>> The ICMA-RC VANTAGEPOINT PUBLIC EMPLOYEE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND announced that 30 surviving children and spouses of fallen firefighters, police officers, and public employees were awarded postsecondary educational scholarships for the 2012-2013 academic year. Since its inception, the ICMA-RC Memorial Scholarship Fund has raised more than $1 million and awarded more than $860,000 in scholarships to approximately 250 surviving children and spouses in their pursuit of higher education. This year’s scholarship recipients hail from towns and cities in 15 states across the country and were selected based on factors including financial need; academic record; demonstrated leadership in school; and community activities, honors, and work experience. For more information, visit www.vantagescholar.org. www.icmarc.org.
>> The NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION received a $1 million federal grant to support the Foundation’s Everyone Goes Home® program, which educates firefighters about preventing line-of-duty deaths and injuries. The grant is awarded from the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants program, which provides funding each year to fire departments and emergency medical service organizations that are unaffiliated with hospitals. www.everyonegoeshome.com.
>> STREAMLIGHT® INC. was a corporate sponsor of the Travis Manion Foundation for its 9/11 Heroes Run, which honors the sacrifices of veteran, first responder, civilian, and military heroes of 9/11. In conjunction with its sponsorship of the Foundation and the 9/11 Heroes Run, Streamlight introduced the Bronze Nano Light®, which features the Travis Manion Foundation logo. Streamlight will donate one dollar to the Foundation for every light sold. The initial 5K race has grown to 40 races throughout the United States and internationally. An estimated 25,000 runners, 50,000 spectators, and 2,000 volunteers around the globe took part in this year’s events. http://911heroesrun.com. www.streamlight.com. www.TravisManion.org.
>> WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE (WPI) researchers received $1 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to develop a sensor that could significantly reduce and potentially eliminate firefighter line-of-duty injuries and deaths caused by the inhalation of hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide. Faculty in WPI’s Fire Protection Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering departments will collaborate on the research of a wearable, pocket-sized device that will warn firefighters when toxic gases are present. The sensor will protect firefighters continuously from inside a building near the source of a fire as well as outside of the burning structure, where toxic gases are often present but where portable breathing devices are typically not worn. www.wpi.edu.
>> BIG ASS FANS® was awarded the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA’s) 2012 Research Foundation Medal, which recognizes a fire research project that best exemplifies the Foundation’s fire safety mission. The comprehensive two-phase program, entitled “High Volume/Low Speed Fans and Sprinkler Operation,” focused on informing the fan spacing and other installation requirements detailed in NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems. A coalition of HVLS fan manufacturers, insurers, and researchers created applications guidance for the use of large diameter, low-speed fans in conjunction with automatic sprinkler systems. As a result, facility managers now have guidelines to ensure their fans will be in compliance with NFPA standards when used and installed correctly. www.bigassfans.com.
>> KAPLAN UNIVERSITY (KU) has launched the College of Public Service, which brings together KU’s existing schools—Graduate Education, Arts & Sciences, and Public Safety—under one college encompassing a wide variety of public service disciplines. With a total of 40 degree and certificate programs, the College of Public Service equips students with the knowledge and experience to further their careers in the nonprofit or government sectors. Programs such as education, fire science, and psychology are offered at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. www.kaplanuniversity.edu/public-service-center.aspx.
>> MEDTRONIC FOUNDATION awarded the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System a $2.5 million grant to coordinate Illinois Heart Rescue, a statewide all-volunteer effort to more than double survival from sudden cardiac arrests in Illinois. The all-volunteer leadership team for Illinois Heart Rescue represents a collaboration between physicians, health professionals, community organizations, hospitals, EMS systems, fire departments, and government agencies across the state. Leaders in the initiative include the Chicago Fire Department, Chicago EMS System, and the Illinois Department of Public Health. www.medtronic.com.
>> FM GLOBAL partnered with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to fulfill requests of 80 fire departments across the country for fire safety education materials geared toward children and others during Fire Prevention Week (October 7-13). The effort is part of Sparky’s Wish List™, which is named for Sparky the Fire Dog®, NFPA’s official mascot. Through an online tool created by NFPA, fire departments are creating “wish lists” of needed materials which are then purchased by businesses, community members, and others. FM Global purchased $50,000 worth of banners, DVDs, coloring books, brochures, storybooks, stickers, and other materials that will go to 80 fire departments and one U.S. territory. www.sparkyswishlist.org. www.fmglobal.com. www.nfpa.org.
