We were busy putting together our 20th Anniversary issue when we were notified that Contributing Editor Rich Adams was seriously ill. He had been our major lifeline and senior advisor on the EMS world since 1977-78, when he started writing for Firehouse®. Rich was hospitalized for about a month. It was quite ironic for a man who had given so much time and energy most of his adult life to write, teach, narrate and produce materials so the nation's first responders, firefighters and EMS personnel could provide better care and operate safely and more efficiently at the scene of an emergency. Rich now had to rely on others in that medical field that he so dearly loved. He seemed to be getting better but suddenly took a turn for the worse. Rich died on Oct. 29, 1996, leaving a wife and two children behind.
Besides writing on EMS monthly, Rich also spoke at every Firehouse Expo. Rich would always put together a panel of experts on the topic to be discussed. At a time when we were preparing to celebrate a milestone in our short history, we mourned the loss of one our best, Rich Adams, who was so much a part of the Firehouse family. For more on our great loss, see Hal Bruno's column on page 10. Contributions can be made to the Adams Children's Scholarship Fund, c/o Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, 5020 Battery Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814.
I was proud to be selected to participate on the recent Wingspread Panel (see November 1996, page 28). Members of the fire service sat down and pooled their knowledge and ideas as to the primary and continuing problems affecting the fire service. After identifying these problems, strategies were discussed to keep fire departments at the forefront, competitive and focused. The final report will appear in an upcoming issue.
Nomination forms for the Firehouse Heroism and Community Service Awards program are available. Call 516-845-2700 ext. 230 or fax a request to 516-845-7109 for a copy. The deadline for return of the forms is Jan. 13, 1997.
In the coming year, we'll be working on many timely, hands-on articles and features to better prepare our readers when they encounter fires and other emergencies. According to the latest available figures from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the number of firefighter injuries in 1995 was lower than in the past 19 years. It's a statistic that's worth improving upon.
