NEEDA - National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association

Belgium's ten provinces will soon share the same emegency and public safety communications system. The digital system is being installed by a a combination involving Nokia, A.S.T.R.I.D., KNT, and Tetra. East Flanders, West Flanders and henegouwen are the first to get the new system.

TOP BUSH REGULATOR JOHN GRAHAM EXPECTED TO REVIEW IMPACT OF REGS ON BUSINESS COMMUNITY
Originally Posted: July 31, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

President Bush's top regulator, having survived an intense Senate confirmation process, will work closely with the head of the Office of Management and Budget and is examining the many regulatory initiatives of former President Bill Clinton. John D. Graham comes from Harvard University and is currently looking at the Reagan years for examples of better ways to handle Federal regulatory powers. His opponents expect him to roll back Federal regulations, analyze carefully future proposals for new rules, and to approve fewer regulations affecting business than was done during the Clinton Administration.

GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE STUDY CITES FEDERAL CREDIT CARD ABUSES
Originally Posted: July 31, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Many dealers have reported to NEEDA that the Federal use of credit cards has made it easier for Federal employees to purchase equipment and supplies needed for emergency and rescue programs. However, at the request of Congress, the GAO has released a study showing that Federal employees abuse these credit cards: paying too much for luxury items, personal products and even pet food. Some of the "abuses" were actually incidents in which the credit cards or numbers were stolen, the US Navy told the Washington Post.

FEWER RECRUITS APPLY FOR POLICE WORK; CITIES RESPOND WITH SHORTER WORKWEEKS, MORE LEAVE
Originally Posted: July 31, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Recruiting for public safety jobs is getting harder and harder. The drop in recruits, despite intensified recruiting efforts, is dramatic in many urban areas. Some police departments are experimenting with shorter work weeks and more days off to entice recruits. While only a small portion of those applying for public safety work actually get jobs, the pool from which to select has shrunk, alarming city and county officials across the country.

FLORIDA MODEL HOME PROTECTS FROM HURRICANES, FLOODING AND WILDFIRES
Originally Posted: July 31, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

"Fortified Florida" addresses high winds, flooding, and wildfires -- the state's three most destructive natural perils. A new home in Pasco County FL features protection from all three threats. For example, it includes non-combustible roof materials in contrast to the woodenshingle homes threatened by wildfires in the West.

SECOND BIG FIRE BRINGS UNIQUE EXCITEMENT TO FIREHOUSE EXPO IN BALTIMORE
Originally Posted: July 31, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Following nationwide news accounts of a railroad tunnel fire in downtown Baltimore, another fire struck. This one also featured chemicals. Of special interest: the new fire occured while many firefighters and experts were in town for the Firehouse Expo at the Baltimore Convention Center.

FEMA AWARDS MORE THAN $4.4 MILLION IN FIRE GRANTS$2.6 MILLION FOR FIREFIGHTING VEHICLES
Originally Posted: July 31, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Eighty one fire departments will receive $4.4 million in the second round of grants issued under the new Fire Act grants program. This money will be used in the category of "Assistance to Firefighters." This is the second NEEDA NEWSLETTER announcement concerning the release of these grants.

PATIENTS RIGHTS LEGISLATION, ALREADY PASSED BY US SENATE, IS DELAYED IN HOUSE: BUSH NEEDS MORE VOTES
Originally Posted: July 28, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Patients rights legislation was delayed to give the Bush Administration more time to rally votes for a version of the legislation which the President will not veto. It is very likely that President Bush will get the votes overnight he needs to pass the compromise bill.

The Fletcher proposal, supported by Bush and Republican leaders, includes provisions that would allow associations such as the National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association (NEEDA)to offer health plans for the benefit of their members' employees under one federal law.Republican leaders back the Rep. Ernest Fletcher (R-KY) bill, which limits patients' ability to sue their employers and their HMOs more significantly than does the proposal pushed by Reps. Charles Norwood (R-GA), Greg Ganske (R-IA) and John Dingell (D-MI).

The Norwood-Ganske-Dingell bill is very similar to legislation that passed the Senate in June -- legislation which President Bush has threatened to veto.

TAX REFORM TO HELP BUSINESS DOUBTFUL THIS YEAR
Originally Posted: July 28, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) told a meeting of association executives in Washington DC this week that he does not believe a tax bill benefiting the business community will be successful this year without Congress making the politically unpopular move of dipping in to the Medicare and Social Security trust funds. Pomeroy -- the newest Democrat on the influential House Ways and Means Committee – is a long-time supporter of pension reform and flexibility. Pomeroy applauded Rep. Robert Portman (R-OH) for successfully having his sweeping pension reform changes included in the final package.

NEEDA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RECEIVES AWARD
Originally Posted: July 28, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

NEEDA Executive Director awarded 2001 Distinguished Service Award by Ottawa University.

He is currently the Executive Director of the National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association (NEEDA) and until recently the 6,000-member Employee Assistance Professionals Association. He is also President of Management Services to Associations and Executive Search Services; and is also Executive Director of the Association Chief Executives Council. Prior to NEEDA, Pattie was CEO of the Fairfax-based International Communications Industries Association.

LAX GETS NEW PARAMEDIC SERVICE
Originally Posted: July 27, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

New paramedic plan at LAX will serve the local communities and increase response time at the airport. Having a paramedics ambulance team based at LAX is expected to reduce their average response time to on-airport medical emergencies by 1 1/2 to two minutes from the current five to seven minutes.

TWO MINUTE BLOOD ANALYSER SUBJECT OF $10 MILLION PATENT INFRINGEMENT SETTLEMENT
Originally Posted: July 27, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

i-STAT manufacturer of a hand-held automated blood analyzer capable of performing a panel of commonly ordered blood tests on two or three drops of blood in just two minutes at the patient's side has settled a patent infringement lawsuit and will pay Nova a fee for products sold after January 2001.

UL SAYS NO MORE 0-RINGS OR ZINC IN FIRE SPRINKLERS: WARNS BUILDING MANAGERS TO INSPECT SYSTEMS
Originally Posted: July 27, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Recent publicity about sprinkler problems has led to a change in Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standard. Result: No more 0-ring seals in fire sprinklers after 2002. UL is also changing the standard for brass sprinkler parts which contain zinc which may weaken or leak. UL continues to urge immediate inspection and sample testing of all systems with sprinklers incorporating an O-ring water seal, regardless of the year of manufacture or installation location. Building managers and property owners can verify whether the sprinklers in question utilize O-rings by contacting the sprinkler manufacturer or UL.

24-7 BED AVAILABILITY SYSTEM SPEEDS EMERGENCY RESPONSE BY EMS
Originally Posted: July 27, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Nineteen hospitals are now using a system offered by YET so EMS and emergency responders can rapidly determine an hospital with space availability. Officials said it sometimes took up to five hours of phoning or faxing to find an open bed. Now, they all have up to the minute bed status for emergencies.

SENATORS THURMOND AND HATCH INTRODUCE ANTI-BUSINESS BILL WHICH OPENS MARKETS FOR PRISON MADE GOODS
Originally Posted: July 27, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

The Competition in Contracting Act Coalition is supporting the Hoekstra-Frank-Collins-Maloney bill to curtail the unfair advantages the Federal prison industries have in selling to Federal agencies. The Coalition is opposing the Wolf-Thurmond-Hatch bills in the House and Senate which allow the Federal Prison Industries to expand their manufacturing, sales and marketing program at the expense of the private sector.

WILDFIRES IN WY CHALLENGE EXPENSIVE HOMES, VP CHENEY, AND EXTENSIVE FEDERAL FIREFIGHTING RESOURCES
Originally Posted: July 27, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

High winds, dry heat, plus flame bring out an army at US expense.

Wonder why the Federal government is spending more these days to fight wildfires? In the Wyoming fires currently threatening private property and 100 expensive homes near Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the Forest Service has 1,000 firefighters, 11 helicopters, 10 air tankers and six other planes to fight fire over several thousand acres. They are using high-powered sprinkler systems and spraying protective material to save the mountain homes. The mountains surrounding the Jackson Hole valley include the Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, which generate huge public support. Vice President Dick Cheney has a home a few miles from the fire. Some of the expensive homes, only a few hundred feet from the fire line, cost $5-$20 million although firefighters say the cost of the property they are fighting to save is not an issue.

OSHKOSH TRUCK GOES BIG IN EUROPEAN TRASH PICKUP VEHICLE MARKET
Originally Posted: July 26, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Oshkosh Truck (WI), which includes Pierce and Medtech in the emergency and EMS vehicle business, is buying a refuse pick up truck manufacturing business in Europe. The $1.3 billion US company predicts quick bottom line profits from its new acquisition: Geesink Norba. The acquisition puts Oshkosh in the trash business in fifteen countries. Sales in at least seven countries are handled by distributors.

SPARTAN ISSUES STRONG FINANCIAL RESULTS: FUELED BY EMERGENCY VEHICLES
Originally Posted: July 26, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Increased sales of Spartan's emergency vehicles and fire truck chassis were offset by continued softness in the market for recreational vehicles.

Sales of Spartan's custom fire truck chassis increased during the quarter, fueled by new customers, strong orders and the continuing shift from commercial to custom products.

The Company owns fire and rescue vehicle manufacturers Luverne Fire Apparatus, Quality Manufacturing and Road Rescue, Inc.

Spartan has a 28 percent increase in net earnings for the second quarter ended June 30, 2001.

BRUCE BOWLING & JIM PAGE AGREE TO PUT GEMS CONTENT INTO FIREHOUSE.COM
Originally Posted: July 26, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

JEMS Communications and Firehouse.com have combined forces to strengthen the information available on Firehouse.com. The website will include content from the Journal of Emergency medical Services which is produced in California by Jim Page, who spoke at the NEEDA Convention in San Diego. NEEDA includes the National Emergency Medical Services Distributors Association (NEMSDA) which includes the couple dozen companies which sell to, supply and support the nation's EMS and ambulance companies. NEEDA President James
"Pat" Griffin said "This is a good combination which will generate more information for everyone in the fire and EMS businesses. Jim Page and Bruce Bowling are excellent leaders in our profession and it's just great to see them cooperating in this way for the benefit of everyone." NEEDA is headquartered at 8421 Frost Way, Annandale VA 22003 (703 280 4622).

EMS INVITED TO MEET US REP. TUBBS JONES AUGUST 6 @ 7 PM
Originally Posted: July 25, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Cleveland OH area Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones will address issues surrounding emergency medical services in Northeast Ohio. The meeting will take place August 6, 2001, from 7:00pm-9:00pm at Tri-C Metro Campus in the Auditorium.

PUBLIC SAFETY UNIFORM SALES AFFECTED BY ECONOMY
Originally Posted: July 24, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Public safety market uniform maker reports weakening market on quarterly sales of $38.3 million compared to $44.7 million in the same quater last year. Superior Uniform Group continues quarterly dividend.

PALMPRINT ID FOR SECRITY & EMERGENCY GETS BOOST FROM MOTOROLA COMPANY
Originally Posted: July 24, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Recent news reports feature the expansion of the palmprint identification method for security and emergency sites and situations. Here is news about a Motorola Company division, Printrak, with an advanced product offering in this field.

108 FIRE DEPARTMENTS SHARE $2.9 MILLION IN FIRE GRANTS
Originally Posted: July 24, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced July 24, 2001 that 108 fire departments across the United States will receive more than $2.9 million in grants in the first round of awards under the Assistance to Firefighters Program.

NEW SHOW IN WEST IN 03
Originally Posted: July 24, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Fire Rescue West, San Jose will end in 2002. Beginning in 2003, a new fire exhibition and conference will be held annually in San Diego CA, beginning February 18-20, 2003 in the waterfront SD convention center. The San Jose Fire Rescue West show was last held the week of Feb 5, 2001.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MOVE TO STOP BUYING SUVs: DUE TO EMISSIONS AND COST OF OPERATING
Originally Posted: July 24, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

County and municipal governments are restricting purchases of sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) citing high pollution emissions and cost of operating.

The latest to do so is Fairfax County, Virginia the jurisdiction in includes NEEDA headquarters.

Fairfax has a population of one million and is adjacent to Washington DC.

WILDFIRES STATE BY STATE
Originally Posted: July 20, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

NEEDA has obtained the latest wildfire figures by state showing fires up to mid July 2001. Wildfires in 2000 were the worst in 50 years causing $1.6 billion in damage. The Federal government is spending more than evern before in wildfire fighting and prevention.

OSHKOSHChr$(34);S PIERCE & MEDTEC SUPPORT MOTOCYCLE EVENT
Originally Posted: July 20, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

The Sturgis Motocycle Ralley in South Dakota will have fire and emergency service provided by Pierce and Medtec. This will be the second year for Pierce in this event. Medtec was recently added to the Oshkosh line of products as reported earlier by NEEDA. A Pierce Dash(R) custom 100-foot aerial platform, decked out in special motorcycle rally graphics, will lead the Wednesday, Aug. 8th, Sky Ranch Awareness Ride. Will this motorcycle/emergency vehicle be on display at the International Fire Chiefs convention and trade show in New Orleans in August?

WILDFIRE SHIELDS NOT ENOUGH TO PROTECT WILDFIRE FIGHTERS
Originally Posted: July 17, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

The wildfire fighters who died July 10, 2001 in Washington state, and used emergency heat shilds did not die of inexperience, the Associated Press reports. Rather, the shields used did not provide enought protection to save lives. Officials said the firefighters put their shields in the right place but they warned that the exploding fire situation exceeded the limits of the shields to protect the firefighters.

AGE & SEX AFFECT INJURY RATES AND RETURN TO WORK TIME FOR FIREFIGHTERS
Originally Posted: July 16, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Female firefighters are one-third more likely to report on-the-job injuries than males. Older firefighters took longer to recover from injuries than did younger firefighters, and those with less fire fighting experience suffered more severe injuries than those with more experience. However, what surprised the researchers was the finding that after an injury, married female firefighters returned to work the earliest, followed by unmarried male, unmarried female and married male firefighters.

REP. DAVIS PLANS TO INTRODUCE BILL TO HELP GSA TAKE AWAY BUSINESS FROM SMALL LOCAL DEALERS
Originally Posted: July 16, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Congress will consider a new drive by Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) to legislative Federal Centralized Cooperative Purchasing. The Davis bill would reverse the decision of Congress when it repealed Section 1555 and said no to the Clinton-Gore cooperative purchasing plan. The new Davis plan expected to be introduced by the end of the summer of 2001 will allow GSA to promote the exclusive list of Federal multiple-award contractors to state and local buyers. GSA will say state and local buyers need not bid or obtain competition for these products since GSA has already negotiated price and terms. Manufacturers with GSA contracts would ship directly to the state or local procurement office. No local dealer participation would be sought, no bids received, and no publicity concerning the purchase would be required. Today's local procurement system is based on local competition; tomorrow under GSA, there would be no local competition, no public disclosure, and percentage rebates will be included in what the buyer pays so the manufacturer can pay GSA for the privige of having the Federal agency do the marketing and promotion of the program.

OSHKOSH, MAKER OF PIERCE AND MEDTEC VEHICLES, FINANCES TO BE REVEALED JULY 27
Originally Posted: July 13, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Oshkosh Truck Corporation which manufactures specialty trucks and truck bodies including Pierce and Medtec fire and ambulance vehicles, will issue third-quarter 2001 financial results on July 27, 2001, according to Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh chairman, president and chief executive officer.

Oshkosh Truck Corporation makes specialty trucks and truck bodies for the defense, fire, ambulance and emergency, concrete and refuse hauling markets. It is a Fortune 1000 company with products marketed under the Oshkosh, Pierce, McNeilus and Medtec brand names. Headquartered in Oshkosh, WI, Oshkosh had annual sales of $1.3 billion in 2000.

The company's financial report comes just three weeks before the annual fire chiefs convention and exhibition in New Orleans and will be watched for industry trends as this major show opens.

MORE INFO? Charlie Szews 920-235-9151 Ext. 2332

FIRE ACT AWARD LETTERS OUT IN AUGUST, 2001
Originally Posted: July 10, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Fire departments will know in August if they have been selected to receive Federal funding under the new Fire Act matching grant program. The peer review process has just concluded, according to Bill Webb, Executive Director, Congressional Fire Services Institute, Washington DC 202 371 1277.

RURAL METRO EXPANDS EMS/AMBULANCE SERVICES
Originally Posted: July 6, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

Rural Metro in 2001 has won $19.9 million in 10 ambulance services contracts including University of Colorado, Forum Health System in Youngstown, Ohio; the City of Jeffersontown, Ky.; Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Ohio; Baptist Memorial Healthcare Corporation in Memphis, Tenn.; the Ohio-based American Electric Power Co.; and the Bismarck (North Dakota) Municipal Airport.

MOTOROLA WINS NY CHIEFS RECOGNITION
Originally Posted: July 6, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

The NY Fire Chiefs association said "thank you" to Motorola with a sculpture depicting a firefighter holding a radio. The sculpture will be on permanent display in the headquarters building of the Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector at the Motorola Center in Schaumburg, Ill.

PREVENTING WORKPLACE VIOLENCE IN YOUR FIRM
Originally Posted: July 2, 2001 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2001 1:35 PM

There are 2 million victims of workplace violence each year. Here are some things small and medium sized firms can do to prevent violence among your employees.