Pictured left to right: Captain Scott Pascu of the Akron OH Fire Department, Chief Ken Farmer National Fire Academy Education, Training and Partnership Branch,  IFSI E-Learning Program Director Richie Valenta

Rich Valenta, E-Learning Program Director for the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) was honored with the “J Faherty Casey Award” for Region V. It was presented by the Training Resource and Data Exchange (TRADE) group of the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

The Award is given to those who best exemplify the core values of excellence in fire service, education, training, sharing of resources, and dedication to the development of human capacities in the U.S. fire service. TRADE established the award to honor J. Faherty "Jim" Casey, the father of the TRADE concept whose efforts transformed TRADE from a concept to reality. Award winners exhibit those skills and qualities that Casey demonstrated in concert with colleagues nationwide. Casey served as Deputy Superintendent of the National Fire Academy for many years and coordinated the activities of its field training division.

Rich Valenta serves as Program Director for IFSI’s delivery of more than 15 online classes. He oversees class and program development and manages the delivery of those classes. Prior to joining IFSI, Rich served on the Carol Stream Fire District, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant. He has made presentations about electronic class development and delivery at the National Fire Academy and various eLearning seminars. He represents IFSI at the National Fire Academy for the TRADE and FESHE organizations.

The Illinois Fire Service Institute is the statutory State Fire Academy for Illinois. In addition to training provided at its Champaign campus, the Institute offers one-day hands-on classes for fire departments at Regional Training Centers and local fire stations across the State. The mission of the Illinois Fire Service Institute is to help firefighters do their work through training, education, information, and research.

For more information about the Institute, call 217-333-3800.

 

Witmer Public Safety Group, Inc. (WPSG), parent company of TheFireStore and the nation’s leading multi-channel distributor of public-safety equipment, supplies, training, and service, is excited to announce their recent acquisition of Our Designs, Inc., the world’s largest retailer of gifts and accessories geared toward firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical professionals.

This acquisition will allow WPSG to breathe new life into the business that Our Design’s customers have come to know and love. WPSG will be able to provide Our Designs current customer base with some great new features: a new and innovative customization process using our Build It. See It. Buy It. method of personalization, a secure, more streamlined checkout process, a large and thorough Customer Service team, and a multitude of new products that first responders and their families and friends can use for personalized gifts, awards, banquet gifts, holidays, and more.

“Bringing Our Designs into our family of brands was a logical step for not just our company, but also for Our Designs and TheFireStore’s current customers,” said James Witmer, CEO of WPSG. “We are excited to bring Our Designs back to its roots of serving the public safety industry with unique, customizable, and cost-effective options for celebrating their successes and showing their pride for themselves and their brothers and sisters in red, white, and blue.”

If you are a current customer of Our Designs and have any questions about past or future orders, please visit our FAQ or contact us via one of the following methods:

Phone: 800-382-5252

Email: sales@OurDesigns.com

We’re open Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM EDT, and Saturday 10:00AM – 2:00PM EDT and look forward to assisting you!

About TheFireStore and Witmer Public Safety Group, Inc.
TheFireStore, a division of Witmer Public Safety Group, Inc., offers product lines from more than 400 manufacturers. Witmer Public Safety Group's motto is Equipping Heroes™, and this continues as they extend their commitment to provide the industry's best equipment and supplies to the professional men and women who serve to ensure the public's safety. For additional information, please call (800) 852-6088 or visit TheFireStore.com.

Paladin Healthcare LLC, the leading manufacturer of in-hospital equipment management rail systems, and Ferno, the innovative leader in emergency transportation solutions, are partnering to improve safety in transportation, and flexibility and efficiency in the storage of medical equipment and supplies. 

Both companies independently developed component based storage solutions for medical supplies and equipment that improve flexibility, ergonomic organization, efficient infection control, and optimized utilization. Through this partnership, Paladin Healthcare and Ferno will integrate and streamline pre-hospital and in-hospital equipment supply chain storage and equipment management.

Paladin Healthcare will collaborate with Ferno to adapt the iN∫TRAXX™ Integrated Vehicle Component System, initially designed by Ferno for an ambulance environment, for in-hospital implementation. iN∫TRAXX™  features quick release mounts that secure equipment such as oxygen cylinders, monitors, defibrillators and supply bags to tracks installed on the walls of an ambulance. 

“The iN∫TRAXX™ system was designed with significant practitioner input during development. Making a safe and flexible transportation environment requires a complete solution, so Ferno and Paladin product integration produces a comprehensive solution for the customer,” said Tim Schroeder, Director of Ambulance Systems for Ferno.

The EVOLUTION Equipment Management System by Paladin Healthcare is ideal for clinical medical environments and is also a plug-and-play storage solution designed with medical professionals in mind. The component-based system features wall-mounted rails that allow caregivers in a healthcare facility to snap-on and snap-off equipment, including blood pressure machines, infection control devices, and patient monitoring equipment.

“Combining the Ferno and Paladin product lines will serve to strengthen overall healthcare equipment and technology management, optimizing patient care and efficiency for hospitals, clinics, and mobile medical delivery systems" said Gary Schindele, President of Paladin Healthcare LLC.

Ferno and Paladin Healthcare are partnering to transform the work environment in ambulances and healthcare facilities. Safe, durable, and flexible solutions adapted to the needs of a caregiver are the future EMS and healthcare that professionals can look forward to.

More: www.FernoEMS.com

www.paladinhc.com

A fire at the Carter Park 7-Eleven damaged half of the interior structure and 90 percent of the store’s contents. The damage totaled approximately $310,000, Vancouver Fire Marshal Heidi Scarpelli said Thursday. The cause remains under investigation. Multiple people called 911 to report the fire at the convenience store, 102 W.
- PUB DATE: 6/15/2017 10:49:28 AM - SOURCE: Vancouver Columbian

Two motorcyclists were critically injured Wednesday night after a collision with an SUV that left them trapped underneath the vehicle. The crash occurred in the intersection of Broad Avenue and Nevada Street just before 7 p.m. Wednesday. After the collision the male driver and female passenger both ended up trapped underneath the SUV, said Spokane Fire Department Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer.
- PUB DATE: 6/15/2017 3:48:43 AM - SOURCE: Spokane Spokesman-Review