>> The INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS (IAFF) and the U.S. FIRE ADMINISTRATION (USFA) have released a new manual, Voice Radio Communications Guide for the Fire Service, to provide updated information on communications technology and discuss critical homeland security issues and concepts that did not exist when the original manual was first published in 1996. The new manual, conducted with support from the Department of Homeland Security’s SAFECOM Program Office, is designed for a wide fire service audience with a minimum level of familiarity with basic communications issues such as hardware, policy and procedures, and human interface. www.iaff.org, www.usfa.dhs.gov.
>> The NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION’s (NFPA) Fire Safety Educational Memorial Fund Committee selected the Champaign (IL) Fire Department’s hazardous materials response team as the 2009 Warren E. Isman Grant recipient. The $5,000 grant is available to any fire department incident response team, police department, or other public-funded program. Qualified applicants are evaluated on leadership qualities, communication abilities, and must be trained in accordance with NFPA 472, Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents and NFPA 473, Standard for Competencies for EMS Personnel Responding to Hazardous Materials/WMD Incidents. Award recipients select a conference where they can attend specialized hazardous materials training and education sessions. www.nfpa.org.
>> CHAMPION RESCUE TOOLS has moved to a new, expanded corporate headquarters. The 10,000-square-foot facility includes executive and administrative offices, product assembly and warehousing, and classroom and hands-on training facilities for the new company-sponsored Five-Star Extrication Training Academy. The new address is 814 Berry Court; Upland, CA 91786. www.championrescuetools.com. (888) 396-2426.
>> PYROLANCE entered into a new partnership with W.S. DARLEY as the exclusive vendor of its stand-alone product line to the federal government. The PyroLance System is now available through Darley’s recently announced Tailored Logistics Support (TLS) program for the fire and emergency services and their GSA schedule. The TLS program is a defense logistics agency contract that provides worldwide support for Department of Defense agencies. www.pyrolance.com, www.darley.com.
>> ROSENBAUER’s Panther ARFF was awarded the International Design Excellence Award. Of the 1,517 projects submitted, only 35 were awarded a first-prize ranking. The Panther’s design was created in teamwork with the Vienna-based innovation company, Spirit Design. The vehicle also won the Red Dot design award, the iF design award, and the Focus Energy Gold award in 2006 and the 2007 National Prize for Design of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Panther made its public debut in June 2005 at Interschutz in Hannover, Germany. www.rosenbaueramerica.com.
>> HEALTH AND SAFETY INSTITUTE (HSI) recently added 24-7 EMS to its family of brands. 24-7 EMS develops classroom and online training programs used by more than 70,000 EMS personnel each month to meet ongoing state and national training requirements. 24-7 EMS supports the training lifecycle available from HSI for the professional responder, from initial basic life support certification to continuing education. HSI focuses on developing and offering first aid, CPR, AED, and other emergency care training programs for use by entrepreneurial and corporate training centers and instructors. www.24-7ems.com.
>> The APCO INSTITUTE offers its first online Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) course, which is based on the NHTSA National Standard Curriculum for EMDs. Course completion means that the student has met all of the requirements of the National Standard Curriculuman important point for states that require national curriculum compliance. The six-week course provides the knowledge and foundation to answer EMS calls and prioritize responses. The course also covers proper prearrival instructions to give to the caller when needed. www.apcointl.com/institute/courses/emd.htm.
>> On January 17, the Baltimore City (MD) Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management used ADASHI 3.0 to manage the Barack Obama Whistle Stop Tour at the War Memorial Building. The software was used to ensure the safety and security of all attendees in case of an emergency by deploying the event’s standard operating guidelines. The integration of maps, site plans, and resources allowed the emergency management team to share a common operating picture and perform real-time updates during the course of the event. Emergency management team members were on-site and closely monitoring the event within the operations center. www.ADASHI.org.
>> KAPLAN CONTINUING EDUCATION (KCE) has acquired the NATIONAL PARAMEDIC INSTITUTE, INC. (NPI), a South Florida-based company that provides online continuing education to firefighters and emergency services personnel. NPI courses are accredited by the Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services and meet National Registry requirements. KCE provides online career education and training for professionals and job seekers looking for interactive, web-based learning. KCE certificate programs are developed with a focus on employees and employers. www.kaplancontinuingeducation.com.
>> CARSON MANUFACTURING, an emergency siren manufacturer, was selected as a 2008 Blue Chip Business Award winner, which recognizes Indiana businesses that have overcome challenges, seized opportunities, creatively used resources, and achieved success. www.carson-mfg.com.
