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Newletters From June, 2008
2008 FIRE/EMS SAFETY, HEALTH AND SURVIVAL WEEK:
Originally Posted: June 10, 2008 10:09 AM
Last Updated: June 10, 2008 10:09 AM
Recommended activities and materials will incorporate three key areas where standard operating procedures, policies and initiatives—along with the training and enforcement that support them—can limit fire/EMS personnel’s risk of injury or death:
Fully implement NFPA 1500, especially sections addressing PPE:
Provide compliant PPE.
Train and enforce use of PPE, including respiratory protection.
Fully implement the Wellness-Fitness Initiative:
Provide annual medical and physical evaluations.
Provide equipment and time for exercise.
Provide nutrition information.
Initiate an emergency vehicle policy, to include:
Always buckle up.
Always stop at red lights and stop signs.
Always drive at speed limits and defensively.
Focusing on these 2008 key safety areas from Sunday to Saturday provides maximum flexibility, allowing for all duty shifts—both career and volunteer—to participate in your department’s selected exercises at some point during Safety Week.
MORE INFO? International Association of Fire Chiefs www.iafc.org
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FEMA $16 MILLION COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT DIRECT ASSISTANCE GRANT APPLICATIONS ARE DUE JUNE 30 2008
Originally Posted: June 2, 2008 6:19 PM
Last Updated: June 2, 2008 6:19 PM
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is accepting applications for $16 million in equipment and training awards for its 2008 Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP).
Since its inception in fiscal year (FY) 2005, more than $104 million in equipment and training has been awarded through CEDAP to law enforcement agencies, fire departments and other emergency responders.
CEDAP is a competitive program that works in conjunction with other DHS grant programs to help strengthen the regional response and mutual aid capabilities across the nation to increase overall preparedness. CEDAP provides local homeland security partners with essential equipment and equipment training they may not otherwise be able to afford.
Eligibility for the CEDAP Program is limited to law enforcement agencies, fire departments and other emergency responder organizations with specific financial and capability needs.
Equipment and training awards for the FY 2008 CEDAP Program are offered in five categories: extrication devices; thermal imaging, night vision, and video surveillance tools; chemical, biological and radiological detection tools; information technology and risk management tools; and covert vehicle tracking tools.
CEDAP equipment awards are integrated with state planning processes for regional response and asset distribution. Each State Administrative Agency has the opportunity to review applications submitted by first responder organizations within their state to ensure equipment requests are consistent with their state homeland security strategy.
Completed applications must be submitted to DHS-FEMA at www.rkb.us no later than 5 p.m. EDT, June 30, 2008.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
MORE INFO? www.rkb.us
FEMA 500 C Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20472
Disaster Assistance: (800) 621-FEMA
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METRO ATLANTA AMBULANCE SERVICE BUYS IN-MOTION COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY FOR 50 AMBULANCES
Originally Posted: June 2, 2008 6:09 PM
Last Updated: June 2, 2008 6:09 PM
Metro Atlanta Ambulance Service (MAAS, Atlanta Ga) has deployed In Motion Technology’s system to improve communications, operations and patient care services for the more than 1.5 million Metro residents it serves in greater Atlanta, GA.
MAAS’ fleet of 50 EMS vehicles provides, advanced and critical care life support services and each is equipped with state-of-the-art communications and patient care technology.
MAAS was the first EMS service in the greater metro-Atlanta area and one of only 137 in the country to receive accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS), the gold standard of quality service in the EMS industry.
The onBoard™ Mobile Gateway is installed in each EMS vehicle to create a “vehicle area network.” This network integrates all on-board data communications, including medical devices, patient care records, GPS and dispatch systems, and allows the seamless transmission of information between these systems in the field and operations command.
Kirk Moir, CEO of In Motion Technology: “More than 120 organizations, including some of the most demanding public safety agencies in North America, have deployed our solutions and are seeing results.”
In Motion Technology Vancouver, BC, Canada, founded 2002, is being used by EMS, Police and Fire departments in the US and Canada.
MORE INFO (604) 523-2371 ext. 538 or www.inmotiontechnology.com
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GOVERNMENT SECURITY NEWS HAS NEW MANHATTAN OFFICE
Originally Posted: June 2, 2008 5:24 PM
Last Updated: June 2, 2008 5:24 PM
Government Security News has moved to the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City.
New address?
233 Spring Street
3rd floor
New York, NY 10013
Phone: 212-344-0759
Editorial, sales, production, bookkeeping or any other matter, use the address above, beginning immediately.
Like to stop in and say hello? Call Jacob Goodwin, Editor-in-Chief, at jgoodwin@gsnmagazine.com, or our Publisher, Ed Tyler, at etyler@gsnmagazine.com.
NEEDA is a GSN subscriber because GSN covers Homeland Security and related news of importance to first responders and the companies serving fire, rescue and EMS.
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UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FIRE: LOW WATER PRESSURE FORCED FIREFIGHTERS TO USE NEARBY LAKES
Originally Posted: June 2, 2008 12:17 PM
Last Updated: June 2, 2008 12:17 PM
Sunday's (June 1, 2008) Universal Studios two-block wide fire, was hampered by low water pressure. First responders used lakes and ponds on the 400-acre property in a desparate search for more water for 12 hours.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Michael Freeman: "The water pressure situation was a challenge."
County investigatators are checking on the water situation today.
Freeman: "There's no question that there was a lack of adequate water pressure at least in the perception of a lot of firefighters. We're going to find out what the problem was."
Freeman: The sprinkler system at the site was nearly useless, the LA Times reported.
Costs will be in the millions.
Concerns about air quality because of the acrid smoke and a request from fire officials prompted the South Coast Air Quality Management District to send a chemist to take air samples, said spokesman Sam Atwood. Results were expected Monday morning.
The fire, the second at the historic site in two decades, leveled facades, creating the kind of catastrophe filmmakers relish re-creating. Thousands of videos from Universal's movie and TV shows were destroyed.
But Universal officials said that they were thankful no visitors were seriously injured.
Ten people — nine firefighters and a sheriff's deputy — suffered minor injuries, the Associated Press reported.
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