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
June 27, 2016
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 s...
June 27, 2016
New IAB Publication - Training Trigger: Integrated Response Operations in Active Shooter/Hostile Events (ASHE)
New IAB Publication - Training Trigger: Integrated Response Operations in Active Shooter/Hostile Events (ASHE)
ASHE present a variety of hazards, confronting first responders with a wide range of weapons and coordinated small unit tactics, requiring a more complex response strategy that blurs the lines between traditional law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical service duties and responsib...
June 23, 2016
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.
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.
The decision by the American Medical Association comes days after a gunman opened fire in an Orlando nightclub in a sh...
June 23, 2016
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.
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 makers of FireChat, a smartphone app for offline messaging, have today...
June 22, 2016
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.
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.
The annex is available for download here: https://www.fema.gov/federa...
June 22, 2016
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.
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.
The Orlando shooting happened just blocks from a major trauma care hospital, an accident of...
June 21, 2016
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.
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.
The release Wednesday of the FBI's latest review of active shooter incidents came just three days after the worst mass shooting in American history, when a 29-year-old Florida man, identified by authorities as...
June 3, 2016
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.
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. Many EMS organizations are in the early stages of creating systems to use data for regular, meaningful analysis...
June 3, 2016
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.
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.
The firefighters had, on average, a 2.9 percent chance of having a hear...
June 2, 2016
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.
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. However, results of Zika virus antibody testing can be difficult to interpret because of cross-reactivity with related flaviviruses, which can preclude identificat...