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    1. Careers & Education

    For the Record 11/21

    Nov. 15, 2021
    An update to the Lavender Ribbon Report provides 11 best practices for reducing exposure risks and preventing occupationally caused cancer in firefighters.
    Lavender Ribbon Report Update Online Page 01 61716820153a7

    Best Practices to Reduce Cancer Risks

    The International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (VCOS) and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) released an update to the Lavender Ribbon Report. The report provides 11 best practices for reducing exposure risks and preventing occupationally caused cancer in firefighters, and the update includes additional information, essays, articles, research and ideas for successfully implementing the best practices.
    The VCOS and the NVFC released the original report in 2018 to provide specific actions that firefighters can take to protect themselves and their team from these risks. The update takes things a step further by sharing personal stories, examples of how departments are implementing the best practices and other information to reinforce the actions that firefighters must take to lessen their exposure risks.
    To download the update, visit nvfc.org/lrr or vcos.org/beatffcancer.
    Demers E Fx English Unit White

    Electric Ambulance

    Demers ­Ambulances and The Lion ­Electric Company introduced the Demers eFX ­Ambulance, which is the first all-electric purpose-built ambulance.
    The ambulance results from nearly five years of collaborative work that was carried out by Demers Ambulances and Lion that included direct input from many paramedics and emergency medical services companies. The ambulance is the first to be designed according to the needs that were expressed by paramedics, according to the company.
    The Lion5 chassis of the eFX will be assembled at Lion’s facility in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, Canada; construction of the medical compartment and final assembly will be carried out at Demers’ facility in Beloeil, Quebec.
    For more information, visit Demers-Ambulances.com.

    Cpse 2022 Excellence Conference Logo Final
    CPSE Excellence Conference
    The Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) will hold its 2022 Excellence ­Conference on March 22–25, 2022, in Orlando, FL. The theme of the 2022 conference is ­Resiliency & Reinvention.
    The conference brings the finest minds in the fire and emergency services together for four days to advance agency accreditation, promote professional credentialing and encourage leadership. Attendees can observe the Commission on Fire Accreditation International hearings, as they adjudicate agencies that seek accreditation. Attendees also can participate in a variety of educational sessions, evaluate products and services and attend multiple networking events.
    For more information, visit cpse.org.
    Photo by Bill Green for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
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    NFFF Memorial Weekend

    America’s fallen fire heroes, who died in the line of duty, were honored at the 40th Annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, October 2–3, 2021. Eighty-seven firefighters died in the line of duty in 2020. Eighty-two firefighters died in 2019. Forty-six firefighters who died in the line of duty in previous years also were honored. The names of the 215 firefighters became a permanent part of the National Memorial in honor of their sacrifice.
    A video of the candlelight service is available here.
    For more information, visit firehero.org.

    Line-of-Duty Deaths

    14 U.S. firefighters recently died in the line of duty. Twelve firefighters died after they contracted COVID-19, and two deaths were health-related. This issue of Firehouse is dedicated to these firefighters. For the latest on COVID-19-related LODDs, visit firehouse.com/covid-19.

    FIREFIGHTER JOSHUA MEGILL, 21, of the Perrytown Volunteer Fire Department in ­Colerain, NC, died on Sept. 9. Megill contracted COVID-19 while on duty on Aug. 27.

    FIREFIGHTER JEFFREY HAGER, 46, of the Huntersville, NC, Fire Department, died on Sept. 10. On Aug. 16, Hager contracted the COVID-19 virus while on duty.

    CHIEF JON DELVALLE, 63, of the Garden Valley, ID, Fire Protection District, died on Sept. 14. While on duty on Aug. 15, Delvalle was exposed to a patient who had COVID-19. Delvalle subsequently contracted the virus.

    DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF CARL FREDERICK KLEINMAN, 55, of the South Point, OH, Volunteer Fire Department, died on Sept. 15. On Aug. 23, Kleinman contracted COVID-19 while responding to numerous emergency response calls.

    DRIVER/OPERATOR ROBERT LIGUEZ, 52, of the Alice, TX, Fire Department, died on Sept. 17. On Aug. 16, Liguez contracted COVID-19 while responding to numerous EMS calls.

    LT. SCOTT CHASSELLS, 48, of the North ­Little Rock, AR, Fire Department, died on Sept. 18. Chassells responded to multiple medical incidents on Aug. 6, where he encountered several COVID-19-positive patients and others who had COVID 19-like symptoms. Chassells subsequently contracted the virus.

    FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC FRANK D. DUFF JR., 66, of the Columbus, OH, Division of Fire, died on Sept. 19. While on duty on Aug. 12, Duff contracted COVID-19.

    TECHNICIAN JEFFREY BILLINGSLEY, 42, of the Denver Fire Department, died on Sept. 20. Billingsley suffered an apparent cardiac arrest while on duty. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital but never regained consciousness.

    FIREFIGHTER JOSEPH “JOEY” WRIGHT, 39, of the Nichols Fire Protection District in Shepherdsville, KY, died on Sept. 24. On Sept. 14, Wright participated in strenuous mandatory ladder training. He continued to work at the department, assisting with the CAD system, when he began to experience chest pains and dizziness. He died in the hospital after suffering multiple heart attacks.

    DRIVER/ENGINEER DAVID HACKETT, 44, of Hernando County Fire & Emergency Services in Brooksville, FL, died on Sept. 25. While on duty on July 30, Hackett contracted COVID-19 at the fire station.

    FIRE CHIEF RANDY MINER, 57, of the Mary Ann Township Fire Department in Newark, OH, died on Sept. 26. On Sept. 12, Miner responded to an EMS call for a patient who had COVID-19. Miner subsequently contracted the virus.

    FIREFIGHTER/EMT KELLY FRYE, 53, of the City of Cumberland, MD, Fire Department, died on Sept. 29. Frye contracted COVID-19 while on duty on Aug. 28 after responding to multiple medical calls that involved patients who had COVID-19.

    ENGINEER MARK GILLAM, 58, of the Elwood, IN, Fire Department, died on Oct. 3. On Aug. 21, while on duty, Gillam provided medical care to patients for a 12-hour period during a local festival. Several days later, Gillam started showing symptoms of COVID-19 and then tested positive for the disease.

    LT. ANDREW ORPHANOUDAKIS, 56, of the Hardeeville, SC, Fire Department, died on Oct. 3. On Aug. 31, Orphanoudakis responded to an EMS call for a patient who had COVID-19. He subsequently contracted the virus. Orphanoudakis was promoted posthumously to captain.

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    Firehouse Staff

    Content written and created by Firehouse Magazine editors. 

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