The joint session of the Fire Department Safety Officer Association’s (FDSOA) Apparatus Symposium and Safety Forum, held January 17th in Scottsdale, began by recognizing a legend in roadway safety for the emergency services.
Richard Maddox, chairman of the FDSOA board of directors, announced John (Jack) Sullivan, director of training, Emergency Responder Safety Institute, the 2018 winner of the annual Dave Dodson Lifetime Service Award.
“Jack Sullivan has been a member of the FDSOA for many years and served as trainer and instructor in highway incident safety to thousands and thousands of fire and EMS personnel across the country,” said Maddox. “He is passionate and committed to keeping emergency personnel safe while operating at highway incidents.”
Sullivan is a career safety professional and subject matter expert on roadway incident operations and emergency responder safety. In 1972 Sullivan became a firefighter and EMS provider and over the course of 25 years served with fire departments in Paoli, Pennsylvania, Chesterfield County, Virginia, and Lionville, Pennsylvania.
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In 2001, Sullivan joined MC Innovations (MCI) [www.mcinnovations.com] and is the Managing Partner of Loss Control Innovations (LCI) a division of MCI. He also serves as Director of Training for the Emergency Responder Safety Institute. [www.respondersafety.com] A frequent speaker at national and regional conferences, Sullivan shares specific, proactive strategies and tactics for protecting emergency workers from being struck by vehicles while working on or near roadways.
Among his many qualifications, Sullivan is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and a Professional Member of The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE). In addition, he is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) and member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers and the National Fire Protection Association. Sullivan has more than 15 years of service as a Reservist and Adjunct Instructor for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM). Currently, he is assigned to the Virginia Emergency Operations Center in Mission Tracking for the Virginia Emergency Support Team when deployed for declared disasters.
In accepting his award, Sullivan stated the biggest hazards on roadways today are “D” drivers--drunk, distracted, and drowsy. “Our training never included the fact that drivers would not be looking out the windshield,” he said.
FDSOA Chairman Maddox also recognized Grady North, E-ONE, who is retiring from the FDSOA Board of Directors. “One of the calmest people in the room, Grady North brought great expertise from the business world for our organization.”
The FDSOA’s 31st Annual Apparatus Symposium and the 2019 Annual Health & Safety Forum will be held in Orlando, Florida, January 20-24, 2019, at the Wyndham Orlando Resort International Drive.
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