Firefighting presents complex challenges to firefighters as each situation is unique, and first responders almost always face different scenarios on every call. Research from the National Fire Protection Association shows that as recently as 2022, local fire departments responded to an estimated 1.5 million fires in the U.S. that resulted in 3,790 civilian deaths, 13,250 reported injuries, and $18 billion in property damage.

On Wednesday, October 9th, 2024, members of the first responder community gathered for Equipped's Mid-Atlantic Technology Summit at the World Trade Center in Baltimore, Maryland. This one-day conference, generously supported by ASSUREd Safe, Tekniam, and Red Hat, focused on enhancing practical field knowledge for emergency response professionals.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to break new ground with new applications across a wide spectrum of services. This article looks into how a new two-way audio translation technology being launched by Preparedis set to revolutionize EMS communications.

Extreme heat driven by climate change is fueling raging wildfires across not just the western region but in many other states in the U.S. and Canada at unprecedented rates. Firefighters are increasingly observing unusual fire behavior that defies past experiences, and the 2024 fire season started earlier than usual and is showing no signs of abating any time soon.

At the recent National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Conference & Expo in Orlando, MSA Safety, Inc.showcased the MSA General Monitors® FL5000 Multi-Spectrum Flame Detector, an innovation set to transform facility safety. This detector, notable for its Bluetooth® connectivity, simplifies integration and diagnostics, markedly improving how facilities manage fire risks.

Communities face a wide array of emergency situations, from active shooters to mass demonstrations. Law enforcement agencies nationwide now have access to valuable resources through the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC), a program launched by the U.S. Justice Department in 2022.

A national survey of first responders shows major concerns with cybersecurity, disaster recovery, and information-technology resilience, according to Mark43, a leading cloud-native public safety software company.

The global disaster preparedness system market size is projected to exceed $308 billion by 2030, registering a compound annual growth rate of 8.5 percent, according to a new report recently released by Research and Markets.

Integration of technology and a skilled labor shortage are among top concerns for employees, according to the 2024 National Fire Protection Association Industry Trends Survey.

Texas State Technical College’s Emergency Medical Services program in Abilene recently unveiled the first complete ambulance simulator in North America, which students use to get hands-on experience. Echo Healthcare partnered with the college and SimLeader to deliver the converted Ford F350 ambulance.

An extensive research project conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology details what police, fire, emergency medical and 911 dispatch responders think about the communications technology they use on a regular basis and how they would like it to be improved.

Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology have developed a referenced material based on yeast cells for use in simulated scenarios.

The county has selected Radius Mapping as its 911 map to better locate residents and visitors in the area. In addition to quickly locating people calling into 911, Radius Mapping adds the ability to text with language translation for non-native English speakers.

Director of the Game Center at American University, Dr. Phelps is a highly respected researcher who works at the cutting edge of virtual and augmented reality technology.

With this program, 911 patients who do not require treatment in the hospital or ER setting can instead access a virtual consultation with a licensed physician who will then treat and triage the presenting medical issues.

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and other institutions have developed a new tool to predict flashovers up to 30 seconds before they erupt.

Geographic Information System mapping gives first responders a powerful suite of tools to organize search grids, track evidence in real time, and find citizens stranded in wilderness and urban environments. Learn how to effectively utilize this tech in the field, when seconds matter most.

The technology could have future applications in police surveillance and search and rescue operations. Other potential use cases include improving robotic vision and enhancing the safety and accuracy of self-driving cars.

This spring, the GIS Association of Alabama held a two-day search and rescue training event that brought together several organizations and individuals from across the northern region of the state.

Now, when a 911 center in King County receives a call for a cardiac arrest victim, the dispatcher can initiate a PulsePoint alert, notifying nearby app users at the same time as emergency responders.