FY2009 SAFER grant application period opens November 16
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has posted the “program guidance” for the FY2009 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. The document provides information such as the recent implementation of legislative changes and program priorities. The information is at the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program at www.firegrantsupport.com. Approximately $210 million are available for the FY2009 SAFER program.
The application period begins at 8 a.m. Eastern time on November 16, 2009. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern time, December 18, 2009. The automated applications will also be accessible from the AFG Web site at www.firegrantsupport.com. The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency administers the SAFER grants.
USFA seeks suggestions for “Focus on Fire Safety”; deadline, Nov. 20
The U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA) Focus on Fire Safety committee is exploring themes for the 2010 monthly “Focus on Fire Safety” articles. The committee is interested primarily in fire safety and prevention topics that have appeal or a broad, general audience, but will consider other topics as well. A list of topics previously featured in the “Focus” is at www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/focus/ Send your suggestions to USFA’s Kathy Gerstner (Kathy.Gerstner@dhs.gov) no later than November 20.
NIOSH: “Do NOT manually adjust apparatus automatic slack adjusters”
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) warns fire departments in its Publication No. 2010-102 (October 2009): “Manual adjustment of automatic slack adjusters (ASAs) may contribute to unexpected brake failure on automotive fire apparatus.” The NIOSH warning makes the following important points:
• When an ASA [a mechanical component of the air brake system which adjusts brakes as necessary when in operation to compensate for wear in the brake shoes (drum brakes) or pads (disc brakes)].is out of adjustment, it signifies that there is a larger braking system problem that needs correction.
• The ASA should be manually adjusted during installation or when “absolutely necessary to move the apparatus to a repair facility.” Only qualified technicians, those who meet the criteria of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1071, Standard for Emergency Vehicle Technician Professional Qualifications, should manually adjust the ASA on these occasions.
• Fire departments should establish procedures to ensure that maintenance on fire apparatus is conducted as recommended in NFPA 1911, Standard for the Inspection, Maintenance, Testing, and Retirement of In-Service Automotive Fire Apparatus.
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) first reported on the ASA problem in the industry in 2006, after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had released a report advising that after it had found that the ASA was involved in an apparatus crash that caused a firefighter fatality. NIOSH has found it necessary to call this issue to the fire service’s attention again because it became aware that fire departments still may not fully appreciate the hazards associated with manually adjusting ASAs. Hence, NIOSH is again calling this urgent matter to the attention of all U.S. fire departments, firefighters, and fleet maintenance departments that are responsible for performing preventive maintenance, especially the fact that manually adjusting ASAs may contribute to unexpected brake failure on fire apparatus and that apparatus that have ASAs that are out of adjustment should be taken out-of-service immediately until the brake system has been completely corrected.
In addition, fire departments should ensure that all technicians repairing brakes on apparatus are certified in air brake repair to the T-4 Automotive Service Excellence Medium/Heavy Duty Truck Technician level and that they have, at a minimum, Level 1 Fire Apparatus Technician certification by the Emergency Vehicle Technician Certification Commission. Also, fire departments should adhere to manufacturer guidelines and recommendations and applicable federal, state or provincial, and local laws regarding apparatus inspection and maintenance, as cited in NFPA1911.
NIOSH also concurs with the NTSB recommendation that all drivers of fire apparatus equipped with air brakes must undergo training and testing to demonstrate proficiency in the inspection and operation of air-braked vehicles. The training should emphasize that the manual adjustment of ASAs is dangerous and should not be done except during installation or in an emergency situation when it is absolutely necessary to move the vehicle to a repair facility—even then, only by qualified technicians.
USFA and NIST study SCBA thermal performance
A study initiated by the United States Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will seek to increase protection for firefighters by enhancing the thermal performance of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) face pieces.
The initial phase of the study will include an analysis of documented on-duty firefighter injuries and fatalities caused by thermal exposure through SCBA face pieces.
In this phase, the USFA and NIST will also work with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1981, Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Technical Committee to explore ways to enhance the operational effectiveness of SCBA face pieces, and commercially available SCBA face pieces will undergo initial laboratory thermal testing.
NFPA endorses USFA civilian campaign for smoke alarms and sprinklers
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has endorsed the U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA) “Install. Inspect. Protect Campaign,” which promotes the installation of residential smoke alarms and sprinklers.
According to the NFPA, about 84 percent of civilian fire deaths occur in homes. The complete release is at http://www.nfpa.org/newsReleaseDetails.asp?categoryid=488&itemId=45356/.
NFPA announces 2009 Firewise leadership awards
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 2009 Firewise Leadership Award winners for outstanding efforts to reduce the loss of lives, property, and resources from wildfires are the following: Regional Winners–Idaho State Fire Plan Working Group and William Swope, Montana NW Regional Resource Conservation & Development; state winners–Arkansas Forestry Commission and Karen Ridenour, Texas Forest Service; local winners–Cathi Kramer, Horseshoe Lake Alaska Firewise Community and Robert Low, San Juan County Washington Fire Marshal and Michael Hardison, North Carolina Division of Forest Resources. The awards recognize the most significant local efforts in advancing the mission of NFPA’s National Firewise Communities Program, which encourages a collective approach to creating communities resistant to wildfire damage and destruction in wildland/urban interfaces, areas where homes are built close to or within forested areas.
To read the complete release: http://www.nfpa.org/newsReleaseDetails.asp?categoryid=488&itemId=45369
Vision 20/20 focus is to enhance firefighter mission of saving life and property
“Vision 20/20: National Strategies for Fire Loss Prevention” was launched in 2007 with a Department of Homeland Security Fire Prevention and Safety Grant awarded to the USA branch of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE-USA). The project’s objective was to develop a national strategic agenda for fire loss prevention. Professionals from across the nation and from a diversity of backgrounds and disciplines are engaged in the Vision 20/20 project.
Its Steering Committee includes two dozen representatives of major fire safety organizations. Through a series of planning meetings, a nationwide webinar, and a major summit in Washington, D.C., the group adopted five strategies:
• Strategy 1. Increase advocacy for fire prevention.
• Strategy 2. Conduct a national fire safety education/social marketing campaign.
• Strategy 3. Raise the importance of fire prevention within the fire service.
• Strategy 4. Promote technology to enhance fire and life safety.
• Strategy 5. Refine and improve the application of codes and standards that enhance public and firefighter safety and preserve community assets
A lead organization assumed responsibility for each strategy. The IFE-USA branch adopted Strategy 3. It conducted a survey to determine the attitude of the fire service with regard to fire prevention efforts and, more specifically, the status of the subject of fire prevention within firefighter recruit training programs. The raw data from the survey and accompanying comments are available on the Vision 20/20 Web site: www.strategicfire.org/. A brief explanation of some of the major findings is presented below:
A total of 483 responses to the survey were received. The participants revealed that most recruit training is done locally at a fire school or an academy, and there are approximately 100 graduates annually. Almost three out of four of the respondents (73 percent) reported that fewer than 10 hours, out of more than 200 program contact hours, are devoted to fire prevention education and risk management. More than three-quarters (78 percent) reported that fire prevention objectives are listed in the recruit curriculum; however, there are 10 or fewer questions (82 percent of respondents) relative to these topics on the final exam.
Respondents were asked to rate the priorities for the American fire service in addressing its mission—preserving life and property. Of the six options listed, “extinguishing fires” received the greatest response. “Providing the public with fire safety education” was the second highest priority. The other four options listed (and were respondents’ choices for third and lower priorities) were “develop the ability for all-hazards response,” “develop/promote fire protection systems,” “building inspections,” and “fire and arson investigations.”
Overall, it was apparent from this survey that firefighter recruit training does not have sufficient emphasis on fire prevention and risk management and that the heroic image of battling the “red devil” still permeates the American fire service. Fire prevention education can be the most effective use of limited financial resources when it comes to reducing the tragic loss of life and property from fire. Unfortunately, however, from recruits to officers, the main focus is still on fire suppression, not fire prevention.
Vision 20/20, Strategy 3 plans to look into some positive loss-reduction programs (both overall and specifically for firefighter recruit training) that work. We need to develop the initiative to make the necessary changes that have the deepest impact in reducing community risks and fire losses at the local and national levels. A number of people are dedicated to making this change and are closely involved in the efforts of Vision 20/20. To become involved, or for more information, go to www.strategicfire.org.
Editor’s note: The above is based on a report prepared by Frank Blackley, assistant chief, Wilmington (NC) Fire Department; Bill Kehoe, a volunteer with the Alexandria (VA) Fire Department and a member of the Vision 20/20 executive committee; and Steve Nash, operations battalion chief for Solon (OH) Fire & Rescue Services.
NFPA, Johns Hopkins work to improve children fire safety education
The objective of Strengthening the Impact of Fire and Life Safety Messages on Children, a joint project of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Center for Injury Research and Policy at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, is to determine the best way to communicate fire safety messages to children ages 3-9.Each year fires kill about 290 U.S. children between these ages. This project is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Associations (FEMA’s) Grant Programs Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Fire Prevention and Safety Grants.
Children will be asked to observe video vignettes with varying communication methods for delivering safety messages. Researchers will evaluate what the children learn, the types of messages that have the greatest impact on children, and how their parents react to the program.
To ensure that the outcomes of this study will impact future health education work, the project will also provide a guide for developing educational materials to help others involved in fire and life safety programs. The guide will be available on NFPA’s Web site for use by fire departments and other fire safety organization. The project is expected to be completed by July 2010.
NFPA’s Firewise Learning Center offers new online free seminar
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Firewise Learning Center’s online course “Conducting a Community Assessment in the Wildland/Urban Interface: Beginning the Firewise Process” targets fire and forestry professionals and others who may want to help residents in areas at risk from wildfire to protect their homes from fire. The course features audio narration, video clips, photos, and animated graphics and includes the recommended community assessment template and links to case studies, articles, and relevant Firewise products. To enroll, visit www.firewise.org/; click on “Learning Center” on the top menu bar.
Recalls of Medical Products
• Smiths Medical initiated a nationwide voluntary recall of Portex® Uncuffed Pediatric-Sized Tracheal Tubes (sizes 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 mm) manufactured before September 2009. Additional information: www.smiths-medical.com/. A MedWatch Safety summary, including a link to Smiths’ press release, is at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm182084.htm/.
• Philips announced a voluntary recall of approximately 5,400 HeartStart FR2+ automated external defibrillators (AEDs). A memory chip may fail and render the device inoperable. HeartStart FR2+ AEDs (models M3860A and M3861A, distributed by Philips; models M3840A and M3841A, distributed by Laerdal Medical) manufactured between May 2007 and January 2008, are included in the voluntary recall.
The AEDs affected by this recall have been distributed globally to fire departments, emergency medical services, hospitals, and other organizations. Philips is contacting customers to arrange for the return and replacement of all the recalled AEDs. Consult www.philips.com/FR2PlusAction/ for serial numbers of the affected devices and instructions if you have a listed AED. Additional information may be obtained from HeartStart Customer Service at (1-800) 263-3342.
• Halcyon Manufacturing is voluntarily recalling the following: Halcyon Explorer, Eclipse, CCR35, Evolve and Pioneer Buoyancy Compensator Devices, Halcyon Surface Marker Buoys, Lift Bags, Diver Alert Markers, Surf Shuttle, and Diver Lift Raft Inflatable Devices. The over-pressure valves in the diving equipment could fail, allowing the buoyancy compensator devices and the diver lift inflatable devices to leak, posing a drowning hazard to divers. For more information, see http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10002.html/.
• Unomedical is recalling its single-patient use Manual Pulmonary Resuscitator. It has a malfunction that may impair the device’s ability to generate the positive pressure necessary to function properly and could potentially cause serious adverse health consequences or death. The recalled resuscitators were manufactured from July 2002 to March 2008. Consult http://www.unomedical.com/?pageid=H3160 for a list of affected lot numbers, guidance (diagram and photos) for identifying products subject to the recall that may have had the primary product packaging removed, and instructions on what actions to take. The complete MedWatch 2009 Safety summary, including links to the firm’s press release and product photos, is at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm185702.htm/.
• Physio-Control, Inc.’s LIFEPAK CR Plus Automated External Defibrillators, manufactured and distributed from July 9, 2008, and August 19, 2008, are part of a Class I recall. An extremely humid environment may cause the devices to improperly analyze the heart rhythm and may cause the device to delay or fail to deliver therapy. The complete MedWatch 2009 Safety summary, including a link to the Class I recall notice, is at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/Safety AlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm182496.htm/.
