MARYLAND FIRE AND RESCUE INSTITUTE (MFRI) and THE CENTER FOR FIREFIGHTER SAFETY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT have concluded a year-long, Homeland Security- and University of Maryland-funded scientific study of more than 200 firefighters to determine guidelines for firefighter training safety. The guidelines were established by studying the physiology of firefighters wearing the VivoMetrics LifeShirt and will be presented to fire departments and training academies nationwide.
Of the 90,000 firefighter injuries and 110 deaths that occur each year, more than 10 percent of these fatalities occur during firefighter training involving the strenuous activities that require firefighters to work at or near maximal heart rates for extended periods of time. The LifeShirt System, provided by VivoMetrics Government Services, is a garment worn under a firefighter’s protective gear to monitor vital signs and capture high resolution physiologic data. Using the LifeShirt, MFRI was able to monitor respiration, ECG, blood oxygen saturation, temperature, and activity level during standard training exercises, including maze crawls, 1,000°F training fires, and hose pulls-conditions that could not be replicated in a laboratory.
The data collected during this study will help to predict the onset of overexertion, heat stress, and enable the optimization of recovery. Environmental conditions such as air temperature, fire temperature, and humidity were factored into the study as well as physical characteristics of each firefighter, such as age, gender, height, weight, and fitness. The guidelines will provide trainers with a standardized, statistically significant data set to use as a baseline as they observe firefighters during physically demanding work in stressful environments. Trainers can then recommend rest as appropriate, monitor rehabilitation before re-entry, and use objective data to make more precise safety decisions.
E-ONE’s Vice President of Manufacturing Mike Fillion has been appointed chairman of Marion Technical Institute’s (MTI) Industrial Engineering Technology Business Advisory Council. The school is based in Ocala, Florida. Fillion began volunteering his services to MTI this past year. Businesses in Marion County lose the majority of their employees within the first 90 days because the employees are ill-equipped for the working environment. “By showing these kids at a young age not only who we are and what we do, but how we do it, they will be better prepared when they enter the workforce and will help create a stronger workforce in Marion County,” Fillion said.
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The South Mississippi Regional Response Team (SMRRT) took delivery of an E-ONE haz-mat/command vehicle. The team prepares six counties to manage such emergencies as chemical, biological, radiological, and explosive situations and natural disasters. This vehicle will allow SMRRT to interface with different agencies involved in a large-scale disaster nationwide and safely address any hazards. Federal Department of Homeland Security funds were used in acquiring the unit (photo). The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) in Irvine, California, recently purchased seven E-ONE custom pumpers. The seven Cyclone II custom pumpers, ordered as part of a replacement program to update the expanding fleet, will include 1,500-gpm Hale pumps, 500-gallon water tanks, extruded bodies, 500-hp Detroit Diesel Series 60 engines, and Allison EVS 4000 transmissions.
ZIAMATIC CORPORATION founder Ronald LaRue has retired after 38 years with the company. LaRue started the company as a part-time operation and was the only employee. Now Ziamatic, based in Yardley, Pennsylvania, has more than 40 employees and sells to accounts throughout the world. LaRue has been a member of the Yardley-Makefield Fire Company for 42 years, and has served as deputy chief and fire marshal. He is an active member of the Plumsteadville Fire Company, the Bedminster Land Conservancy, and the American Red Cross.
FIRE-DEX, INC. has named John Karban director of manufacturing. He joined the company in 2003 as plant manager, with 15 years experience in managing manufacturing. Karban will continue to streamline production capabilities, improve safety and material handling, and maintain efficient and timely deliveries.
DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION’s Series 60 heavy-duty diesel engine was ranked No. 2 in Diesel Power Magazine’s list of “Best Diesel Engine Ever;” No. 1 ranking went to Rudolph Diesel’s first working diesel engine. Since the launch of the Series 60 engine in 1987, Detroit Diesel has manufactured more than 850,000 units. Series 60 engines are the first heavy-duty diesels with fully integrated electronic controls.
DIXON FIRE has acquired the Powhatan brand of fire control products from KIDDE FIRE FIGHTING, including Pow-R-Matic pressure reducing valves, angle and globe valves, gate valves, fire department connections, plus nozzles, caps, plugs, nipples, adapters, and reducers. The acquisition supplements Dixon’s existing line of hose fittings and accessories, sold though fire suppression, fire protection, and industrial distributors. The company is also opening a new manufacturing facility in Winchester, Virginia, staffed by specialists formerly with Powhatan.
STREAMLIGHT®, INC. received Underwriters Laboratories Inc.’s highest designation, Division 1, for its 3C ProPolymer® Luxeon® and ProPolymer® Luxeon®4AA flashlights. The designation covers the lights’ use in areas where flammable gases or liquids or ignitable fibers or flyings may be present under normal operating conditions.
ONSPOT OF NORTH AMERICA, INC. is expanding its North Vernon, Indiana, manufacturing plant for a second time in five years. In addition to enlarging the building, OnSpot is purchasing a second plasma machine, which cuts out the major components of the Onspot automatic tire chain system.
DIGITECH COMPUTER, INC. announced that ATS Medical Services, a private ambulance company, has contracted with Digitech for billing services for its ambulance transports. Digitech’s Ambulance Commander® provides features such as call-taking; GPS vehicle tracking; digital dispatching; security; and HIPAA-compliant Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurance electronic invoicing. It also enables clients to maintain real-time access to all of its billing data and financial reports via a secure Internet connection.
The Rockford, Illinois-based ATS Medical Services, which serves Winnebago County, will use Digitech’s dispatch software and billing and collections services. ATS currently makes an average of 400 ambulance transports per month. Prior to using Digitech, ATS had more than $200,000 in uncollected Medicare payments.
