Todays First Responders face a multitude of challenges on a variety of fronts. Technology not only can make our jobs easier, but also may cause complications with recordings, videos, and just plain old computer issues. Litigation is ever present and the explosion of various media sources and blogs can push false narratives or continue placing issues and calls of activism in front of a population for a much longer time than previous generations ever could dream possible. There is Specialized and societal mandated training. Added to what is already a highly stressful work environment - the effects on the First Responder is immense. A career where batting .300 such as in baseball is considered good - doesn’t even come close. Perfection is demanded and expected of us. If not, then people can get hurt or die, lawsuits initiated, and internal investigations opened. Not to mention protests and negative media coverage. Whether law enforcement, Fire, EMS, dispatch, or corrections, all careers face their own special work pressures. We are easily recognizable and if people want to do us harm - all they have to do is call 911 and we offer drive-up service.

Monitor Township, Michigan, has recently taken delivery of an all new custom Ahrens-Fox rescue pumper. Built on an 1871-Spectr cab and chassis, this truck features the MFDxl-12 cab with raised roof for plenty of room as well as a large windshield for increased visibility. It is powered by a 400-hp Cummins ISL9 engine and Allison 3000EVS automatic transmission. The rescue-pumper has a 1,250-gpm Hale Qmax pump and 800-gallon UPF water tank. Also featured is a full body height transverse compartment ahead of the pump house, a TFT Hurricane RC Deck Gun, Hannay booster hose reel, and a 10-kW Harrison generator.

Dealer: Ahrens-Fox
Dealer Location: Wyoming, MI

Have you ever sat in a meeting, a classroom, or had a cup of coffee at the firehouse and listened to what people are saying - not what they are speaking - but what they are truly communicating? Verbal comments, nonverbal reactions, and even no response in these environments can reveal a lot about a person’s abilities, knowledge, and personal beliefs. That’s if you know what to look for. We deliver messages to others all the time whether we fully engage, toss out a quick comment, or remain quiet when given the opportunity to participate or be involved. When it comes to beliefs – or mindsets –, the ones we and others hold is the purpose of this article and what I’m hoping to explore with you.

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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