LUKAS eDRAULIC relieves both patients and rescuers Less noise at the accident scene LUKAS eDRAULIC relieves both patients and rescuers In recent years, the focus on methods and tactics in rescue has shifted more and more to the accident victim. As a result, rescuers already establish both eye and speech contact with the patient during their initial assessment of the accident site, and they maintain this contact throughout the entire rescue operation. These efforts to calm the patient help reduce stress and minimise the psychological impact on the patient. All rescue activities should always be performed with the least possible impact on the patient. Interference from noise Marc Bigalke, medical director of rescue services for the city of Amberg/Germany and emergency physician, confirms that noise in particular is one of the unwanted side effects of rescue operations. Loud power units make communication more difficult, not only with the patient but among the rescuers as well. The use of low-noise rescue tools helps reduce these undesirable disturbances to the minimum necessary level. Both rescuers and patients profit from the resulting improvement in teamwork and communication. Quieter rescue With the eDRAULIC series, LUKAS probably offers the quietest rescue tools, and the safest ones for patients. The tools operate with electricity and generate sound immission only when they are in use. If the eDRAULIC tool is not in use, it is absolutely quiet. So you have a role in making rescue safer for your patients  

The first Peli Area Safety light with an ATEX approval is now available… The first Peli Area Safety light with an ATEX approval is now available. The 9435 is the latest in a successful and expanding range of Area Lighting systems from Peli. The new 9435 features 18 LEDs which output a brilliant 1500 lumens (high setting) to illuminate a work area. This rechargeable Peli area light is certified for use in hazardous areas (ATEX Zone 2). Weighing less than 8kg, the Peli 9435 unit is easy to carry on site. It is highly versatile, the mast extends to almost 1 metre and swivels 360° while the head can be tilted to angle the light where required The new 9435 is silent running and has a dual power mode, with a light duration of approx. 10 hours (economy mode). Ideal for Fire and Emergency Service use, Peli Area lighting systems are rugged units offering a safe, economic and convenient alternative to generator powered lighting. There are no fumes emitted and no liquid fuel is required, thus improving worker safety and adding to the environmental benefits of this range. Details on all Peli Area Lighting products can be found at www.peliproducts.co.uk.

UK fire service personnel have raised concerns regarding the safety of new engines that are being rolled out and an investigation has been launched…c By Samuel Couratin UK fire service personnel have raised concerns regarding the safety of new engines that are being rolled out and an investigation has been launched after reports that the machines carry a risk of catching fire when attending incidents. The problem has been highlighted by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), which called for an inquiry into the potential problem following the purchase of four of the Combined Aerial Rescue Pumps (CARPs). South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue spent £2 million on the engines, which are claimed by some to place lives at risk. "They have continually been off the run since they were brought in," FBU spokesman John Gilliver told the Sheffield Telegraph, adding that two firefighters tackling an incident at height had to be rescued when a cage malfunctioned. One of the vehicles is reported to have caught fire while at a blaze in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, while two others smoked after faults occurred. A total of £700,000 was spent on the four specialist CARPs as they were initially found to be too heavy for use on UK roads and an investigation will now be carried out into whether they are safe to use. The fire service said in a statement: "Like the FBU, we are concerned about these issues and are working tirelessly to address them to keep the CARPs available as often as possible." Last month, the FBU responded to the report by the Public Accounts Committee on the failure of the FiReControl project by stating that lessons have not been learned from the exercise and ministers need to listen to control staff and their representatives to ensure the service operates effectively. In its report on the scheme, the Parliamentary committee was heavily critical of abandoned plans to scrap 46 local fire and rescue control rooms and replace them with high-tech regional control centres.

Justin is an extremely accomplished sales and marketing professional…     Innovative electronic fire and security products manufacturer, Elmdene International Limited – a subsidiary of Potter Electric Signal, LLC – announces the appointment of Justin Roberts as Sales and Marketing Director.   Justin is an extremely accomplished sales and marketing professional. He brings with him over 20 years experience in the security sector gained through roles spanning technical support, area sales and, most recently, sales and marketing at director level for a major security business. During this time Justin has been able to develop an extensive knowledge of industry best practice, standards and technological innovations, all of which should prove invaluable in his new position.   As Sales and Marketing Director at Elmdene, Justin will be tasked with overseeing the UK, export, and special project activities of the fast-growing business as well as internal sales and marketing. Another key task for Justin will be to identify new product opportunities to further enhance Elmdene’s innovative fire and security product portfolio which now ranges from the award-winning, acoustically-driven, Merlin graffiti detector to highly efficient Switch Mode power supplies, magnetic contacts and external and internal sounders.   Commenting on his appointment, Justin Roberts said: "I was attracted to this position by Elmdene’s strong reputation as a professional and forward thinking company with an excellent track record when it comes to product reliability and development, customer focus and support. Moving ahead, my primary objective as Sales and Marketing Director will be to ensure that, at Elmdene, we continue to work closely with our customers in the most effective manner possible to help support and build their businesses. I also want to ensure that we are well placed to offer the high quality service which the industry has come to expect from us."   Said Ian Moore, Managing Director, Elmdene International Limited: "We are delighted to have someone of Justin’s proven track record and calibre join Elmdene. His appointment further strengthens our ability to move the business forward as we look to dramatically expand the reach of Elmdene’s operations in the next 12 months.    -2- “It also comes on the back of other key personnel moves, including the addition of a new Marketing Manager earlier this year and a Regional Sales Manager last month, with more significant announcements planned in very near future."   For more information on Elmdene and its products please Tel: 023 9269 6638, email: sales@elmdene.co.uk or log on to www.elmdene.co.uk. Elmdene also has a YouTube Channel which can be found at http://www.youtube.com/user/ElmdeneInternational.  

HONOR 2011 CAREER AND VOLUNTEER FIRE CHIEFS OF THE YEAR  Madison, Wis. Fire Chief and Union Fire District Fire Chief in South Kingstown, R.I. receive national awards at Fire-Rescue International   Appleton, Wis. (August 26, 2011) – Fire Chief Magazine, part of Penton Media, Inc.’s Public Infrastructure Group, and Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) company, today announced the 2011 winners of the annual “Fire Chief of the Year” awards.  Volunteer Fire Chief Robert Perry of the Union Fire District in South Kingstown, R.I. and career Fire Chief Debra Amesqua of the Madison Fire Department in Madison, Wis. received the awards.    Winners are honored for their dedication and leadership in fire and emergency services. Sponsored by Pierce, the 16th annual awards were presented during the opening session at the 2011 International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Fire-Rescue International Exhibits and Conference in Atlanta, Ga.    “The leadership, determination and integrity modeled by Chief Amesqua and Chief Perry are an inspiration for all,” said Jim Johnson, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, fire & emergency.  “Between them, they have more than 70 years of service dedicated to firefighters and the communities they serve. It is an honor for Pierce to recognize their positive and significant impact on the fire service.”     Volunteer Fire Chief Honoree – Robert Perry, Union Fire District in South Kingstown, R.I.   Chief Robert Perry has been a volunteer firefighter for more than 40 years. He has served as the chief at the 300-member Union Fire District since 2004, and was a deputy chief for training and development for 16 years before being named chief. Intensely devoted to firefighter safety and training, Chief Perry is widely known for changing the paradigm to “Safety Always” in fire departments throughout the state of Rhode Island. During his tenure, he has built a culture that cultivates firefighting skills among all walks of the service.  For training purposes, he spearheaded efforts to build – among other multiple props – a tower and a Class A live burn building.    Perry has been an instructor for the Rhode Island Fire Academy since 1988, and for the past 36 years has been an active member of the South Kingston Firefighters Joint Training Committee.   Beginning in 1973 and continuing through 2009, Perry held several crash-rescue positions at TF Green International Airport in Warwick, R.I., including officer, lieutenant and captain.  Perry served as an assistant deputy state fire marshal, served on the Rhode Island Central League Training Committee and held the position of assistant instructor at the Rhode Island Fire Academy.   Perry holds an Associates Degree in Fire Science from the Community College of Rhode Island, and has completed coursework and received numerous certificates for a wide range of specialized training, including: incident command, incident management, hazardous materials, rope rescue, collapsed building, explosives, extrication, confined space and more. Philip Stittleburg, Chairman of the National Volunteer Fire Council, said, “Chief Perry is a recognized leader who is progressive, believes in collaboration, and through cooperative understanding has built strong bridges between the volunteer and career firefighters in the state of Rhode Island.”    Career Fire Chief Honoree – Debra Amesqua, City of Madison Fire Department in Madison, Wisc. When Chief Debra Amesqua was named Chief of the City of Madison Fire Department in 1996, she was the first woman in the department’s history to hold the position. And, at the time, she was one of only seven women to head one of the 32,000 fire departments in the country. She began her firefighting career in 1983 as a recruit in the Tallahassee Florida Fire Department, where she rose through the ranks to Assistant Chief for Training for the department.   Amesqua is nationally recognized for her work on senior level management training for fire service women and breaking down barriers for people of color. She has developed and presented workshops and authored professional papers on subjects related to executive officer career development, and building a learning organization in the fire service. Under Amesqua’s leadership, the department’s Fire Station #12 was recognized as the second fire station in the country to achieve LEED® Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, through utilization of recycled and locally sourced building materials, geothermal heat pumps, a green roof, solar collectors, pervious pavement and rainwater harvesting.     Amesqua holds a BA degree with honors in business and management from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisc. She has completed the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Training Program as well as the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and numerous professional development workshops and programs including the Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute (EDI) at Florida A&M University. In February 2011, during three weeks of protests at the state capital by 10,000 Wisconsinites, Amesqua successfully led the department’s emergency operations center and command post to ensure a coordinated effort among firefighters, EMTs, paramedics and law enforcement agencies responding from a tri-state area.    Photo Caption: 2011 Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year, Robert Perry, of the Union Fire District in South Kingstown, R.I. Photo Caption: 2011 Career Fire Chief of the Year, Debra Amesqua, of the City of Madison Fire Department in Madison, Wisc.   About Pierce Manufacturing   Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation [NYSE: OSK] company, is the leading North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. Products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, minipumpers, elliptical tankers, and homeland security apparatus. In addition, Pierce designs its own foam systems and was the first company to introduce frontal airbags and the Side Roll Protection system to fire apparatus. To learn more about Pierce, visit www.piercemfg.com   About Fire Chief Magazine   Established in 1956, Fire Chief is the magazine for progressive fire service leaders. Articles by fire officers from across the country and worldwide cover a wide variety of important areas to today’s fire service leaders. In addition, a

Apollo Fire Detectors Ltd has developed a new product that allows… Apollo Fire Detectors Ltd has developed a new product that allows fire detection to be fully integrated into building management systems (BMS) without the need for complex bespoke solutions or the use of multiple interfaces.    OpenConnect Gateway® is effectively a ‘plug and play’ device that can be incorporated into a fire control panel by the manufacturer. It takes the information from the control panel and relays it to the BMS using standard protocols such as BACnet™, Modbus® or LonWorks®. This brings system specifiers and end users all the benefits of inter-system communication; such as faster response times, co-ordinated strategies in case of emergency or failure, and pre-planned and pre-programmed evacuation procedures. Because it is an integral part of the fire control panel, it is also simple to install and reduces associated time and costs.   This integration solution has been developed in conjunction with Tridium and uses their well-established Niagra AX software framework, on which many building monitoring, automation and control applications are based. Apollo has also worked closely with leading fire panel manufacturers through its Panel Partnership and the OpenConnect protocol will be available to participating control panel manufacturers under licence. The licenced manufacturer will be able to develop their own software to incorporate this protocol and will provide a suitable physical connection between their panel and the OpenConnect Gateway.     The new integration device is being made available in four base model options: 200 BMS points, 1,600 BMS points, 12,000 BMS points and 25,000 BMS points. For maximum integration, each OpenConnect Gateway includes as standard two Ethernet ports, an RS232 and RS484 port, a 15V dc input and two spare comms card slots.  

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With the discipline constantly evolving, many modern fire services are embracing technology for personnel development and training. Not only are the costs significantly cheaper than on-site visits, but the online approach also deals neatly with one of the fire services biggest hurdles… geography. Our exclusive technical writer, Mark Fletcher reports: The fire service is one of those traditional institutions that can really reap the benefits from modern, contemporary training. As fire-fighting technology and tactics evolve, to fight fires ever more effectively – and with less risk and danger to personnel and property – this level of training needs to be commensurate with these advances. Most modern metropolitan services have significant training and development facilities, as do those offering fire-fighting services at district, region and county levels. However, these more dispersed services do fall foul of geography and location; significantly adding to both the costs and time needed to bring fire fighters up to standard. It used to be that the only ‘proper’ way to train a fire fighter was to send them to a training centre, often miles away and then lose them as a ‘man unavailable’ often for large periods of time. It is for these reasons that the whole idea of eLearning really appeals to the service in all countries. Sometimes there is no alternative to hands on training, however, using online technology, not only can the initial training preparation and learning be achieved remotely, it can also be done at the station, keeping manning levels to an optimum in case of emergencies. ‘Fire Buyer’ spoke to Paul Flaherty, Assistant Director Planning and Development at Kent Fire & Rescue Service in the UK to see how this geographically-dispersed service has embraced modern technology and how it has revolutionised the way it trains its officers at all levels of the service using contemporary software and internet based solutions. “One of our primary concerns is the size of Kent. At 1,500 square miles it is large area to cover both in terms of fire fighting services, but also in terms of training and development, hence the need for a decentralised approach. “About four years ago,” he continues, “we developed a new staff competency system for staff training and from the outset we developed an online approach to cater for the geographical dispersion of our staff and officers. At this early stage, we also recognised a need for IT training as most of the online work we were doing needed basic familiarity with some of the more popular software packages, especially those from Microsoft, such as word, Excel and PowerPoint. Once the groundwork was in place we identified what training could best exploit it and what would of most use. We wanted the students to actually interact and not just learn from the initial academic training on offer. “To handle the curriculum and individual records we turned to PDR PRo (www.pdrpro.co.uk),” he elaborates, “a software suite covering incident recording, training, course management and personal development records. This was also coupled to a more integrated communications strategy, which involved the implementation of web cams, not only for training but also for video conferencing.” To give you an idea of the type of courses Kent Fire & Rescue service is now able to offer, a three-day incident command course for senior personnel now comprises three eLearning modules totalling 20 hours that must be completed prior to attendance at a training facility. At probationary level, all fire fighters have to undertake 43 eLearning modules over a two year period, where they have access to all the information online as well as direct face-to-face access to their tutors via the webcams. All assessments, testing and retesting are based on the open-source Moodle software (http://moodle.org/) a free course management system that is used to create effective online learning sites, ensuring the non-duplication of questions relating to course materials. On top of the basic functionality offered by Microsoft operating systems, there are many specially designed software suites available that offer face-to-face video and interactive capabilities. Tandberg (www.tandberg.com), parts of Cisco Systems, offers one designed specifically for video conferencing and interaction. There are also other packages such as Skype (www.skype.com), Webex (www.webex.com), also part of Cisco, and Benntec (www.benntec.de), which offer video conferencing and document/desktop sharing. “For more advanced online training at command level,” Flaherty elaborates, “we also use a package from VectorCommand (www.emergencycommandsystem.com). Indeed Kent Fire & Rescue Service is one of its biggest users in the UK.” VectorCommand offers software packages including Command Support System and Tactical Command Trainer, which offer an in-depth graphical environment, based on real-world situations, which can be used to play out a fire-fighting scenario with multiple options for deployment, visualisation and command decisions. Used by many agencies in the UK, the software is also deployed across much of Australia and New Zealand’s fire and rescue services, the USA, Qatar Petroleum and Sweden’s Civil Contingencies Agency. The company’s Tactical Command Trainer is the only fire training system in the world that has been validated by both the UK Fire Service College and the US National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Like most fire services worldwide, training in the UK is prescribed and agreed at a national level and adheres to wider standards (in most cases) – in this instance from the EU. Official qualifications are also available in the UK, such as National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and those from BTech. Professional development is also encouraged through the Institute of Fire Engineers, which delivers European level qualifications. “Psychology also plays a huge part in the training we offer,” Flaherty explains, “both fire fighters and members of the public can react very out of character in certain situations and can do things that hinder the rescue efforts. A lot of the burns we see are related to people re-entering buildings after raising the alarm, something which is hugely discouraged. In the case of fire fighters we try to instil a sense of responsibility to assess and manage the scene prior more personnel arriving, when it can be

Serving more than one million people in the area of Mississauga, Ontario, Credit Valley Hospital’s reputation for innovative, high-quality patient care greets you at the front door of the facility’s Carlo Fidani Regional Cancer Centre. A stunning 3,000 square foot lobby featuring arched wooden beams that sweep across the ceiling welcomes patients and visitors. The structural supports, made from Douglas fir, create a restful ambiance designed to promote healing, relieve stress and calm patients. These spectacular design elements made outstanding fire protection especially important for the building’s management. Business Challenges Designers had to identify a fire suppression system that could quickly and effectively suppress or extinguish fire in a lobby rich in wood. The system also had to aesthetically blend in with the natural look and feel of the restful outdoor decor. While the solution had to be nearly invisible, it also needed to effectively protect people and property while minimising water damage. “Looking to create a warm, healing environment, wood was the obvious choice when selecting building materials for the lobby. But it did not meet the Ontario Building Code (OBC) performance standards due to the inability of conventional sprinkler systems to adequately protect the complex network of curving beams. Steel met OBC requirements but lacked warmth,” said Sean Stanwick, a freelance architectural magazine writer. Engineers also recognised that conventional ceiling-mounted sprinklers would not be able to suppress or extinguish fire in a setting where wood was a predominant design element. An internal hospital report stated, “An effective fire protection solution was needed to allow the project to be designed with glue-laminated bent wood.” Limiting damage was a major concern for this critical care facility. Traditional sprinkler systems that use high volumes of water were not an option. “We wanted to reduce damage from water because underneath the lobby is a patient care area. With traditional sprinkler systems there’s water damage, and the need for mould mitigation strategies afterwards is enormous. With water mist all you have is dampness that you have to wipe up, which is the wonderful thing about it,” said Stewart Dankner C.E.M, Manager, Maintenance and Engineering Services, Credit Valley Hospital. The HI-FOG Solution After passing a rigorous performance test at the National Research Counsel of Canada (the Ontario Fire Marshall deemed the test an “unqualified” success) Credit Valley Hospital installed Marioff’s HI-FOG water mist fire suppression system, seamlessly integrating spray heads into light fixtures. “The water mist system has created the opportunity for designers to explore complex details and materials that might not have otherwise been permitted when used with conventional sprinkler systems,” said Stanwick. HI-FOG uses 70-90% less water than traditional sprinklers. Less water means less damage, faster cleanup and minimal business interruption or impact on patients and patient care. HI-FOG uses high pressure to force pure, potable water through specially designed and patented sprinklers. The resulting mist, consisting of fine droplets, suppresses or extinguishes fires by cooling the fire itself and the air surrounding it, blocking the radiant heat and displacing the oxygen from the seat of the fire. The small droplets vaporise fast, absorbing heat very efficiently and ensuring safe evacuation of the occupants. HI-FOG was easy to install, with small, bendable stainless steel tubes adapted into the beams and disappearing into the unique décor. “You don’t even see the misting devices and that’s the wonderful thing about the system. We didn’t want it to be a clinical setting; we wanted it to be environmental and green. The amount of sprinklers we’d need with a traditional system would have made the lobby look like a prison with so many steel bars everywhere,” said Dankner. Results The 3,000 square foot lobby and a 1,000 square foot corridor at The Carlo Fidani Regional Cancer Centre are now protected with a HI-FOG water mist system seamlessly integrated into the hospital’s decor. “Everything seems great and there are no issues with it at all. If this system goes off, it immediately extinguishes the fire so you don’t have any structural or water damage because it cools the fire so quickly – that’s the best thing about it,” said Dankner. HI-FOG solutions for Credit Valley Hospital At a Glance Less Water Concerned that traditional sprinklers would cause mould problems if they went off, hospital officials chose HI-FOG because the system uses 70-90 percent less water, which limits water damage. Flexible Design HI-FOG blended perfectly with architecture in the lobby, disappearing into the decor. Hospital officials were worried a traditional sprinkler system would make the lobby look like a prison. Easy Installation The bendable stainless steel tubes were easy to install, adapting seamlessly into the innovative but complex wooden design. “With traditional sprinkler systems there’s water damage, and the need for mould mitigation strategies afterward is enormous. With water mist all you have is dampness that you have to wipe up.” – Stewart Dankner C.E.M, Manager, Maintenance and Engineering Services, Credit Valley Hospital  

Protecting assets, facilities and people from hazards Fike is a globally recognised supplier of products and services that protect people, critical assets and facilities from hazards such as fire. With over 65 years experience in manufacturing safety solutions, Fike is continually seeking out new products to solve customer application concerns, as well as ways to improve current product technology. SigniFire™ video flame, smoke and intrusion detection Fike’s fire alarm offering features the unique SigniFire™video image detection system. SigniFire is a state-of-the-art, camera-based detection system that visually detects the presence of smoke or fire at its source, independent of airflow in the area, providing a critical advantage for early warning fire detection. Each SigniFire IP video detection camera can be configured with multiple detection and/or exclusion zones within the field of view. These detection/exclusion zones, combined with SigniFire’s unique algorithm sensitivities, allow for endless configuration options to suit specific fire, smoke and intrusion detection requirements. SignFire is perfect in applications where traditional smoke detection technologies may not be practical or efficient, such as open area venues and challenging environments. Twinflex®Pro For smaller installations, Fike’s new TwinflexProfire alarm panel offers a dependable, convenient and cost-effective two-wire solution. Available in 2, 4 or 8 zones versions with up to 32 devices in each zone, the TwinflexPro is designed for fast, easy installation in conjunction with Fike detectors with integral sounders. The detectors offer a wide choice of locally configured operating modes to allow their operation to be accurately matched to the characteristics of the area in which they are installed. TwinflexPro also has an optional delay feature that can be used to prevent a fire signal from a single detector triggering a system-wide alarm, unless that signal persists for more than a predetermined time. All Fike products and services are designed to meet or exceed customer and industry standards — technologically advanced Fike alarm products that are fast, flexible, and provide accurate, timely information you can rely on. From a sophisticated fire alarm system to early warning detection, Fike has the right fire alarm solution … at a cost that fits your budget.