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National Fire News

Editorial: Health care suicides are another tragic toll of the coronavirus pandemic

“She tried to do her job, and it killed her”: So said Dr. Philip Breen of his daughter, Dr. Lorna Breen, the medical director of the emergency department at New York-Presbyterian Allen Hospital — who died by suicide Sunday in Charlottesville, Va., where she was staying with family. Her work amid the coronavirus pandemic took such a toll.
- PUB DATE: 4/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Post

Mattel honors workers leading fight against COVID-19 with special edition #ThankYouHeroes collection

Mattel is honoring essential workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight with a special edition #ThankYouHeroes collection from Fisher-Price. The collection will include sixteen different figures that will be a selection of doctors, nurses, EMTs and delivery drivers. Mattel will also offer a special five-character Little People set that includes a grocery store worker figure.
- PUB DATE: 4/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: ABC News

John Legend to Pay Tribute to First Responders with Special Performance

John Legend is helping to pay tribute to the incredible first responders who are risking their lives everyday on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. The Grammy-winning multi-talent will be sharing a special performance during May 1st's iHeartRadio's First Responder Fridays with FirstNet Built with AT&T.
- PUB DATE: 4/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fox Sports Radio

What’s Cooking? Face Mask Decontamination via Rice Cookers to Ward Off COVID-19

Medical investigators throughout the world are cooking up ideas that will hopefully put an end to COVID-19, sparing thousands of lives while bringing our old way of life back. (Maybe.) Count among them, investigators with the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, and the ideas they’re cooking up come right from the kitchen.
- PUB DATE: 4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Infection Control Today

New COVID-19 test to help screen first responders in Arizona

For the first time, a special type of COVID-19 test is available for first responders. "First responders wake up every single day, and they are going out to communities and not knowing where they might be getting exposure to COVID-19," Christine Wiggs, with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, said. "We believe that providing them with antibody tests to understand whether they've been recently exposed is an important first step.
- PUB DATE: 4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KASW-CW6 & KTVK-3TV (AZfamily.com)

Louisiana security company uses technology to help stop spread of COVID-19

Acadian Total Security is using existing technology in a new way to help stop the spread of coronavirus as businesses look to reopen. “Thermal cameras have been used for quite a while. I’ll just give an example: a chemical plant. We’ve had cameras on a boiler where you want them to run at a certain temperature so you set a parameter saying 'if it reaches this temperature, I need to be alerted right away because something could be blowing soon if it’s too hot," Jason Brown, Director of Sales, said.
- PUB DATE: 4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KPLC-TV NBC/CW+ 7 Lake Charles

Dallas one of 14 international cities with Lime's new COVID-19 scooter program

Lime, the scooter company, is rolling out a new scooter service designed to help health care workers and first responders in the coronavirus pandemic. Called Lime Aid, it provides free 30-minute rides for public-health personnel and law-enforcement officers, in select cities around the world. That includes Dallas and Austin, plus Baltimore, Nashville, Oklahoma City, and Salt Lake City, but also Paris, Cologne, and Tel Aviv.
- PUB DATE: 4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Culture Map Dallas

Vermont releases town-by-town breakdown of coronavirus cases; New Hampshire notifying first responders of cases

The bulk of the diagnosed COVID-19 cases in Vermont are clustered in the Burlington area, home to some of the long-term care facilities that have seen outbreaks, but Hartford and Woodstock have also seen a notable number of cases. The Vermont Department of Health on Monday released a town-by-town breakdown that showed Hartford had 10 COVID-19 cases and Woodstock 7.
- PUB DATE: 4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Valley News

IAFF: More than 1,600 firefighters nationwide have tested positive for COVID-19

According to the International Association of Fire Fighters, firefighters across the country are battling on the front lines of COVID-19 and fire departments are feeling the strain of this massive public health emergency. The IAFF has released the following numbers as of Friday, April 24, 2020: 1,653 firefighters have tested positive for COVID-19; 4,304 isolated; 66 hospitalized; Six deaths.
- PUB DATE: 4/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WEYI-TV NBC 25 Saginaw

Ohio firefighters file unfair labor practice charge against city

Parma Heights (International Association of Fire Fighters) IAFF Local 1690 recently filed an unfair labor practice charge with the State Employment Relations Board (SERB) related to the city’s attempt to unify pay periods across all departments. Representing Parma Heights IAFF Local 1690 is Susannah Muskovitz and Arish S.
- PUB DATE: 4/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Cleveland.com

IAFC: Police Get CARES Act Money – Firefighters Still Waiting

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) today said it will take heroism in Congress to save fire and EMS in communities across the country. Legal and regulatory minutiae prevent CARES Act money from immediately helping firefighters protect their communities and themselves during the current COVID-19 crisis.
- PUB DATE: 4/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: IAFC.org

After COVID-19: Anxious, wary first responders back on job

The new coronavirus doesn't care about a blue uniform or a shiny badge. Police, firefighters, paramedics and corrections officers are just a 911 call away from contracting COVID-19 and spreading it. With N95 masks hanging off their duty belts and disposable blue gloves stuffed in their back pockets, they respond to radio calls, make arrests and manage prisoners.
- PUB DATE: 4/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Stamford Advocate

CDC expands list of possible COVID-19 symptoms

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released additional symptoms related to novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Health officials recommend those experiencing any of these symptoms contact their physician or the local health department. Previously, guidance from state and federal health officials cautioned people not to call unless experiencing the three traditional symptoms of COVID-19.
- PUB DATE: 4/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Clarksville Now

North Carolina Hazmat one of few crews in state using new techniques to decontaminate gear

VIDEO: Durham Fire-Rescue Hazardous Materials Team is leading the way in using new and existing equipment to decontaminate surfaces that may have been exposed to COVID-19. Firefighters suit up in Tyvek hazmat gear to spray all surfaces with chlorine dioxide. "Chlorine dioxide has been shown in multiple studies and by multiple federal agencies to kill the COVID-19 virus," said Ryan Campbell with the Durham Fire Department.
- PUB DATE: 4/24/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTVD ABC 11 Durham

Rolling Stones Release Song That May Become Anthem Of Self-Isolation

VIDEO: The Rolling Stones have unveiled a new song the band thinks is perfect for these coronavirus times. The legendary band released the four-minute slow-burning bluesy and harmonica-driven “Living in a Ghost Town” on Thursday. “I’m a ghost/ Living in a ghost town/ You can look for me/ But I can’t be found,” sings frontman Mick Jagger, who wrote it with guitarist Keith Richards.
- PUB DATE: 4/24/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: HuffPost

The high-tech fix that's helping to better protect DC Fire & EMS members on COVID-19 calls

VIDEO: Over the last few weeks of the coronavirus pandemic, we've seen so many people expressing gratitude for first responders on the front lines - and rightfully so. On Thursday, DC Fire and EMS said it was the department's turn to say thank you. "What this whole experience has taught me is that you have to look to your neighbors and you have to rely on your community," said Dr.
- PUB DATE: 4/24/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WJLA-TV ABC 7 Washington DC

Old school buses converted into ambulances to evacuate Virginia nursing homes

A dozen employees are working through the pandemic on the assembly floor of First Line Tech in Fredericksburg, Virginia. They're seeing nursing homes around the country overwhelmed by COVID-19 infections, and racing to provide a way for fire departments to evacuate the elderly safely and quickly. "We took an old school bus and designed a kit that can go right inside of it to convert it over and handle six, 12, 18 patients," First Line Tech CEO Amit Kapoor said.
- PUB DATE: 4/24/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WVEC-TV ABC 13 Hampton

Rhode Island firefighters using Zoom to consult with doctors during rescue calls

As they deal with a pandemic, the city’s fire rescue crews are trying out a new technique. From the scene of the rescue call, the Providence firefighters make contact with a doctor, via Zoom, on an iPad. The doctor’s input, based in part on vital signs and other information that firefighters provide electronically, can head off an unnecessary emergency visit to the hospital.
- PUB DATE: 4/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Providence Journal

IAFC: Help Advocate for Additional Funding for Fire and EMS Departments

The IAFC needs your help in measuring the effects of state and local government social distancing orders on local fire and EMS department budgets, including the long-term implications on resources and staffing. IAFC President and Chairman of the Board, Chief Gary Ludwig, created an Economic Crisis Task Force to help fire and EMS chiefs plan and prepare for the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- PUB DATE: 4/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: IAFC.org

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