Results of a recently completed NIOSH study confirm the necessity of the current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) respirator fit testing requirement, both annually and when physical changes have occurred. The study’s conclusions emphasize that respirator users who have lost more than 20 pounds should be re-tested to be sure that the current size and model of respirator in use still properly fits.
Newsletters

New IAB Publication - Training Trigger: Integrated Response Operations in Active Shooter/Hostile Events (ASHE)

America’s doctors are recommending cops, firefighters and the general public be trained to use a highly effective and simple technique to stop bleeding caused by bullet wounds and other injuries — a method widely credited with saving lives on both battlefields and city streets.

Communication is critical during any emergency, but whenever a natural disaster strikes, it's often unreliable. Congested cell phone networks and damaged infrastructure can make it difficult for rescue workers to disseminate information, and for loved ones to get in touch with one another. A new app aims to change that.
The Oil/Chemical Incident Annex has been released for the Federal Interagency Operational Plan (FIOP) - Response and Recovery. This annex describes the process and organizational constructs that will be utilized by federal departments and agencies for responding to threats or incidents causing oil spills or chemical releases.

Up to 1 in 5 people may be dying unnecessarily from car crashes, gunshots or other injuries, a stark conclusion from government advisers who say where you live shouldn't determine if you survive. The findings take on new urgency amid the increasing threat of mass casualties like the massacre in Orlando.

Active shooter incidents in the United States continue to rise in frequency, with new FBI statistics showing the highest average of incidents ever in a two-year period, reports ABC News.
When trying to make improvements within an EMS agency, measurement and evidence are essential tools in the decision-making process and in understanding the impact of any changes. Meaningful data can drive smart, evidence-based decisions and make EMS agencies more effective and efficient.

Firefighters may face a higher risk of heart disease than do other emergency responders, a small new study finds.
In the study, the researchers looked at heart disease risk factors such as blood pressure and body fat levels in firefighters, paramedics and police officers, and found that firefighters had the highest risk.

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus closely related to dengue, West Nile, Japanese encephalitis, and yellow fever viruses. Diagnostic testing for Zika virus infection can be accomplished using both molecular and serologic methods.
