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NIOSH Personal Protective Equipment Information (PPE-Info)

The PPE-Info Database serves as a compendium of Federal regulations and consensus standards for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Standards information was compiled from the U.S. Government, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited standard development organizations (SDOs), and International Organization for Standardization (ISO), when applicable nationally.

DHS Participates in Exercise Demonstrating New Nuclear Forensics Technology

Recently, the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) helped plan and conduct an exercise of the United States’ capability to collect radioactive evidence in the immediate aftermath of a nuclear detonation. The exercise scenario included the detonation of an Improvised Nuclear Device in an urban setting. In a real event, the evidence collected helps identify the source of the device and those responsible for its use.

National Firefighter Cancer Registry Gaining Support

Cancer is killing firefighters.

While research over the past decade has shown that responders have a high risk for developing certain cancers, there’s still no database to determine just how widespread it may be.

But that may soon change as members of Congress have introduced a measure to create a National Firefighter Cancer Registry.

Brian McQueen, safety officer and former chief of Whitesboro, NY Vol. Fire Dept., is hoping lawmakers give the nod for the CDC to create the registry.

IAFC Position Statement: Support for the National Fire Service Cancer Initiative

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) adopts the position to encourage chiefs of fire and rescue departments to support the National Fire Service Cancer Initiative that is being facilitated by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and Firefighter Cancer Support Network and theirs efforts to protect our members from a disease which effects firefighters at a rate three times higher than the average public.
Daneen Matheson's picture

IAFC Position Statement: Support for the National Fire Service Cancer Initiative

Submitted by Daneen Matheson on

New Furniture? Less Time to Get Out if Home Catches Fire

Fires kill about 3,000 Americans every year, according to federal death statistics, and researchers are finding that newer homes are burning faster than older ones -- and the results can be deadly.

Experts with UL LLC, formerly known as Underwriters Laboratories, discovered 30 years ago, families had an average of 17 minutes to get out of their homes after a fire started.

Decontamination Guidance for Chemical Incidents

The Primary Response Incident Scene Management (PRISM) series was written to provide authoritative, evidence-based guidance on mass casualty disrobe and decontamination during a chemical incident. The PRISM documentation comprises three volumes:

Chicago Fire Department Strips Paramedics of PPE

The Chicago Fire Department is collecting PPE from all paramedics, a move some say is putting the responders' lives in danger.

Chicago Sun Times reported that SCBA were removed from 75 Chicago ambulances two years ago. In addition, 70 paramedics graduating from the fire academy weren't issued fire helmets, boots and PPE.

Most States do Bare Minimum on Fire-Foam Contamination

The military is checking U.S. bases for potential groundwater contamination from a toxic firefighting foam, but most states so far show little inclination to examine civilian sites for the same threat.

The foam was likely used around the country at certain airports, refineries and other sites where catastrophic petroleum fires were a risk, but an Associated Press survey of emergency management, environmental and health agencies in all 50 states showed most haven’t tracked its use and don’t even know whether it was used, where or when.

The Department of Homeland Security Will Test Bioterror Airflow in New York Subway System

Monday morning, scientists working for the Department of Homeland Security will begin releasing (nontoxic) gases and particles on crowded subway platforms, beginning a week-long airflow study aimed at measuring the impact of a nightmarish chemical or biological terrorist attack.

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