Mary Jane Dittmar

“To help technologies and systems that will enable Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operational components and first responders to deal with dangers to America’s safety and security” is the DHS’s highest priority according to the department’s March 2008 report, Science and Technology for a Safer Nation.

Trends in emergency services technologies that have emerged or have been continued over the past year reflect several major objectives.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, issued last July, has been making it more difficult for some firefighters and EMS workers who have contracted (or will contract) hepatitis C (HCV) to get health and insurance benefits.

The news that Philadelphia (PA) Fire Depart-ment (PFD) firefighters screened for hepatitis C (HCV) in 1999 had an infection rate almost three times the average for the U.S. population vividly reminded the fire service that complacency in the health and safety arena can be as deadly as complacency on the fireground.