TO: Users of SCOTT SAFETY SCBA Full Facepiece: AV-3000 SureSeal , AV-3000 HT, AV-2000, and other similar designs

FROM: Division Chief of Safety Don Schwab, City of Everett Fire Department

DATE: July 13, 2016

SUBJECT: Dislodged Sizing Dot Inside Regulator Diaphragm

Recently one of our firefighters experienced smoke inhalation during a training incident. The exposure was caused by a dislodged sizing dot found wedged in the regulator diaphragm. This allowed outside contaminated air to enter into the mask.

The sizing dots are originally attached by adhesive during the manufacturing process. They are black or color coded by size. Figure 1 shows the sizing dots as they come from the manufacturer. Figure 2 shows a mask with missing sizing dots.

Dayton, Ohio — July 26, 2016 — Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today announced the new Honeywell Life Guard Hood for firefighters that features an innovative, patent-pending design and proven fabrics that provide better blocking protection against hazardous particulates compared to traditional hoods.

The new Life Guard particulate hood is Honeywell’s latest breakthrough in safety and comfort for first responders. Replacing the traditional “sock hood,” the Life Guard Hood delivers new laboratory-proven levels of particulate-blocking protection with a lighter, more roomy fit that integrates with self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and turnout gear to ensure the highest level of comfort and safety.

“Honeywell has leveraged its considerable resources in collaboration with the firefighting community to develop a particulate-resistant hood that adds an extra layer of safety to the traditional one worn by first responders on the fireground,” said Ken Schmidt, vice president and general manager of Honeywell First Responder. “Life Guard Hood reflects Honeywell’s deep commitment to provide firefighters with solutions that enable them to perform at the highest level, while protecting their long-term health and safety.”

New building materials have made structure fires far more hazardous. Modern synthetics release lethal gases and toxins when burned. Studies show that the skin and glands of the neck and face are especially prone to absorbing toxins, and some cancer rates have now been proven to be higher for firefighters than the general population.

Cancer is the most dangerous and unrecognized threat to the health and safety of our nation’s firefighters, according to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN). Specifically at risk are the face, the angle of the jaw, the neck and throat — yet the most permeable piece of personal protective equipment is the hood.¹

The particulate-blocking protection of the Honeywell Life Guard Hood is laboratory-proven in Fluorescent Aerosol Screening Test (FAST) testing by RTI International. In testing, the Life Guard Hood provided dramatically advanced protection from particulates versus a 2015 International Association of Fire Fighter (IAFF) test by RTI showing very heavy deposits on the head and neck areas that resulted with the use of a standard knit hood.²

Fire Smoke Coalition President Jason Krusen said, “When training first responders around the country, we receive many questions about how firefighters can protect themselves better from the toxins that are present in fire smoke. Hoods such as Life Guard go a long way towards protecting responders better from airborne toxicants and particulates, and reducing the long-term health risks.”

Designed with fire fighter input at all stages of development and testing, features of the new Honeywell Life Guard Hood include:

• Blocks carcinogenic particulates in both air and water.
• Highly-breathable multi-layer composite material, coupled with a roomier design that promotes the safe flow of air around a user’s head and neck, yields a greatly improved wearing experience
• Balanced Thermal Protective Performance (TPP) and Total Heat Loss (THL) design supports a drier, breathable and comfortable wear — even after hours of use
• Materials with proven durability yield a long wear-l

The first national system intended to prevent hobby drones from interfering with planes and helicopters fighting wildfires has launched, federal authorities say. The U.S. Interior Department announced the kickoff of the pilot project Monday that uses a smartphone app and real-time wildfire information to create virtual boundaries, or geofences, that drones can't cross.
- PUB DATE: 7/26/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KPVI-TV NBC 6

One city firefighter has been fired and two others have been suspended from their jobs. City officials said the termination of firefighter Scott Graham stemmed from an arrest last fall. Firefighters Todd Guertin and Daniel Goudreault have been placed on unpaid leave while the city investigates alleged improprieties.
- PUB DATE: 7/26/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: eagle-tribune