The ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) has begun enforcing its Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule. The EPA announced earlier this year that it would delay enforcement to allow adequate time for industry professionals to become trained and certified in the new regulations. ESA members who work in pre-1978 homes are affected by these regulations and must be compliant; failure to comply can result in litigation from consumers. The regulation applies to all renovations performed in pre-1978 homes and child-occupied facilities that result in the disturbance of painted surfaces of six square feet or more per interior room or more than 20 square feet for exterior surfaces. View the new regulations at www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm.
The INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS (IAFF) presented a check for $27,879,000 to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) during the 2010 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. The record-breaking contribution was delivered to MDA National Goodwill Ambassador Abbey Umali during the 21½-hour broadcast. The contribution represents year-round fundraising efforts for MDA by the IAFF, MDA’s largest sponsor. The IAFF has been an MDA national sponsor for 56 years. Its employees and customers have raised money for the MDA through their involvement with the annual Fill-The-Boot campaign, golf and softball tournaments, and other special events. For more information on these programs, please visit http://mda.org/help/natevents.html. www.iaff.org.
PIERCE MANUFACTURING INC. has sold a Contender® wildland firefighting vehicle to the Villages (FL) Fire Department (VFD), located 30 miles south of Ocala, Florida. This fast-growing department serves a retirement community of 80,000 residents. The Pierce apparatus features all-wheel drive, seating for four firefighters, and a 320-amp alternator. The firefighting system includes a 500-gallon water tank, two booster hose reels, and a 20-gallon foam cell. The VFD was formed in 2000, and in 10 years has grown to include six fire stations and a force of 67 career firefighters. The department’s protection area includes 38 square miles, 80,000 residents, and more than 2 million square feet of retail space. www.piercemfg.com.
HONEYWELL announced that it will integrate Sperian Protection Instrumentation, LLC into Honeywell Analytics Americas, which is part of the Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions Life Safety business. Honeywell Analytics and Sperian Instrumentation are leading providers of gas- detection solutions and services. Sperian Instrumentation, formerly Biosystems, is a world leader in gas detection. The Biosystems family is used in hazardous locations throughout the world and offers a full range of gas-detection products including portable gas monitors, best-in-class docking stations, and a line of fixed gas-detection systems. www.honeywellnow.com.
Effective January 1, 2011, The NATIONAL VOLUNTEER FIRE COUNCIL (NVFC) will make changes to its membership dues. All staff and state department and Junior membership dues will increase from $10 to $12 per person. The NVFC will also begin offering a 10-percent discount on the Personal Member rate (normally $30) and the Department Member rate (normally $50) for those who renew their membership at least 30 days prior to their membership expiration date. The NVFC will also introduce a new two-year membership option with a 10-percent discount off the regular Personal and Department Member rates. Information is at www.nvfc.org/membership. (888) 275-6832.
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA (UA) data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that the overall survival of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest was 5.2 percent without any bystander CPR, 7.8 percent when bystanders did conventional CPR with rescue breaths, and 13.3 percent for those receiving chest-compression-only CPR. The study also identified that the rate of bystanders becoming involved with CPR for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest increased significantly from 28 percent in 2005, when the statewide study began, to 40 percent by the end of 2009. View a six-minute instructional video produced by the UA Sarver Heart Center on www.medicine.arizona.edu/sarver-cpr.
Fire Engineering Archives
