Two Recipients Announced in MSA and DuPont’s 2022 Globe Gear Giveaway
MSA Safety, DuPont Personal Protection, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have teamed up once again to help volunteer fire departments obtain much-needed personal protective equipment through MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway. This annual program began in 2012 and has to date provided 611 sets of turnout gear to 134 departments. This year, another 13 departments will each receive four new sets of turnout gear and four new helmets to help enhance the safety of their firefighters. The first 500 applicants also received a one-year NVFC membership, courtesy of MSA.
The first two recipients of MSA and DuPont’s 2022 Globe Gear Giveaway are the Riverdale (NJ) Volunteer Fire Department and Springhill (NS, Canada) Volunteer Fire Department.
Riverdale Volunteer Fire Department
The Riverdale Volunteer Fire Department (RFD) is an all-volunteer department located in northern New Jersey. The 33 volunteers serve a population of approximately 5,000 over 2.1 square miles and respond to an average of 200 calls annually.
RFD’s service area contains portions of an interstate and major state highway as well as large stores and apartment and condominium complexes. They were last able to secure an Assistance to Firefighters Grant for new gear 10 years ago, but these sets of gear are now no longer NFPA-compliant. In addition, they have new members who do not fit the sizes of the current gear available. With much of their budget going towards other necessities, the department struggles to buy a set or two of new gear each year.
“Finding funding to purchase new turnout gear is very difficult with all the requirements on fire departments nowadays,” said assistant chief Patrick Cleary. “Having new gear would improve morale and increase the safety of firefighters in our department.”
Springhill Volunteer Fire Department
Located in rural Nova Scotia, the Springhill Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) is an all-volunteer department with 35 members. Serving a population of approximately 5,500 over 185 square miles, SVFD responds to an average of 154 calls annually.
Devastated by back-to-back mining disasters in the 1950s and a fire in the 1960s that destroyed most of the downtown, Springhill has only recently begun to recover. The SVFD is an important part of that recovery, doing whatever it can to assist their community and serving as a beacon of light through trying times. Their dedicated firefighters respond to chimney fires, structure fires, and wildland fires, among other emergencies, as well as conduct aggressive fire prevention campaigns. During the pandemic, the volunteers stepped up to deliver groceries to those who could not or did not want to go out.
Unfortunately, over 80 percent of the department’s gear is more than 10 years old. Although the community does what it can to support the department, SVFD simply does not have the funding to acquire new gear for all its members.
“Training and responding to calls are done with safety as the first priority, and the job still gets done. To be awarded four sets of turnout gear would be a real boost to the department’s morale and [our firefighters’] sense of pride and accomplishment,” said firefighter Chris Mayne. He added that in addition, “This recognition would be an added sense of pride in the community for their fire department.”
Additional awards will be made monthly throughout 2022. Stay tuned to the NVFC web site, Dispatch newsletter, and Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as the Globe Facebook page, for additional information and announcements.
About MSA Established in 1914, MSA Safety Incorporated is the global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of safety products that protect people and facility infrastructures. Many MSA products integrate a combination of electronics, mechanical systems and advanced materials to protect users against hazardous or life-threatening situations. The company's comprehensive product line is used by workers around the world in a broad range of markets, including the oil, gas and petrochemical industry, the fire service, the construction industry, mining and the military. MSA's core products include self-contained breathing apparatus, fixed gas and flame detection systems, portable gas detection instruments, industrial head protection products, firefighter helmets and protective apparel, and fall protection devices. With 2021 revenues of $1.4 billion, MSA employs approximately 4,800 people worldwide. The company is headquartered north of Pittsburgh in Cranberry Township, Pa., and has manufacturing operations in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. With more than 40 international locations, MSA realizes approximately half of its revenue from outside North America. For more information visit MSA's web site at www.MSAsafety.com.
About DuPont Personal Protection From first responders to industrial workers, DuPont provides a wide range of personal protection solutions, including some of the most trusted and innovative brands in the industry, such as Kevlar®, Nomex®, Tyvek® and Tychem® to meet your safety needs. More information can be found at personalprotection.dupont.com
About DuPont DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global innovation leader with technology-based materials and solutions that help transform industries and everyday life. Our employees apply diverse science and expertise to help customers advance their best ideas and deliver essential innovations in key markets including electronics, transportation, construction, water, healthcare and worker safety. More information about the company, its businesses and solutions can be found at www.dupont.com. Investors can access information included on the Investor Relations section of the website at investors.dupont.com.
DuPont™, the DuPont Oval Logo, and all products, unless otherwise noted, denoted with ™, ℠ or ® are trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks of affiliates of DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
About the NVFC The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides critical resources, programs, education, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.
