In November, the National Institute of Public Safety Health hosted the Public Safety Health Symposium. This year’s focus was on cancer and firefighting.

College Station-based tech startup ResponderX took home a total of $15,000 in the fourth annual Texas A&M New Ventures Competition (TNVC) during the day-long event on Thursday, May 17. Sponsored by the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), the event awarded $350,000 in cash and in-kind prizes. Held at Kyle Field’s All-American Club, the event was attended by venture capital groups, intellectual property law firms, and technology development service companies from around the state, all examining the latest high-tech advancements in the fields of biotechnology, clean energy, and Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices.

ResponderX CEO Andrew Jarrett and Director of Client Relations Cody Blount presented the company’s TaskForce Tracker firefighter locator system at the event as one of 16 semifinalists invited to the competition. The initial field of 16 competitors was narrowed down to six teams who presented in the final round, with the remaining 10 teams competing in the elevator pitch competition. Blount’s delivery in the one-minute follow-up event bagged the top prize of $5,000, and was bolstered with the Research Valley Partnership Launch prize of $10,000.

The ResponderX TaskForce Tracker system is a firefighter locating device comprised of a device the size of a deck of cards which is worn on a firefighter’s protective gear that communicates with an apparatus-mounted computer. These two devices transmit data to a tablet managed by the incident commander or safety officer, which displays each individual firefighter’s exact location on an emergency incident scene. In the event of a mayday, rescue crews know exactly where to find the downed firefighter, rather than spending precious time searching for him or her. The ability to precisely locate firefighters inside of a structure has long been sought by firefighters, and is described as industry leaders at the “Holy Grail of firefighting”, as the current gold standard utilized to track firefighters is almost 30 years old.

Inspiration for the idea came to company founder and CEO Andrew Jarrett after the 2013 Knights of Columbus Hall fire in Bryan, which claimed the lives of Bryan Fire Department Lieutenants Eric Wallace and Greg Pickard, and severely burned firefighters Rickey Mantey and Mitch Moran.

Please visit www.responderx.com for more information.

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Tracking Firefighters Through the Fire

 

W. L. Gore & Associates’ Protective Fabrics Division has expanded its line of certified products for emergency responders with the addition of the Ruggedized Class 3 suit made of GORE^® CHEMPAK^® selectively permeable fabric. Manufactured and distributed by Blauer^® Manufacturing Company, Inc., the Ruggedized Class 3 suit is certified to NFPA1994, Class 3R and NFPA 1992 Standards (2018 Edition). The suit’s ruggedized construction makes it ideal for extended CBRN responses that include tactical entry or search & rescue missions for several reasons.

First, the GORE^® CHEMPAK^® selective permeable fabric is engineered to deliver extremely durable protection against potential exposure to liquid and vapor chemicals, biological, and radiological particulates, blood and body fluids, and emerging pharmaceuticals such as fentanyl — even after exposure to field contaminants such as seawater, sweat, and hydraulic fluid.

Second, the form-fitting garment, with reinforced padding at critical stress points for a greater level of cut and puncture resistance, is designed to enable the responder to move more easily and effectively throughout hazardous surroundings, confined spaces, and rubble piles.

Third, the highly breathable GORE^® CHEMPAK^® selectively permeable fabric enables the responder to stay actively involved in the mission significantly longer than an impermeable suit does. While maintaining a minimum of four hours of permeation protection, Gore’s barrier enables sweat vapor to escape through the suit, which helps reduce heat stress.

And finally, the NFPA certifications and AEL/SEL qualifications of the Ruggedized Class 3 suit make it eligible for grant funding.

According to Jason Horowitz, Gore’s North American Chem-Bio product manager, their team works closely with end users to identify their needs when developing a new product. CBRN responders had described the challenges of needing protection in harsh surroundings combined with the capability of operating in temperature and humidity extremes. He explained, “The new garment needed to be durable enough to withstand rigorous use associated with tactical entry or search and rescue operations, providing a greater level of cut and puncture resistance than the current Class 3 ensembles. It also needed to provide increased visibility, range of motion, and dexterity, while optimizing the integration of helmets and ballistic vests. We’re really excited about offering this new level of durability in a certified Class 3R garment.”  

For more information, visit GoreChempak.com.

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A memorial ribbon ceremony will be held Friday for Yakima fire Capt. Bob Burton, who died on Christmas day. Burton, who served with the department for 25 years, died of job-related cancer, according to the Fire Department. The 20-minute event will begin at 2 p.m. at Fire Station 91, 401 N. Front St.
- PUB DATE: 5/31/2018 5:27:18 AM - SOURCE: Yakima Herald-Republic

It was the single biggest loss of life in the history of the Houston Fire Department. Five years ago, the Southwest Inn fire ultimately claimed the lives of five firefighters. The four firefighters who died on the scene were Robert Bebee, Robert Garner, Mathew Renaud, and Anne Sullivan. In March 2017, Captain Bill Dowling, who lost both of his legs in the fire, died of complications from the injuries sustained in the line of duty.
- PUB DATE: 5/31/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTRK-TV ABC 13 Houston