Columbia Southern University (CSU), an online university based in Orange Beach, Alabama, will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2018.

Over the last 25 years, CSU has had more than 60,000 degree conferrals. Its degree programs have been recognized by leading national industry organizations including the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) initiative, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Institute for Safety and Health Management (ISHM). The online education pioneer, which now employs 1,000 faculty and staff, has posted steady growth while contributing to the economy of Baldwin County, Alabama. Maintaining a long tradition of giving, CSU is actively involved in supporting more than 35 nonprofits annually through blood drives, food drives, Relay for Life, raffles and other fund-raising efforts.

“Since its inception in 1993, CSU has strived to excel in all its endeavors,” said Eric McHaney, chief marketing officer for CSU. “From pioneering the online education industry to building a family-oriented culture where students are always first, CSU prides itself on leading the charge for change while maintaining a reputation for integrity and expertise for 25 years.”

In addition to marking its silver anniversary, CSU will be launching a rebrand on April 5, 2018. CSU’s new strategy–a fresh take on its current logo and branding–captures CSU’s exceptional academic tradition and innovative spirit.

“CSU has a rich history as a leader in the online education arena while welcoming change through innovation, creativity and progress. This new logo is a great illustration of where those two ideals collide,” added McHaney. “We are thrilled about these upcoming changes and for what’s next for CSU.”

The university will also commemorate its anniversary during the 2018 commencement ceremony on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. To learn more about Columbia Southern University, visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu.

RECENT CSU WEBCASTS FOR THE FIRE SERVICE

Truck Company Operations Without the Truck

Dealing with Difficult People and Their Organizational Impacts

Effecting the Rescue Through Aggressive Tactics

Lead from the Front: Fireground Tactics and Leadership

Fire Service UAS Implementation for Safe, Successful, and Sustainable Operations

Workrite Uniform Company, a manufacturer of flame-resistant (FR) and chemical-splash protective (CP) clothing, achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification for its quality management systems. This accomplishment demonstrates that the company uses effective quality management practices to enhance customer satisfaction and consistently deliver quality products.

ISO is an independent international organization that brings together experts to develop standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges. Its standards are implemented by more than a million organizations in over 175 countries. The ISO 9001:2015 standard focuses on requirements for establishing and maintaining optimal quality management systems.

Workrite Uniform received certification by documenting its quality objectives, procedures, and work processes; ensuring this documented system is consistently implemented; performing regular internal audits; and proactively identifying opportunities for continuous improvement. The company’s certified quality management processes encompass protective clothing design, manufacturing, garment preparation, inspections, shipping, training, customer service, and beyond.

To guarantee each of its products delivers the highest possible quality, Workrite Uniform only uses materials from the industry’s most reputable suppliers and has a team of experts dedicated to quality assurance that supervise all aspects of production. Each garment is inspected at multiple points throughout the manufacturing process, and any defects are thoroughly assessed so corrective measures can be implemented to prevent future issues.

“When it comes to protective clothing, poor quality can have devastating safety consequences,” said Victor Gonzalez, Workrite Uniform’s quality assurance manager. “Our ISO 9001:2015 certification allows us to support our promise of consistent quality with procedures that meet internationally recognized standards, offering our customers additional peace of mind.”

Prior to achieving ISO 9001:2015 certification, Workrite Uniform’s quality management systems were ISO 9001:2008 certified. While ISO 9001:2008 certification is valid until September 2018, the company’s new certification shows it is able to meet the updated requirements of the ISO 9001:2015 standard.

For more information about Workrite Uniform and its products, visit http://www.workrite.com. To learn more about ISO 9001:2015 certification, visit http://www.iso.org.

Emergency Reporting (ER), a leader in cloud-based Fire and EMS records management, has released a free, impartial e-book to assist fire chiefs, IT managers, and fire/EMS administrators who are searching for the right Records Management System (RMS) for their departments. The Fire/EMS Software Buyer’s Guide is available for download on ER’s Web site.

The free Buyer’s Guide outlines the top things to consider when purchasing new Fire and EMS RMS software (such as hardware and network requirements), as well as the key features that a high-quality RMS should include (such as a fully-integrated ePCR). The guide also includes a handy checklist to use during every stage of the process.

“Fire and EMS agencies often spend a vast amount of time searching for, comparing and selecting a high-quality records management system that will meet their needs for accurate and efficient incident reporting, data management and other station management tasks,” said Stewart Smith, Product Owner at ER. “The options can seem overwhelming, but they don’t have to be. We created this resource to help make this often-difficult decision an easy one to make.”

Download the free Fire/EMS Software Buyer’s Guide here: http://info.emergencyreporting.com/fire-ems-rms-buyers-guide. For more information about Emergency Reporting’s Records Management System, visit www.emergencyreporting.com, or click here for a free trial: https://explore.emergencyreporting.com/get-a-free-trial/.

Cottage Grove (MN) Fire Department Fire Chief Rick Redenius (middle left) and and Cottage Grove Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief PJ McMahon (middle right) receive a Ram Air T4-MU Gear Dryer from Lance Dornn of Ram Air (far right) and Scott Bakos of Jefferson Fire (far left), Ram Air’s authorized dealer for Minnesota. The gear dryer was awarded to the Cottage Grove Fire Department as part of Ram Air’s 2017 Hometown Heroes Gear Dryer Giveaway.

Photo courtesy of RiverTown Multimedia.

Rick Redenius of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, was recently announced as the winner of Ram Air’s Hometown Heroes Gear Dryer Giveaway. Redenius was awarded a Ram Air T4-MU Gear Dryer for the Cottage Grove Fire Department—the fire department he serves in.

Sponsored by Ram Air Gear Dryer, the 2017 Hometown Heroes Gear Dryer Giveaway marks the second year Ram Air has conducted this sweepstakes. Established as a salute to the firefighters that serve our country, the Hometown Heroes Gear Dryer Giveaway was open to employees, volunteers or retirees of any fire department within the United States of Canada. The contest closed on December 31, 2017.

“As a firefighter-owned company, we have a sincere appreciation of preserving the safety of firefighters and those they serve. Our gear dryers help reduce the risks associated with dirty, wet gear and, as such, we are thrilled to give the Cottage Grove Fire Department the tools they need to ensure the safety of their firefighters,” said Lance Dornn, president of Ram Air.

Chosen from more than 2,200 entries, Redenius entered the sweepstakes online after hearing about it at an industry trade show.

 “We are very excited to be receiving such a fine gear drying unit and cannot wait to get it into service,” said Redenius, deputy director of public safety – fire chief, Cottage Grove Fire Department. “We currently wash gear after any interior fire response but due to budgeting issues have not had a gear dryer in the past.”

For more information or to find your nearest Ram Air dealer, please visit www.ramairgeardryer.com or contact us at 855-393-3379 (USA) or 888-393-3379 (Canada).

About Ram Air
A firefighter-owned company, Ram Air provides a full range of dryers made exclusively for drying personal protective equipment including bunker gear, immersion/hazmat suits, helmets, gloves, boots, face masks and SCBAs. Their patented dryers use heated or ambient air with powerful fans that push air through gear from the inside out. The large volume of air effectively dries gear in a fraction of the time—getting firefighters back to action fast. NFPA compliant, Ram Air Gear Dryers are built with the highest quality components and set standards beyond any other competitor’s products. The company strives to provide unmatched customer service and quality products that ensure personnel gear is in top operating condition—ultimately preserving the safety of firefighters and those they serve.