other toxin.

CLINTON TO CONGRESS: NEED $1.6 BILLION THANKS TO WILDFIRES
Originally Posted: September 10, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

President Clinton wants Congress to OK $2.6 billion for areas hit by wildfires this summer, an increase of $1.6 billion. Some of the money would be used for prevention including burning areas which would have been left alone under earlier policies. Meanwhile, the Clinton-Gore administratin is spending $40 million on 90 restoration sites covering 6.5 million acres. Some of the money will help where three dozen wildfires continue to blaze. Western Governors meeting in Denver will discuss the President's initiatives.

COLLEGES INCREASE FIRE PREVENTION IN DORMS
Originally Posted: September 7, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Last year's fatal fire at Seton Hall University in New Jersey has prompted many college officials to beef up their fire prevention practices and step up student involvement. Colleges have purchased and installed more fire prevention equipment.

GOV. BUSH MAD AT WASHINGTONChr$(34);S "NO" TO FUNDING FIRE PREVENTION IN TX
Originally Posted: September 7, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

George Bush is mad at Washington for denying funding for a wildfire prevention program his state wants to conduct in response to three years of dought and high temperatures. Texas has gone for over two months without rain, including the 102 degree days when NEEDA members attended the fire chiefs convention and exhibit in Dallas this August.

NEEDA SALUTES FIRE FIGHTERS IN MONTANA
Originally Posted: September 7, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

The National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association (NEEDA) salutes the firefighters who worked the wildfires in Montana and elsewhere in the West. "While many Americans were at the beach, lake or mountains or enjoying the summer elsewhere, these men and women spent their time saving property and lives. They make every American proud. We thank them all from the bottom of our hearts," said James "Pat" Griffin, President of NEEDA on behalf of the dealers who support local fire, rescue, EMS and public safety departments throughout the nation.

CRIME IS DOWN, MORE POLICE ON THE STREETS, BUT CLINTON PLAN FOR 100,000 MAY NOT REACH GOAL IN 2000
Originally Posted: September 7, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Did the Clinton 1994 plan to put more police on the streets really put 100,000 out there?

The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)says "Yes" but a study which stoped taking data
in mid-1998 says the $8.8 billion program will not reach its goal until 2003.

FEDERAL PRISON FACTORIES TO COMPETE WITH EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT DEALERS
Originally Posted: September 6, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

A compromise between Rep. Bill McCollum (R-FL) and Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) collapsed when McCollum said "No" to any deal that didn't allow Federal prison industries to begin selling to local, state and retail markets. With 13 new prison factories opening in next two years, prisons are looking at making fire, emergency, EMS, rescue, and police products. "They'll be competing with our small businesses unless Congress stops them," said James "Pat" Griffin,(American Fire Equipment, Woodbridge VA) President of the National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association (NEEDA) 703 280 4622.

FEDERAL PRISONS EXPAND INTO FIRE AND EMERGENCY MARKET
Originally Posted: September 6, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

The National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association (NEEDA) warns that Federal prisons will take over making emergency equipment products and rehabilitating vehicles because of legislation promoted by Rep. Bill McCollum (R FL). McCollum has withdrawn from a compromise with Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI)and is refusing any legislation unless it allows Federal prisons to sell to state, local, and commercial retail and wholesale markets. NEEDA says Federal competition with private companies for state, local and commercial business is wrong.

FEDS EYE HEAD TO HEAD COMPETITION WITH EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT DEALERS
Originally Posted: September 6, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Freightliner Brake System Recall
Originally Posted: September 5, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Freightliner Advises of Brake System Recall
Bendix ABS EC-17 Electronic Control Units Installed March 1998-August 2000 Are Affected

Fire vehicles in top priority for recall.

FREIGHTLINERChr$(34);S BENDIX BRAKE RECALL ON MANY FIRE AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES
Originally Posted: September 5, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Freightliner Advises Brake System Recall
of Bendix ABS EC-17 Electronic Control Units Installed March 1998-August 2000 on bus and fire/emergency vehicles.

CRASH CALLS EMS @ 911 AUTOMATICALLY
Originally Posted: September 5, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Autoliv and Volvo Launch New Safety System

Autoliv Inc. and Volvo Car Corporation have introduced one of the world's first post-crash safety systems, "Volvo On Call". It is a crash-robust system that automatically calls the EMS (Emergency Medical Service) Center after a crash and gives the rescue team the exact location of the accident.

The system's main components are a cellular telephone, a built-in GPS satellite position unit and a Multiplex communication unit. To resolve the concern of limited cellular coverage in certain areas in North America, an additional satellite data link is provided in these markets to assure uninterrupted access to the EMS centers. The sub-systems are integrated into one robust, easy-to-install unit, which is designed to withstand very severe crashes. The new system is the result of a joint development project between Volvo Car Corporation, Autoliv and the telecom company Ericsson.

ATRIAL FIBRILLATION
Originally Posted: September 4, 2000 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

George H. Bush was rushed by EMS to hospital with heart palpitations with atrial fibrillation. Some people don't respond to medication or brief electrical shock. The American Heart Association has more infor on this for EMS and rescue responders: www.americanheart.org/heart_and_stroke_A_Z_Guide/afib.html