NIST: Firefighter radios may fail in high temperatures
Keeping portable radios inside pockets or firefighter turnout gear may help to ensure performance in certain thermal conditions, according to a study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). NIST engineers tested three “representative” portable radio models from three manufacturers in a wind tunnel designed to simulate thermal conditions at three degrees of intensity firefighters are equipped to withstand:
- Thermal Class 1, 212°F (100°C) maximum for 25 minutes;
- Thermal Class 2, 320°F (160°C) maximum for 15 minutes; and
- Thermal Class 3, 500°F (260°C) maximum for 5 minutes.
Each of the radios tested their maximum operating temperatures as only 140°F (60°C).
The results were as follows. One radio would not transmit or receive after 25 minutes at 212°F; it began working after a cooling-off period. In another 15-minute experiment at 320°F, one radio went dead within 8.5 minutes. The other two radios had significant performance problems from transmission and reception shutdown to signal degradation or fluctuation. No radios survived the Thermal Class 2 test and cool-down period.
All radios within pockets or firefighter turnout gear survived temperature tests at Thermal Class 1 and Thermal Class 2 maximum temperatures and times. They also survived Thermal Class 3, but exposed cords, speakers, and microphones did not-the radios were limited to Thermal Class 2 electronics.
NIST engineers suggest that small design changes on the speaker/microphones and cords could allow all the protected radios to reach a Thermal Class 3 rating. The test results will be used to develop test methods and recommendations that will be submitted to the National Fire Protection Association and other standards-setting bodies.
The Building and Fire Research Laboratory conducted the tests for the NIST Office of Law Enforcement Standards with funds from the Department of Homeland Security. For additional information, contact John Blair at john.blair@nist.gov or (301) 975-4261.
HHS allocates $75 million for World Trade Center medical care
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has designated $75 million in federal funds for monitoring, screening, analyzing, and medically treating emergency responders and recovery workers at the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster site. The HHS had previously allocated more than $125 million for screening and monitoring more than 30,000 WTC responders, recovery workers, and volunteers since 2002.
The Fire Department of New York (FDNY), Long Island Occupational and Environmental Health Center, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, City University of New York’s Queens College, Bellevue Hospital/New York University School of Medicine, and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey’s Robert Wood Johnson Medical School will share in $40 million in grants.
Also, in consultation with grantees, $8 million will be awarded for inpatient services to responders. HHS anticipates the funds will be spent through 2008. The goal of these funds is to assist workers with everything from medications to specialized diagnostic care and treatment, according to John Howard, M.D., WTC programs coordinator.
The program is open to responders nationally who served at Ground Zero. Eligible responders who have not yet been screened are urged to enroll in the program. The funds also support the data coordination center at FDNY and the WTC clinical consortium that provide a database for scientific reporting on the incidence of responder health conditions and trends in those conditions over time.
IAFC receives 1,000 reports for Near-Miss Reporting System
In October, the International Association of Fire Chiefs announced that its National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System (www.firefighternearmiss.com) had received its 1,000th report. Chief Jim Harmes, IAFC president, noted, “Near-miss reporting is taking lessons learned from firehouse kitchen tables across the country and making them available to anyone with Internet access.”
Forty-six states and two Canadian provinces have submitted reports. Almost half of the reports involve fire emergency events, such as structure fires, vehicle fires, and wildland fires; about 20 percent of the incidents were nonfire emergency events, such as emergency medical calls and technical rescues, according to the IAFC. Another 20 percent of the reports involved vehicle events, such as responding to or returning from a call. The remainder of the reports are divided between on-duty and training events.
One of the patterns that emerged while reviewing the reports involved power lines, according to Denise Smith, chair of the National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System task force.
A “Resources” section was added to firefighternearmiss.com in September. This component of the Web site will provide videos, photos, training presentations, statistics, and sample newsletter articles.
For more information about the program, visit www.firefighternearmiss.com, call (703) 537-4848, or e-mail ahultman@iafc.org.
Dayton, OH, addresses college fire safety issues during Fire Prevention Week
The University of Dayton’s Environmental Health and Safety and Risk Management Department, along with the Dayton (OH) Fire Department (DFD), hosted several fire safety-related events on campus during Fire Prevention Week October 8-14.
Events included a simulated live burn (“Smokeout”) in an acquired structure and in the university’s Marianist Hall residence and hands-on training in putting out a live fire with an extinguisher. Student participants were given T-shirts, gift certificates, and coupons for local restaurants.
“The University uses this time to provide education to students about the dangers of fire and how to protect themselves,” explains Robert Coyle, DFD manager of public safety. In the period from Oct. 1, 2005, to Oct. 1, 2006, there were 25 fire incidents at the university; nine were kitchen cooking fires.
President claims authority to bypass Congress’ criteria for FEMA head
After President Bush signed the homeland security bill, he issued a signing statement that said his interpretation of the Constitution shows that the FEMA provision interferes with his power to make personnel decisions. Among the provisions in the bill he challenged was that the FEMA director can tell Congress about the nation’s emergency management needs without White House permission. Bush said the FEMA director would be required to get clearance from the While House before reporting to Congress.
Senator Susan Collins (ME), chairwoman of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, does not agree with the President’s position. The homeland security bill says the President must nominate a candidate with demonstrated ability and knowledge of emergency management and must have not less than five years of executive leadership. Collins pointed out that there are precedents for Congress’ establishing qualifications for executive branch positions. She cited the solicitor general and the director of the Fish and Wildlife Service. She added that the FEMA director statute was modeled after a law that gives similar independence to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. The White House did not comment on the signing statement at press time. The Boston Globe, www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/10/06/bush
Congress passes FY 2007 homeland security appropriation
At the end of September, Congress passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 5441). It includes $547 million for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program ($545 million in FY2006), $115 million for the SAFER program ($110 million last year), and $47 million for the U.S. Fire Administration ($46 million in 2006). Citizen Corps was funded at $15 million; the State Homeland Security Grant Program received $525 million, $25 million more than the previous year; and the Urban Areas Security Initiative is funded at $770 million, an increase of $5 million over 2006.
In addition, the bill elevates the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) status within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and stipulates that the FEMA director and other FEMA employees have emergency management experience, create regional offices to help coordinate preparations for a disaster among a diverse group of stakeholders, and ensure that the USFA remains an Assistant Secretary-level position. The bill also provides for autonomy for FEMA to “preserve its mission.” NVFC E-Alert, Oct. 13, 2006; CFSI Update, Oct. 4, 2006
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff applauded the passage of the FY2007 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. He noted that the $34.8 billion in discretionary appropriations it provides for the DHS “will allow the department to build on its accomplishments.” Among the areas he cited were the enhancement of chemical security, the strengthening of FEMA, support for law enforcement and first responders, and increased funds for nuclear detection.
The bill, Chertoff said, “provides authority for the department to implement risk-based security standards for chemical facilities that present high levels of security risk. This measure allows the department to recognize the significant investments that responsible facilities have made in security, while providing us with authority to ensure that high-risk facilities have adequate safeguards in place.”
With regard to FEMA, Chertoff said he “strongly believes that FEMA should be kept within the department.” He noted that “the bill wisely reinforces DHS’ ability to operate as a comprehensive all-hazards agency by keeping FEMA’s capabilities within DHS. DHS can thereby enhance FEMA’s ability to coordinate response and recovery efforts.”
In reference to first responders, Chertoff noted: “Substantial funding is included for first responders-firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical providers-equipping them with resources to prepare them to prevent, deter, and respond to terrorist acts and natural disasters.”
The bill provides a $163.6 million increase over FY2006 for the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office. The funding, Chertoff said, “will further the department’s critical priority of preventing nuclear and radiological terrorism.”
IAFC issues position statement on discriminatory behavior
In September, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Board of Directors adopted the position statement “No Tolerance for Discriminatory Behavior in the Fire and Emergency Service.” The IAFC advocates that all fire and emergency service organizations develop written policies that enforce support for this position.
“This policy statement reflects the unfortunate reality that discriminatory behavior still is present in our fire departments today. We still have a long way to go, and we are providing this policy statement as clear guidance to the fire and emergency services,” said IAFC President Chief Jim Harmes. He noted that such behavior in any form-conversation, jokes, cartoons, actions, or writing-is unacceptable.
NVFC signs MOU with NAEMT and NATaT
At the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) Annual Meeting in September, National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg and NAEMT President Ken Bouvier signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a partnership that will allow “for direct action on common ground solutions on fire, EMS, and homeland security issues.” The NVFC is seeking to raise the profile of EMS issues within the organization and establish relationships with other national groups representing EMS interests, Stittleburg explains. Additional information is at www.nvfc.org/ems.html.
Also in September, the NVFC signed an MOU with the National Association of Towns and Townships (NATaT). The organizations will work to educate and inform town and township elected leadership and volunteer fire and emergency service departments in the communities. Executive Director Heather Schafer, who signed the MOU with NATaT President Michael Cochran, said the MOU “reinforces the commitment both organizations have to foster volunteerism across the country and support an open dialogue between local governments and fire and EMS departments.”
Security standards tightened for chemical facilities
Under new regulations passed by Congress, the government will have authority to shut down chemical facilities that do not meet specific security standards, according to Global Security Newswire, produced independently for the Nuclear Threat Initiative by National Journal Group, Inc. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) could require security measures at as many as 3,400 industrial plants. The nation’s chemical plants may design their security plans, which must be approved by the DHS. The government would have the authority to inspect and close facilities whose plans do not provide for adequate security.http://www.nti.org, Sept. 22, 2006
IAFC and USFA develop guidelines for emergency vehicle safety
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the Department of Homeland Security’s United States Fire Administration (USFA) have released the Guide to Model Policies and Procedures for Emergency Vehicle Safety. The objective of the Web-based educational program is to reduce the impact of vehicle-related incidents on the fire service and the communities they protect. Included is in-depth information for developing policies and procedures that support the safe and effective operation of all fire and emergency vehicles and privately owned vehicles; the leading cause of volunteer firefighter on-duty fatalities is vehicle accidents that occur while responding to and returning from emergencies.
The Guide and related program resources are available at www.iafc.org/vehiclesafety. Additional information about this program, as well as on USFA efforts related to emergency vehicle safety, may be found at www.usfa.dhs.gov/research/safety/vehicle.shtm.
CMS proposes that nursing homes install sprinklers
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a regulation that requires sprinkler systems to be installed in all nursing homes serving Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
“Automatic sprinkler systems are integral to increasing safety in nursing homes, and we look forward to their installation in all of the nursing homes across the country,” says Leslie V. Norwalk, acting administrator of CMS.
In March 2005, CMS began requiring all nursing homes that did not have sprinklers to install battery-operated smoke alarms in all patient rooms and public areas and increased 17-fold the Life Safety Code (LSC) inspections performed between 2004 and 2005. The agency will publish the number of LSC violations and the information on smoke alarms and sprinkler systems for every nursing home in the country on its Nursing Home Compare Web site by the end of this year.
Under existing CMS regulations, newly constructed nursing homes and nursing homes undergoing major renovations, alterations, or modernizations must be equipped with sprinkler systems, but not older nursing homes, which will be required to install the systems under the new guidelines.
CMS follows the fire safety guidelines developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA); all new sprinkler systems installed as a result of this proposed rule will have to meet NFPA technical specifications.
The proposed rule asks for public and industry input on an appropriate phase-in time to allow older homes to retrofit their facilities. The comment period will remain open until December 26, 2006. For more information on the proposed rule, visit http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-17911.pdf.
Line-of-Duty Deaths
Source: USFA Firefighters Memorial Database
News Glimpses
DHS AWARDS $91.8 MILLION IN GRANTS TO 860 FIRE DEPARTMENTS. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it had granted 860 fire departments and first responder organizations $91.8 million in Fiscal Year 2006 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) in October. It is expected that $485 million in AFG grants will be awarded in FY06. ● FAULTY PUMPS FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS RECALLED. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with ITT Water Technology Inc., of Auburn, NY, initiated a recall on Goulds, Bell & Gossett, and Red Jacket Water Products brand pumps for fire suppression systems in October. Some 3,000 units had been recalled in August 2006. The pumps are used for general purposes but are sometimes used in fire suppression systems. They were sold from December 2005 through September 2006. For additional information, call (800) 984-9199. ● NFPA CERTIFIED FIRE PROTECTION SPECIALIST (CFPS) PROGRAM ACCREDITED. The program has received international and U.S. accreditation from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Personnel Certification Accreditation Committee. To maintain accreditation, CFPS must consistently adhere to a rigorous set of requirements or procedures. For more information, visit www.nfpa.org/certification. ● OSHA ONLINE COURSES EXPANDED. OSHA Pro’s, Inc., a national OSHA training and consultation firm, announced the addition of the following online courses: the 10-hour Construction course in Spanish and the 30-hour General Industry course in English. They join the 10-hour Construction course in English, the 10-hour General Industry course, and the 30-hour Construction course. For information, contact Curtis Chambers, OSHA Pro’s, Inc. at (866) 442-6742 (toll free line) or by e-mail at curtis@osha-pros.com. ● NVFC PUBLICATIONS OFFER GUIDANCE IN ACTIVISM AND ADVOCACY. The Guide to Grassroots Activism and the Emergency Services and the Voter Registration and Grassroots Political Action Outline are available at www.nvfc.org, as is the NVFC Legislative Report. The Guide and Outline are designed to help volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel to express their views and needs to local, state, and federal elected officials. ● FDNY OPENS NEW COMMAND CENTER. The Fire Department of New York opened its $17 million fire department command center at the end of September. Located on the seventh floor of FDNY headquarters in downtown Brooklyn, it will allow senior fire commanders to manage multiple, large-scale emergencies from one location. It has 75 computers and enough cable to stretch 10 miles. It can track every FDNY ambulance on maps spread across the center’s large computer screens; it is expected that fire engines will be tracked in the same way shortly. It has access to live feeds from New York Police Department helicopters, and every radio transmission and telephone call can be recorded and played back immediately. www.nydailynews.com, Sept. 26, 2006 ●FDA ASKS FOR BLACK-BOX WARNING FOR WARFARIN. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked that Bristol-Myers Squibb place a black-box warning about the risk for major or fatal bleeding for warfarin (Coumadin) on the product label. The notice also states that bleeding is more likely to occur during the starting period and with a higher dose. www.medscape.com, article 545727, Oct. 9, 2006
