At the end of April, Defibtech, LLC initiated a worldwide voluntary recall of certain DDU-100 series semiautomatic external defibrillators (AEDs) sold under the Lifeline AED and Revive® AED brand names. The recall includes 65,885 AEDs distributed in the United States, some to fire departments and EMS organizations. The affected devices are DDU-100 Series AEDs shipped with 2.004 or earlier software.
The units may, “in rare cases,” cancel shock during the charging process and not provide therapy, which may result in failure to resuscitate the patient. Based on field data, the manufacturer estimates that the odds of this happening are less than one in 400,000 per month for any given AED.
A subset of AEDs (less than 11 percent) may also “cancel charge in preparation for a shock in very high humidity conditions,” according to the manufacturer’s press release. The cases reported were in environments that had greater than 95 percent relative humidity. Based on field data, the manufacturer says that the odds of this happening are less than a one in 250,000 chance per month for any given affected AED. Both conditions are not detectable by the periodic self-test.
Defibtech will provide customers with a free software upgrade to correct these issues, which can be done at the location of the deployed AED. The company recommends that “since these two conditions occur rarely, customers keep their AEDs in service until they have performed the software upgrade.” The company is mailing full instructions and recommendations to the affected customers.
The customer notification and instructions for determining whether an AED is affected are at www.defibtech.com/fa11, or contact your distributor or Defibtech at [email protected], (877) 453-4507 or (203) 453-4507.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that this action is a Class I recall. Report any adverse reactions experienced with the use of this product or other quality problems to the FDA’s MedWatch Program at (800) FDA-1088 or on the MedWatch Web site at www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Line-of-Duty Deaths
April 12. Captain Randy Boley, 51, Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Department, Shreve, OH: cause to be determined.
April 15. Firefighter Gregory Mack Simmons, 50, Eastland (TX) Volunteer Fire Department: struck by vehicle on a smoke-obscured highway while escaping from flames during a wildland fire; local and state authorities are investigating.
April 17. Firefighter Jacob Anthony Carter, 18, Becker-Athens (MS) Volunteer Department: injuries sustained in a vehicle accident while responding to a mutual-aid fire call; accident under investigation.
April 18. Firefighter Robert Dean Watts, 51, Windsor (CT) Volunteer Fire Department: cause to be determined.
April 20. Firefighter Elias Jaquez, 49, Cactus (TX) Volunteer Fire Department: burns suffered on April 9 in a wildland fire.
April 27. Captain Michael C. Webb, 46, Neon (KY) Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department: heart attack.
April 29. Firefighter Charles Foster, 59, Barton Volunteer Fire Department, Olive Branch, MS: heart attack suffered on April 25.
Congress passes FY2011 spending bill
The House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate approved the Fiscal Year (FY) Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, which funds the federal government through September 30, 2011, according to the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI). The bill has been sent to President Obama for signing.
The House Appropriations Committee also released a draft of the FY2012 Homeland Security Spending bill, which, according to the CFSI, recommends the following expenditures for homeland security and fire service-related programs:
- Department of Homeland Security funding: $40.6 billion, a decrease of $1.1 billion (2.6 percent) from the FY 2011 level.
- Firefighters (FIRE/AFG) grant program: $200 million and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program: $150 million. These programs were funded at $405 million each in FY 2011.
- The United States Fire Administration (USFA) would be cut by more than $3 million. The draft legislation provides only $42.5 million, down from nearly $45.6 million in FY 2011.
- The following programs were funded at $1 billion; the secretary of the State Homeland Security Grant Program has the discretion to determine how it is to be distributed among them:
- —Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI)
- —Metropolitan Medical Response System
- —Citizen Corps
- —Public Transportation Security Assistance and Railroad Security Assistance
- —Over-the-Road Security Assistance
- —Port Security Grants
- —Driver’s License Security Grant Program
- —Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program
This approach represents a significant cut to these programs. In FY 2011, the State Homeland Security Grant Program and UASI were funded at $725 million each.
“While very disappointing, it is important to note that this is just the first step in the lengthy appropriations process,” says Bill Webb, executive director of the CFSI. He adds: “We will continue to work with the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, as well as all of our allies on Capitol Hill, to ensure our nation’s fire and emergency services have the resources they need to protect our homeland.”
New FSM designation for healthcare professionals
The International Board for Certification of Safety Managers has recently established a new healthcare Fire Safety Management (FSM) designation for the Certified Healthcare Safety Professional credential. More than 20 healthcare professionals passed the FSP exam, according to the Board. For additional information, call (205) 664-8412, e-mail [email protected], or go to http://www.chcm-chsp.org.
National Firefighter Health Week August 14-20
The theme of National Firefighter Health Week, August 14-20, sponsored by the National Volunteer Fire Council, will be “When it comes to your health, you’re always on duty.” The focus will be on a different topic each week. Each day of the week will focus on a different subtopic to help first responders adopt a more healthful lifestyle.
The following National Firefighter Health Week Resource Center guide provides additional information about each focus day as well as resources, tools, and activity ideas:
- Sunday, August 14. National Firefighter Health Week Kick-Off
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Monday, August 15. CRISIS: Understanding the Risk
Increase awareness and understanding of health risks to firefighters and EMS personnel. -
Tuesday, August 16. DISPATCH: Get Support
Solicit buy-in from the community, department overhead, and family to improve first responder health. -
Wednesday, August 17. SIZE-UP: Make a Plan
Set goals and develop a plan of action to improve first responder health and wellness. -
Thursday, August 18. ATTACK: Take Action
Work with department and community partners to implement change in health behaviors. -
Friday, August 19. OVERHAUL: Live Life
Continue to practice healthy behaviors at the department and at home in the long-term. -
Saturday, August 20. Health Week Wrap-Up and Event Day
Organize or attend community events with family and friends who support your commitment to health and wellness.
Health and Safety Committee updates mission statement
At the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) annual spring board meeting in April, the Health and Safety Committee’s mission was broadened to include training as a vital component and to integrate more thoroughly the NVFC’s B.E.S.T. practices for volunteer firefighter health and safety.
The new mission statement reads as follows:
The mission of the NVFC Health and Safety Committee will be to provide leadership and vision on issues and policies relating to the health, safety, and training of volunteer fire, rescue, EMS, and other emergency personnel.
To accomplish this, the Committee shall do the following:
- Propose, design, and evaluate effective health, safety, and training initiatives.
- Collaborate with other organizations and provide insight on current and emerging health, safety, and training issues.
- Provide technical review for health, safety, and training documents submitted by fire, rescue, EMS, and others in the emergency service industry.
- Develop outreach campaigns for promotion of the NVFC’s health and safety initiatives for volunteer fire, rescue, EMS, and other emergency service organizations.
- Participate in health, safety, and training conferences.
Additional information on the NVFC’s health and safety initiatives is at www.nvfc.org/health_safey and www.healthy-firefighter.org.
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