MSA awarded the 2006 Fireslayer of the Year award to Lieutenant Jeff Kraft of the Calumet (IL) Fire Department. On April 15, 2005, the department responded to a three-story apartment fire. Other responding units were hindered by traffic conditions. Flames extended from the second floor to the roofline, and Kraft entered the building multiple times to search for victims. He discovered a 70-year-old woman on the third floor in serious condition suffering from smoke inhalation. Removing his face piece, Kraft shared his air with the victim and carried her to safety. Returning to the building, he found a second victim and assisted in his evacuation.
 |
MSA presented Kraft with a special leather helmet and a commemorative plaque recognizing his heroic act, and will donate $5,000 on behalf of the Calumet Park Fire Department to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Burn Foundation. The firm has donated $30,000 to the IAFF Burn Foundation in conjunction with the Fireslayer of the Year Award.
The Fireslayer of the Year award honors the outstanding achievements of individual firefighters and departments that serve as role models for others. Nominations are submitted through the MSA Web site, www.msafire.com; the award recipient is selected by a committee that includes fire service industry experts and MSA associates.
WARN INDUSTRIES is giving away a new WARN® 9.5ti multimount winch system, a Necky® kayak, and a Humminbird side imaging GPS system to the fire department or search and rescue department that shares the most outstanding, real-life, on-the-job rescue story in which a winch was an integral part of the operation. The company’s Fire/Search & Rescue Package Giveaway begins on May 1, 2006, and runs through July 31, 2006. All entries must be submitted on the WARN Web site (www.warn.com). A winner will be announced on August 18, 2006. The contest is sponsored by WARN Industrial and Johnson Outdoors, makers of Necky kayaks and Humminbird imaging kits.
SURVIVAIR ® RESPIRATORS, INC. has partnered with OSHAMEDCERT to offer a fully Web-based online respirator medical evaluation and tracking system that is easy to use, reliable, and cost-effective. Through this site, www.survivair.com/oshamedcert, users can receive medical certification in five to 10 minutes. The program provides certification for employees required to use filtering face piece respirators (dust masks), half mask-, or full face piece respirators. Most users qualify by completing the online evaluation. Those that do not qualify on the first attempt may still qualify after a follow-up online Q&A session with a board certified physician. The follow-up questions are evaluated by the on line medical staff and a response will be provided within 24 hours.
