The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is hosting a Fire Service Technology Summit in Oakland, California, on July 24-26, 2016 to further examine the current state of technology in the fire service and how to improve firefighter outcomes. Mobile devices and software application technology are being used in the fire service for a variety of operations and functions to support incident command. But how is technology being used to monitor and improve firefighter health and safety? Firefighter Life Safety Initiative #8 states: Utilize available technology wherever it can produce higher levels of health and safety.
Presentations by experts and researchers in the areas of health, risk reduction, communication and safety will include “My Journey with Technology in the Fire Service—the Good, the Bad, and the Failed” by Chief Alan Brunacini (ret.) of the Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department and the keynote address, “The Future American Firefighter” by Casey E. Grant, P.E., of the Fire Protection Research Foundation, NFPA.
During breakout sessions, the participants will develop recommendations for improving current technological advancements, informing, educating and training firefighters in existing technologies, and identifying opportunities for collaboration with the technology industry among other goals.
“By understanding how these technologies are currently being used and the potential for other operations, we believe we will continue to see great improvements in the health and safety of our nation’s firefighters,” said Chief Ronald J. Siarnicki, Executive Director of the NFFF.
The Fire Service Technology Summit is made possible through the generosity of the Event Sponsor, RescueAir Systems. “This sponsorship represents a major commitment by RescueAir to support the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in its efforts to reduce firefighter line-of-duty deaths and injuries,” said Anthony J. Turiello, CEO of RescueAir Systems, Inc. “Examining how these technologies are used on fire-ground operations, prevention tactics, training and communications, also supports our efforts to Build a Legacy of Safety for the entire U.S. Fire Service.”
Additional sponsors include Motorola Solutions, Scott Safety and Tablet Command. This event is also supported by Grant 1 R13 OH 01135-01, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additional funding was provided through DHS/FEMA’s Grant Program Directorate Assistance to Firefighters Grant program.
Follow the NFFF on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for updates from the summit. A final report will be available in the Fall of 2016.
