Dr. John G. Blitch

At the Emerging Technologies classroom, “The Yin and Yang of Robot Assisted Emergency Response,” Dr. John G. Blitch reviewed the development of robotics, its future, and the possible application to the emergency services.

Blitch is a senior research professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Department of Behavioral Science and Leadership.

He presented various attempts to enable robots to deal with obstacles, developing reliability through self-correction, self-righting, and anti-snagging capabilities. Other common behaviors developed include retro reversing, seeking light, wiggling the antenna, and self-cleaning when the device encounters difficulties. “Sometimes you can’t avoid an obstacle; you just have to go over it,” Blitch said.

He cautioned attendees on working with vendors, recommending considering at least three; there is strength in diversity. “Your vendors may want to sell you something that fulfills a role that fits their model, not yours.”

Although there has been much progress in robotic development over the years, Blitch noted, robots lag far behind humans in their physical and intellectual abilities. In the end, “Humans rescue humans; robots are just a tool.”

On April 26 at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC), HYGENALL CORPORATION, announced the launch of 3 new Full-Spectrum™ cleaning and decontamination products aimed at helping to reduce hazards associated with modern firefighting chemical exposure. Modern fires can expose firefighters to dangerous cancer-causing chemicals that may contribute to statistically higher than average cancer rates and other ailments over the rest of the workforce.

In 2010, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) published a limited study on particulates found in smoke, which highlighted chemicals such as plastics, and metals including lead and mercury.  Heavy metal oxides, such has Hexavalent Chromium (CrVI), which comes from heating stainless steel, chrome, and some anti-corrosion coatings, combined with incorrect hygiene practices may be powerful contributing factors to statistically increased cancer rates amongst firefighters and other first responder professionals.

 “And cancer may not be the only problem firefighters face after exposure to toxic smoke and soot,” said Michael McKinnon, Firefighter Safety Product Manager at Hygenall Corporation. “For example, lead released from burning carpets and many household and industrial products can cause irreversible cognitive problems for adult firefighters, and through a process characterized as “Toxic Hand-Off”, their children and families may be at risk at home as well.”

Hygenall adds 3 new products to the more than 30 Hygenall firefighter cleaning and decontamination products that are designed to address the entire lifecycle of a firefighter’s day. “From the moment a firefighter walks into the front door of the station, until he or she leaves to go home, we have them covered with products that have been shown to be more effective than common anionic surfactant based soaps or baby-wipe type products alone,” McKinnon added.

Hygenall FieldWipes™, P/N FW902AFF, is a non-alcohol extra-large 8” x 12” disposable wipe meant for full-body cleaning and decontamination from Full-Spectrum™ exposure such as: plastics, drug residue, cationic chemicals, germs, and metals, including radioactive substances.

Hygenall ToxOff™, P/N HT50121Q, is an improved version of an existing ToxOff brand of surface cleaning and decon of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), and is compliant with NFPA 1851 standards.

Hygenall HandScrub™, P/N HHSP64, an FDA registered scrub soap, decontaminates the dirtiest of hands, used by mechanics and maintenance technicians.

According to Hygenall Corporation, hydrocarbons and other non-ionic chemicals, which regular baby wipe type products work well at cleaning off, are not very effective at cleaning off everything that is dangerous to firefighters. Chemicals and metals that stick to skin and surfaces through strong electrostatic bonds will not clean off very well with common soaps and wipes, no matter how hard you scrub. Firefighters can subsequently carry toxins home, exposing family members every day.

Hygenall FieldWipes™, FieldScrub™, FieldWash™ HandScrub™, and ToxOff™, are called Full-Spectrum cleaners, because they do more than clean off hydrocarbon laden soot, grime and germs. Hygenall’s firefighting products are designed to displace and clean off chemicals such as carcinogens, plastic residue, germs, toxic metal oxides, including radioactive material, drug residues such as opioids, and others.

All Hygenall products are manufactured in the United States by Hygenall Corporation and are made

Two men safely escaped from a house fire Wednesday afternoon in Pasco. At about 5:15 p.m., firefighters arrived to flames coming from the upper story windows of a home at 514 Shoshone Street, according to Pasco Fire Department spokesman Ben Shearer. Several fire crews responded to the home and knocked out the fire within minutes.
- PUB DATE: 4/26/2018 4:03:19 AM - SOURCE: YakTriNews

Monroe, NC—3M Scott, a leader in innovative respiratory and personal protective equipment and safety devices, presented First Responder Center for Excellence and Firefighter Cancer Support Network each with $25,000 to aid in their efforts for cancer awareness and prevention. The organizations are the first two recipients of 3M Scott Fire & Safety’s new two-year charitable-giving initiative.

The program reflects the company’s commitment to protect the first responder. Over the next two years, 3M Scott will donate $100,000 to the firefighter community.

“Our goal is to enable other organizations to join our fight in minimizing carcinogen hazards facing firefighters,” said John Dinning, business unit manager at 3M Scott Fire & Safety. “These two groups share our mission to help protect and support first responders and their families, and we’re honored to recognize them and support them in their efforts.”

The First Responder Center for Excellence is a Maryland nonstock charitable corporation organized to support the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (“NFFF”) through charitable and educational activities. The center’s goal is to become the leading resource for first responders and their family members in addressing physical, emotional and psychological health issues. The charitable organization will increase awareness of first responder health issues and prevent first responder deaths and injuries by promoting research in relevant fields. With 3M Scott’s donation, the center will develop innovative methods to address the growing concerns related to the presence of cancers within the First Responder Community and expand Stress First Aid, a new behavioral health intervention program, as well as similar programs.

The Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) is a nonprofit organization that provides assistance and one-on-one mentoring to thousands of cancer-stricken firefighters and their families. The mission of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network is to help fire/EMS members and their families cope with cancer and to provide occupational-cancer awareness and prevention training nationwide. FCSN created the popular train-the-trainer program which gives instructors the cancer-fighting tools and curriculum they can take back to their departments. An online cancer awareness and prevention course was created in cooperation with FCSN in May 2016 to educate and aid the International Association of Fire Fighters. FCSN leaders are participating in cancer-related engineering and medical research across the nation to further research and development.

“It is our mission to help protect those who protect our communities, and this program gives us a unique opportunity to do that,” Dinning said. “With this initiative, we help fund like-minded groups who are building awareness, sharing best practices and working toward cancer prevention for first responders.”

3M Scott will share details on other funding opportunities for 2018-2019 in the coming months at www.ScottSafety.com.

Scott Safety is a manufacturer of innovative respiratory and personal protective equipment and safety devices for firefighters, industrial workers, police squads, militaries, homeland security forces, and rescue teams around the world. The recent 3M acquisition of Scott Safety provides invaluable resources, pioneering technology and partnership in their shared mission to supply firefighters with advanced safety equipment. With a global presence, 3M Scott products will protect thousands of individuals across the globe from environmental hazards including smoke, toxic fumes, combustible gases, falling objects and contaminants. To unite Scott Safety with 3M’s initiatives to explore, connect and invent, Scott Safety will become 3M Scott at FDIC International 2018. The new 3M Scott will be seen in a variety of places, including:

• A new booth display featuring the new branding and products from SCBA to fall protection.
• A kick-off celebration on Wednesday night at the Indiana Roof Ballroom.
• The 3M Safety Roadshow—a fully equipped, mobile training center to showcase 3M’s industrial and fire safety expertise and PPE. The Safety Roadshow will partner with industrial and fire facilities across the U.S. to drive safety training and education. The Safety Roadshow offers firefighters hands-on access and learning to provide a more comprehensive showing of fire safety resources, including 3M Scott’s innovative Air-Pak™ X3 Pro, Scott Sight and other products.
• ·A new Web site: 3M Scott is committed to instituting change, not only for the firefighters of today, but for the firefighters of tomorrow. To provide users with faster and easier access to resources and relevant content, 3M Scott has launched a new Web site to promote an engaging digital experience.

3M Scott will also feature its Air-Pak™ X3 Pro SCBA is built on a proven foundation of redundant safety features to ensure the security and comfort of today’s firefighter. The new product maintains the proven design and value proposition of the Air-Pak X3, with an emphasis on enhancements to cleanability, comfort, and connectivity.

GT-Fire is an innovative, handheld solution designed for the fire industry to isolate gas leaks quicker and easier. After normal evacuation procedures are complete, the GT-Fire portable gas detector enables firefighters to conduct more specific leak detection investigations while they wait for gas utility companies to arrive. With this, firefighters have additional information to secure a scene more effectively.

Scott Sight goes beyond constant thermal vision. It gives firefighters their hands back. That’s because unlike other handheld thermal imaging cameras, Scott Sight combines a camera with a display in the facepiece without the need for reaching down and lifting a camera up. Firefighters now have both hands free for effective communication, victim extraction and carrying tools.

The new HushAir Connect 7500 Compressor System simplifies the process of cylinder refilling and dramatically enhances efficiency and safety. The advanced compressor technology is built around the industry’s first 7,500-psi capability that allows more cylinder fills per charge. With new automatic RFID sensing technology, the RevolveAir Connect can detect and sele