Houston — Dräger will help protect thousands of firefighters, first responders, and fire industry professionals with American-made N95 disposable respirators during FDIC International.

FDIC International opens August 2 to 7 in Indianapolis. Thousands of firefighters and others will attend the education classes and exposition for the largest annual fire industry show.

Made by American workers in Pennsylvania, the Dräger X-plore 1750 will be distributed throughout FDIC at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium during the exposition as well as during educational classes and at large gatherings. Dräger is supplying tens of thousands of individually wrapped, fold flat N95 respirators to attendees as the official provider of N95 respirators to FDIC.

“Dräger proudly built a U.S. manufacturing facility in less than two months during 2020 to help respond to the demand for N95 respirators and they continue to be a vital component of protective equipment in the long-term health of firefighters,” said John Wilson, Dräger senior vice president of sales and marketing, safety solutions. “Now U.S. and Canadian fire departments can order these American-made N95 respirators for one-time or regular, reliable delivery and at a very reasonable cost.”

When properly worn, Dräger N95 respirators protect firefighters by filtering out 95% of particulates found on an active fire ground. When used in combination with mobile gas detection that checks for toxic gases, Dräger’s comprehensive line of air-purifying respirator products can be a cost-effective method to help protect firefighters working outside the IDLH, or immediately dangerous to life and health, area.

Occupational cancer among firefighters has been rising at an alarming rate in recent years. Several studies indicated that the particulates in smoke and ash may contribute to that increased risk.

FDIC attendees can stop by Dräger booth 1308 to see products appropriate for use on the fire ground including the most ergonomically comfortable SCBAs available.

The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, or NIOSH, serves as the regulatory body that certifies air-purifying respirators like N95s, assuring these products meet minimum requirements of filtration and safety. NIOSH suggests using the term “respirators” to distinguish N95s from other face coverings like cotton, surgical, or KN95 masks, which are neither tested nor certified in the U.S. to meet a standard of filtering non-oil particulates 0.3 microns or larger, 95% or better.

Dräger. Technology for Life^®

Dräger is an international leader in the fields of medical and safety technology. Our products protect, support, and save lives. Founded in 1889, Dräger generated revenues of around EUR 3.4 billion in 2020. The Dräger Group is currently present in over 190 countries and has more than 15,000 employees worldwide. Please visit www.draeger.com for more information.

The Mountain Home (AR) Fire Department accepted delivery of the station’s 2015 100-foot Sutphen ladder truck Wednesday, as the department officially retired its 1984 Grumman ladder truck, reports baxterbulletin.com.

The truck, initially stationed in Schenectady (NY), features a 100-foot ladder with a platform that can carry up to 1,000 pounds, which the report says allows the department to maintain its current Class 3 Insurance Service Office rating.

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The ladder will also allow the department to reach the top floor of Baxter Regional Medical Center, which is 95 feet in the air. The apparatus is 67,000 pounds and 47 feet long, and it features a 2,000-gallon pump capacity, seats for six crew members, and a backup camera.

The apparatus was purchased for $799,000 with money from the public safety tax. The safety tax has been used to purchase a 2020 rescue unit and a new brush truck. The report says the cost of a brand-new firetruck over the refurbished 2015 Sutphen would have cost taxpayers up to $1.7 million.

Officials said crew would start the 40-hour training needed to operate the vehicle as soon as Thursday.

On July 24, 2007, Mechanicsburg (OH) firefighter Jon C. Trainer tragically lost his life in the line of duty. The entire Mechanicsburg community mourned the loss of such a dear friend and dedicated firefighter. This was the first time in the history of Champaign County that a firefighter made the ultimate sacrifice and gave his life in service to others.

The village of Mechanicsburg has erected a stone monument at the station entrance to honor and commemorate Trainer’s dedication and ultimate sacrifice. A memorial ceremony was held July 24, 2021, to formally dedicate and unveil the new monument.

The project was spearheaded by two retired Mechanicsburg firefighters, Tim Shonkwiler and Phil McMahil. Both gentlemen donated their time, labor, and materials, along with guidance to see the project through.

Members of the Trainer family were joined by the Mechanicsburg Fire Department, area fire and law enforcement departments, and several Mechanicsburg-area residents to share the solemn event to express heart-felt condolences and appreciation.

The inscription on the monument is as follows: 

“On July 24, 2007, our brother Jon C. Trainer answered his last alarm. Jon grew up in Mechanicsburg and followed the family tradition of community service, dedicating his time and soul to the protection of others. In 2011 the Mechanicsburg Fire Department was named Station 30 in honor of Jon’s unit number. Today, July 24, 2021, the 14^th anniversary of his sacrifice, we gather as a community to honor Jon’s memory and loss. He is gone from our sight but forever in our hearts.”

HURST Jaws of Life has introduced eDRAULIC 3.0, taking its fastest and most powerful battery-powered extrication tools and making them faster, operational in both fresh and salt water, and now also the smartest through a smart dashboard display that provides operators with real-time feedback on tool status.

“We’re continually evolving HURST Jaws of Life extrication tools to make first responders’ jobs safer, easier and more efficient, and eDRAULIC 3.0 takes tool innovation to a whole new level,” said Britt Hawkins, marketing manager for HURST Jaws of Life, which debuts eDRAULIC 3.0, or E3, at 2021 FDIC International, booth #1823, August 5–7 in Indianapolis. The debut includes tool demonstrations on Ford F-150 Crew Cab trucks, showing the tool’s performance capabilities on vehicles made with today’s high-strength steel.

“With the launch of E3, HURST Jaws of Life has taken the fastest, most powerful tools in the industry and made them also the smartest, giving first responders an at-a-glance dashboard for tool performance that allows them to keep their focus on the patient,” Hawkins said.

The E3 smart tool dashboard provides the tool operator with live, visual and easy-to-see tool feedback in three key areas: roll warnings, which assist the operator with cutter positioning; power level indicator, which alerts the user to real-time power level, so they can reposition the tool for another cut; and a battery charge status indicator, ensuring the operator is aware of runtime in real time.

The E3 line builds on the game-changing 2019 launch of the HURST Jaws of Life eDRAULIC Watertight Extrication Tool (EWXT) line, battery-powered tools that have a longer battery life and stronger cutting force, plus are completely operational when submerged in fresh water. E3 offers all the features and benefits of EWXT, and then some. In addition to E3’s smart dashboard, E3’s new turbo function adds increased user-controlled speed, and the tool’s patented watertight design allows operation in both fresh and salt water.

The HURST Jaws of Life eDRAULIC 3.0 debut includes 11 tools: SP 555 E3 Spreader, SP 777 E3 Spreader, SC 358 E3 Combi, SC 758 E3 Combi, S 799 E3 Cutter, SC 258 E3 Combi, S 378 E3 Cutter, S 789 E3 Cutter, R 521 E3 Ram, SP 333 E3 Spreader and R 522 E3 Ram.

Other features and benefits of HURST Jaws of Life eDRAULIC 3.0 rescue tools include a brushless DC electrical motor for more efficiency and performance, an ergonomic design, LED lights and an optimized weight. All HURST Jaws of Life tools meet NFPA 1936 2020 standards for NFPA performance ratings.

HURST Jaws of Life introduced the industry’s first rescue tool in the 1970s and revolutionized the industry again in 2010 with the first battery-powered rescue tool line, giving first responders freedom from external power sources and faster deployment at the scene of a rescue. In 2014, HURST launched the next generation of eDRAULIC battery-powered rescue tools with the debut of the E2 line, which was stronger, lighter and easier to handle. The debut of the industry’s first watertight, submergible tool line in 2019 and the 2021 introduction of E3 with its smart dashboard continue the company’s tradition of innovation.

“Since the official introduction of the first HURST Jaws of Life rescue tool in 1972, we’ve raised the bar again and again for extrication tool performance,” Hawkins said. “E3 is the launch of a new generation of HURST Jaws of Life tools, and they’re going to continue to get smarter.”

About HURST Jaws of Life

HURST is the only manufacturer of the Jaws of Life^® brand. There is no equal to saving lives. The company’s commitment to research and development and dedication to quality engineering and manufacturing has resulted in a line of innovative products known for outstanding safety, durability and performance. HURST Jaws of Life Inc. is a un