International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week is less than a month away – June 17-23. What is your department doing to participate? If you haven’t started planning yet, check out the Event Planning section of the Safety and Health Week web site. It includes activity suggestions, promotional materials, a poster with the Rules of Engagement to hang in your department, and even webinars that you can take during the week. Two live health-related webinars will be held on June 19 and 20, and additional on-demand health and safety webinars are available to fit your schedule.

If you live in the Baltimore/Washington, DC area, you can also plan a day at Six Flags America for a discounted price from June 17-24. Find details to take advantage of this discount on the Event Planning page of the Safety and Health Week web site. Stay tuned for additional Six Flags theme parks that will be offering discounts to first responders and their families during Safety and Health Week. This could be a great way to de-stress, get some exercise, and spend fun time with friends and family.

Make sure to vote in the NFPA Fire Service Video Contest. The two finalists have been chosen – one video features the Rules of Engagement for Firefighter Survival and the other features the Rules of Engagement for Firefighter Health. Vote for your favorite video up to once per day until June 11 (click here if you are not a member of Facebook).

If you missed them, check out two recent articles that further reflect on this year’s theme of ‘Rules You Can Live By.’ An article by Ret. Chief Keith Padgett looks at the IAFC’s Rules of Engagement for safety and survival on the fireground and how lessons learned at one incident demonstrate that these rules can alleviate a myriad of potential issues on the scene. An article by NVFC’s Health and Safety Committee Chair Kenn Fontenot takes a closer look at the NVFC’s Rules of Engagement for Firefighter Health and highlights practices that leaders should establish in their departments and ways to make health and wellness a priority in your department throughout the year.

You can find many more resources and tools to help you plan for Safety and Health Week at www.safetyandhealthweek.org. Show your department that safety and health come first – these are rules we can all live by.

Globe Manufacturing is celebrating its 125th anniversary in an extraordinary way – by giving back to those that helped them reach this milestone. In partnership with Dupont and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), Globe is giving away 125 sets of new turnout gear to departments across the U.S. Each department can request up to 12 sets of gear. An additional 12 sets will also be given to departments in Canada.

In a time when many companies are more worried about their bottom line than their customers’ needs, Globe is turning the tables and serving as a wonderful example of corporate altruism. This program demonstrates why Globe has been successful for 125 years – they have never turned their back on the values and principles that has guided this family-owned company from the beginning. Since small, rural volunteer departments are frequently overlooked when applying for funding opportunities, the program is specifically aimed at all-volunteer departments serving a population of 25,000 or less. These departments struggle to provide needed gear and equipment to their members.

The outpouring of response to the Globe gear donation program speaks volumes for how much of a need there is for something like this. More than 2,200 departments have submitted an application so far, and there are still two weeks left until the application deadline.

The feedback from the applicants has been amazing. Time and time again, these firefighters have expressed their appreciation that a company is giving back in this way. “Thank you for doing this for the Volunteer Firefighting Community; you are truly a leader in your field,” said one applicant. Another applicant noted, “No matter what decision is made, I truly want to say thank you for what you are doing and certainly for the opportunity to apply for such an offer.” Echoed yet another applicant, “Thank you for the opportunity of this grant, and we appreciate what you are doing for the firefighters of the United States.”

The need is clearly there. The applicants recounts incredible stories of the heroism of their department’s members, of the adversity they have to overcome due to low budgets and resources, and of the services they are still able to provide to their community despite all of the challenges. Applicants have described floods, tornados, and other disasters that have created new and daunting difficulties. They explain how their member counts are growing and they need new gear to accommodate this growth. They talk about tight budgets made worse because of the tough economy, and worn-out gear in great need of replacement.

As one applicant put it, “Being able to get into new, high-quality protective gear would make it seem like Christmas to all of us!”

The NVFC joins in saying thank you to Globe and Dupont for their generosity. This program will provide struggling volunteer fire departments with state-of-the-art gear that will enhance their safety and response abilities.

Click here to find the criteria and apply by May 31, 2012.

This week is Arson Awareness Week, and the theme is Prevent Youth Firesetting. Fire departments across the country are encouraged to use this time to educate the public and raise awarenss to the issue of youth firesetting.

The NVFC is one of several organizations partnering with the U.S. Fire Administration to help focus public attention on the importance of a collaborative effort with fire and emergency service departments, law enforcement, mental health, social services, schools, and juvenile justice to help reduce the occurance of youth engaged with fire.

Fires started by children plyaing accounted for 56,300 fires between 2005-2009. These fires resulted in 110 civilian deaths, 880 civilian injuries, and $286 million in direct property damage.

In addition, statistics from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program show that about 46 percent of arson arrests between 2005 and 2010 were youth under the age of 18.

It is critical that parents teach young children that fire is not a toy. Parents also need to be diligent about keeping matches and lighters out of reach in high, ideally locked, cabinets.

Help spread these messages in your community and emphasize to parents that they need to take an active role in making sure their children know the dangers of fire. If we all work together, we can help prevent youth firesetting.

Find resources for Arson Awareness week at www.usfa.fema.gov/aaw.

US Fire Department Racing is a great supporter of the volunteer fire service. Thanks to USFD Racing, NVFC First Vice Chair Jeff Cash was featured on the April 21 episode of the radio program Full Throttle Racing with Kane to promote the volunteer fire service, how to volunteer with a local fire department, and the importance of junior firefighter programs. You can listen to the archived interview on the USFD Racing web site at http://www.usfdracing.org/usfdradio.html (archived as FTRWK Radio Show 04-21-2012; the interview starts at time 24:45). Also remember to ‘Like’ USFD Racing on Facebook to show them your support of their commitment to the volunteer fire service.

A new resources is now available for junior firefighter programs. The NVFC’s National Junior Firefighter Program, with support from Tyco, has developed a recruitment video that departments can use to help generate interest in their youth program and educate youth and adults about the benefits of participating in a junior firefighter program. The video can be taken to school events, community organizations, or department open houses, or posted on the department’s web site.

Download the video from the NVFC web site, or find it on YouTube.

Last fall, a group of firefighters from Greece spent a week of training and networking at the Union Fire District in Kingstown, RI. Now, UFD Deputy Chief Kevin Quinn and Greek volunteer firefighter Andrew Georgakopoulos provide their account of this unique training event and the impact it had on the fire services of both nations. Check it out at: http://firechief.com/blog/operation-hellenic-expedition-training-boot-camp

Elk Creek Fire Department Crew tests the Coast Products, Rapid Response® Knives

By Michael Davis, Elk Creek Fire Department

Note: This product review reflects the opinions and views of the author and does not express any opinions or views from the National Volunteer Fire Council. To submit a product review to the NVFC, email kimberly@nvfc.org. Reviewers cannot have any affiliation with the company providing the product being reviewed.

Whether you’re a Firefighter, EMT, or Paramedic, chances are a folding knife is an important part of your gear. That’s why I was so excited when Coast Products offered the crew at Elk Creek Fire Department an opportunity to try their new Rapid Response Knives.

Coast has long been a source for quality bladed tools. In 1919, Henry W. Brands founded the Coast Cutlery Company. Working from his small shop near the Willamette River in Portland, OR, Mr. Brands produced fillet knives for northwest salmon fishermen and working knives for the logging industry. Today with third generation David Brands at the helm, Coast Products, Inc. has expanded its product line to include: LED flashlights, lanterns and headlamps, multi-tools, as well as knives. Their customers include the U.S. Army, Navy Seals, CIA, and FBI. The family-owned business has grown from a local purveyor of knives to a major corporation with distribution to over 10,000 retail outlets in the U.S. and 30 foreign countries.

Over the years Coast Products has partnered with many innovative minds to develop new products. In the case of the Rapid Response Knife, Coast turned to renowned knife maker, and member of Blade magazine’s Cutlery Hall of Fame, Mr. Ron Lake. Mr. Lake holds numerous patents for inter-frame knife design and technology. Lake’s custom knives sell for thousands of dollars, and are in demand among collectors. He is currently working with a 10-year backlog for his custom knives.

The Rapid Response design project held a special interest for Mr. Lake. He has a deep admiration for First Responders. Following 9/11, Ron Lake sent cases of knives, pry bars, and leather gloves to FDNY, Battalion 33 in Brooklyn for use in rescue operations.

Ron says he set out to design the Rapid Response knives to be safe, easy to use, durable, and affordable. The core of the Rapid Response knife is a high carbon 420 stainless steel blade, available in 3 and 3.9-inch lengths, with either a standard edge with a non-reflective glass-bead finish, or a partially serrated blade with a black oxide coating. The knives are built on a heat-treated stainless steel liner and finished with a fiberglass-filled nylon handle. I’d recommend the 3.9-inch blade for people with larger hands. Its handle is 4.875-inches, and it fits my hand comfortably, whereas the 3-inch blade with its 4-inch handle doesn’t accommodate all four of my fingers. The 3-inch models retail for under $35; the 3.9-inch models for around $40.

Rapid Response knives utilize “Smooth Assist Technology,” a spring assisted roller-cam opening system invented by Ron Lake. The mechanism is so fast these knives are often mistaken for switchblades.

To open the knife, hold it in your palm with your fingers on the back and your thumb on the front side of the handle. Working with the larger knife, my thumb naturally falls to the smooth indentation in the handle, just below and behind the thumb stud on the blade. By moving my thumb forward and exerting slight pressure on the thumb stud, the spring-loaded roller-cam mechanism is activated and the blade pops out into the open position. You don’t need to use your wrist to flick the blade open, the spring and roller-cam do all the work. A locking plate inside the frame automatically swings out behind the blade fixing it in place. Continuing the forward motion my thumb comes to rest on the Max-Lock lever. Pushing this lever forward engages a second blade locking mechanism that insures against accidental closure during heavy cutting operations. The Max-Lock can also be used to lock the blade in the closed position.

Volunteer firefighter and paramedic Loren Schuessler tested the 3.9-inch Rapid Response model 19214. Loren said he appreciated the ease with which the knife could be opened, and the fact that it stayed sharp after heavy use. He said the knife’s sharp tip limited its utility on the ambulance, and he wished there were a model with a blunt tip that could be used to cut away a patient’s clothing.

With a little practice, I learned I could open the blade and engage the Max-Lock with one hand, while wearing structural firefighting gloves, even in a zero visibility environment. In an MVA rescue application, the partially serrated blade makes short work of seat belts, but I found myself wishing the knife had a glass punch on butt of the handle so I could break out a tempered glass car window and cut the seat belt with a single tool. I have a knife that includes this feature, but its price is more than double that of the Rapid Response model 19214.

We gave Coast Products’ Rapid Response knives a good test run. We all agreed that these are high quality, dependable tools. The quick open Smooth Assist Technology makes the Rapid Response one of the easiest knives to open that we’ve seen, and we liked the double safety of the Max-Lock system. At prices in the $35 to $40 range, the Ron Lake designed Rapid Response knives are an outstanding value. We’d highly recommend them.

For more information, or to find a dealer near you, visit Coast Products, Inc. at: http://www.coastportland.com/

Michael Davis is a volunteer firefighter – 1st Responder and Public Information Officer at Elk Creek Fire Department. Elk Creek Fire Department is a combination department providing medical, fire, HazMat, and rescue services, in Conifer, Colorado.

By Deputy Chief Kevin D. Quinn and Deputy Chief Steven Pinch, Union Fire District, South Kingstown, RI

Safety should be a priority for every emergency responder, and at the Union Fire District in South Kingstown, RI, safety is a guiding factor for every one of our 120 active volunteer firefighters and eight stations.

South Kingstown is located 24 miles south of Providence, on the state’s southern shore. The town’s population is just over 30,000 people with a land area of 57.1 square miles. Each year the district responds to over 800 calls for fire service.
 
The district is governed by five elected wardens, and the command staff is made up of a Chief and four Deputy Chiefs. The district also employs an administrator, tax collector, clerk, mechanic, maintenance person, and code enforcement division.
 
The Union Fire District, through the leadership of Chief Robert Perry, has a strong commitment to safety. The district’s motto is “Safety Always,” which is attached to every apparatus bay door in the district. It is the first thing a driver and officer see when leaving for a call.

We have also added reflective markings on the rear of many of our vehicles and have changed the rear marking lights from plain red to a combination of red and amber. All of our members have signed the International First Responder Seatbelt Pledge and are issued a tee shirt during their first recruit class with the district logo — “Safety Always” — printed on the right sleeve. Our three newest vehicles have “Everyone goes Home” on the glass of each rear passenger door.

Making sure that Everyone Goes Home is the responsibility of everyone in the department. To show our commitment to the Everyone Goes Home program, we constantly send and reinforce the message of firefighter safety. Creating a culture of safety is key to preventing tragedies and is taken very seriously at the Union Fire District. All members of our organization are committed to ensuring the health, wellness, and safety of our firefighters.

The National Volunteer Fire Council has teamed up with the International Association of Fire Chiefs for the 2012 International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week. This event brings together the IAFC’s Fire/EMS Safety, Health and Survival Week with the NVFC’s National Firefighter Health Week.

The dates for Safety and Health Week are June 17-23. The theme is Rules You Can Live By, which focuses on the IAFC’s Rules of Engagement for Firefighter Survival and The Incident Commander’s Rules of Engagement for Firefighter Safety, and the NVFC’s Rules of Engagement for Firefighter Health.

Fire departments are encouraged to suspend all non-emergency activity during Safety and Health Week to focus on safety and health training and education allowing all shifts and personnel to participate. An entire week is provided to ensure each shift and duty crew can spend at least one day focusing on these critical issues.

Learn more from the press release, and visit the Safety and Health Week web site for resources and planning tools: www.safetyandhealthweek.org.

Colonoscopy – it’s not a topic that most people want to talk about, but the truth is that it’s a simple procedure that can save your life. In a recent article published by the NVFC, Deputy Chief Kevin Quinn demonstrates the importance of this simple medical screening by sharing his own experiences from his initial hesitation to the results that probably saved his life. He also helps alleviate fears by letting you know what to expect and providing resources for more information. This is one article you really need to read, and then follow-up with your doctor: http://www.nvfc.org/media/news/learn-learn-learn-and-share-your-knowledge/