By Chris Mc Loone
In 1914, countless lives were saved when two mining engineers, John T. Ryan and George H. Deike, founded MSA and partnered with Thomas Edison to produce the first electric cap lamp for miners—a product that has been credited for reducing mine disaster deaths by 75 percent. A century later, it seems only fitting that MSA celebrates its 100th year in business with the same spirit of innovation and passion to protect life held by the company’s founders, by launching an all new, state-of-the-art and industry leading self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) called the G1.
“At MSA, ‘When you go in…We go in with you’ is more than just words—it’s what drives us,” says Samantha D’Uva, MSA communications manager. “When we created the G1 SCBA, we were guided by a single question: how do we meet and exceed our customers’ safety needs? We listened closely and incorporated those ideas to produce the most advanced, intelligent user-friendly SCBA available today.”
The centerpiece of MSA’s exhibit at the Fire Department Instructor’s Conference (FDIC) will be G1, what D’Uva calls “the most comfortable, streamlined, balanced, configurable, and customizable SCBA we’ve ever produced.” Features of the new SCBA include eliminating all electronic components from the face piece; central power, where a single battery source powers the entire unit; 360° of three-stage buddy lights for increased situational awareness; and loud, clear communications, which come standard on every MSA G1 SCBA.
MSA is also the official thermal imaging camera (TIC) sponsor for the show and the SCBA sponsor of the inaugural BullEx Heat event. On Thursday night the company is hosting the MSA Brotherhood Battle II—a mobile-phone-based scavenger hunt throughout downtown Indianapolis where participants “battle” to win one of two MSA Evolution 6000 TICs for their departments, plus Cairns Helmets for the team. And, new this year, is MSA’s Brotherhood Bash, a block party at the intersection of S. Capitol Ave. and W. Georgia Street. All are welcome from 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.! For more information, visit msabrobattle.com.
In terms of emerging trends, D’Uva says, “This year we’re expecting to see the continual advancement of technology to improve fire fighter safety. But in addition to protecting those that protect us, we’re expecting to see continual advancements in ease-of-use and efficiencies.” She continues, “One of the great things about FDIC is that it provides endless opportunities for networking, relationship building and ultimately product research. Attending FDIC is impressive, because the latest innovations in firefighter safety are all at your fingertips.”
D’Uva says MSA is looking forward to this year’s FDIC as it gets its 100th anniversary celebration underway. “We are really looking forward to this year’s show,” she says. “From our 100th anniversary to the G1, and from the H.O.T. sessions to the Brotherhood Battle, there’s going to be excitement around every corner. This show is always one to remember. Everyone who is anyone in the fire service will be at FDIC, and we can’t wait to see them.”
