Firefighter Bob Chester, Mike O' Brien, and Greg taylor took to the barber’s chair on March 30, 2008 to
show their support for the Saint Baldrick’s Foundation.  The three volunteered to be a part
of this unique fundraising event to raise money for pediatric cancer research.  The St.
Baldrick’s Foundation is a national organization that raised more than $12.7 million for
pediatric cancer research in 2007 from the 402 events held nationwide.  The idea
behind the event is to shave the participant’s heads “bald” as a symbol of solidarity to
the children who have lost their hair as a result of cancer treatments.  Their participation
is representational of the F.M.B.A. Local 64 commitment to charity work.  For
more information on the event, visit www.stbaldricks.org
In all 65 people represented Pennsauken's Bravest at Collingswood New Jersey's Saint Baldricks event. Pennsauken's Bravest raised more than $25,000.00, and retained the Saint Baldricks Cup. The Saint Baldricks cup is presented to the team which raises the most money. Pennsauken's Bravest has won it two years in a row. Congratulations to all involved.   Below Bob Chester, Mike O' Brien, and Greg Taylor participate in the days events.                   

Good day.

This week’s Report of the Week is 08-140. An excerpt from this report can be found below. Size-up is the first step in determining your incident action plan and begins when the alarm arrives at the station. The actions taken in the first five minutes of an incident can dictate the entire outcome. If decisions and actions are harmonious, the rest of the incident proceeds without a problem. Decisions and initial actions that leave anything to chance set the stage for an error chain to begin. 08-140 begins with a mutual aid dispatch to a fire on the border between two jurisdictions. From decisions made by the first arriving engine through the rest of the report, decisions made have outcomes that adversely affect downstream performance. The pdf version of 08-140 will be available on Monday, April 21, 2008.

“… at approximately 1530 hours, a structure fire was reported. The structure’s location was situated in an area that is considered unincorporated county district but is in close proximity to an established city…Fire Service… both City and County units were dispatched. The first arriving unit was a City unit… arrived on scene to find a confirmed structure fire, 50% involved in flame… the hydrant was passed up to make an initial attack on the single story duplex… calculated… on the engine company’s ranking officer knowing that County units were minutes behind. Thus, the events began to unfold that left…the next in coming County engine…blowing by a hydrant approximately 1000ft away from the scene… Meanwhile two City Firefighters were inside the structure making an aggressive attack. The Driver Engineer of the city unit requested water from the County unit. They decided to give him tank water, and then realized…While this entire calamity was occurring outside and the two firefighters were still in the structure, someone made the decision to ventilate the structure… firefighters inside of the structure, … were unaware that a sharp, circulating chainsaw blade was directly above them penetrating through the ceiling into their work area…”  

Mutual aid responses can be seamless when neighboring jurisdictions train together, use the same SOP/SOGs, and mutually respect each other. Once you’ve read the complete account in 08-140, consider the following:

 The officer of the first arriving engine decided to bypass the hydrant. Is this an option or a policy in your jurisdiction?

1. Does your decision process take the apparatus capabilities and hose complement into consideration when making decisions while en-route?
2. When responding with mutual aid departments, do you have the ability to communicate with their apparatus directly, or are you confined to sending messages through dispatchers from one department to another?
3. Do you operate with regional SOPs, or does each jurisdiction adhere to their own? What are the pros and cons?
4. Would you characterize the level of incident command as a strong presence at this incident? Discuss the indicators within the report to justify your answer.

Been caught up in an incident where near misses occur from arrival to take up? Share your experience by recounting the event at www.firefighternearmiss.com today. Break the links of the disaster chain.  

NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (NFPA) SETS NEW NATIONAL STANDARD FOR CO SCREENING BY PULSE CO-OXIMETRY
2008 NFPA 1584 establishes the routine use of Pulse CO-Oximetry as a way to protect the lives of the nation’s firefighters from the dangers of CO Poisoning  

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA – February 14, 2008 – Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI), the inventor of Pulse CO-Oximetry and Measure-Through Motion and Low Perfusion pulse oximetry, announced today that the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has made Carbon Monoxide (CO) screening by Pulse CO-Oximetry a new national healthcare standard for firefighters potentially exposed to Carbon Monoxide poisoning. NFPA’s consensus codes and standards serve as the worldwide authoritative source on fire prevention and public safety—with virtually every building, process, service, design, and installation in society today is affected by NFPA documents.

The new standard, which became effective December 31, 2007 and was published on January 31, 2008, establishes that “any firefighter exposed to CO or presenting with headache, nausea, shortness of breath, or gastrointestinal symptoms” must be measured for CO poisoning by Pulse CO-Oximetry or other available methods.  It also requires every fire department to establish Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs) that outline uniform rehabilitation procedures for firefighters at incident scenes and training exercises. 

Too often, even the most skilled first responders miss the chance to treat carbon monoxide poisoning early because, until Masimo invented Masimo Rainbow SET Pulse CO-Oximetry in 2005, there wasn’t a noninvasive way to detect elevated levels of CO in the blood. With the Masimo Rad-57 Pulse CO-Oximeter, fire fighters, EMS professionals and ER clinicians can easily detect carbon monoxide poisoning by applying a noninvasive LED-based sensor on the victims or themselves, allowing for prompt and possibly life-saving treatment that can also limit the likelihood of long-tern cardiac and neurological damage.

Studies have shown that even a single high level exposure, or prolonged exposure to low levels of CO, has the potential to cause long-term heart, brain and organ damage. Long-term effects of CO include: cardiac arrests, Parkinson-like syndromes affecting motor skills and speech, dementia, cortical blindness, acute renal failure, and muscle cell death. 

“Often cited by attorneys within the legal system, NFPA standards represent complete industry consensus and are supported by a substantial amount of scientific or medical evidence,” said Mike McEvoy, EMS Director, Board of New York State Association of Fire Chiefs. "This new national standard adds considerable weight to growing industry guidance calling for CO screening by leading EMS, EMT and firefighter associations nationwide, including the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), and the National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE).”

A worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and life safety to the public since 1896, NFPA’s mission is to reduce the global burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. NFPA's 300 codes and standards influence every building, process, service, design, and installation in the U.S. and many other countries. With a membership of more than 81,000 and over 80 national trade and professional organizations, NFPA is the authority on fire, electrical, and building safety.  Copies of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Section 1584, Standard on the Rehabilitation Process for Members During Emergency Operations and Training Exercises, are now available through the NFPA.

Joe E. Kiani, Chairman and CEO of Masimo, stated “We applaud NFPA for making CO screening for firefighters a national standard with this latest revision of NFPA 1584 and for taking the lead in healthcare reform for all of North America’s firefighters. Establishing uniform standards is crucial to ensuring that the nation’s firefighters receive the proper care and attention required to help keep them safe, healthy and in peak condition to be able to meet the demands of their life-saving work. We are proud that our Pulse CO-Oximetry technology can play such a vital role within this standard and in the lives of our nation’s most heroic public servants.” 

About Masimo
Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI) develops innovative monitoring technologies that significantly improve patient care—helping solve "unsolvable" problems. In 1995, the company debuted Measure-Through Motion and Low Perfusion pulse oximetry, known as Masimo SET, and with it virtually eliminated false alarms and increased pulse oximetry's ability to detect life-threatening events. Masimo SET is clinically proven in more than 100 independent and objective studies to provide the most trustworthy SpO2 and pulse rate measurements even under the most difficult clinical conditions, including patient motion and low peripheral perfusion. In 2005, Masimo introduced Masimo Rainbow SET, a breakthrough noninvasive blood constituent monitoring platform that can measure many blood constituents that previously required invasive procedures. Rainbow SET continuously and noninvasively measures Carboxyhemoglobin (SpCOTM) and Methemoglobin (SpMetTM), Pleth Variability Index (PVITM), in addition to Oxyhemoglobin (SpO2), Perfusion Index (PITM) and pulse rate, allowing early detection and treatment of potentially life-threatening conditions. Founded in 1989, Masimo has the mission of "Improving Patient Outcomes and Reducing Cost of Care by Taking Noninvasive Monitoring to New Sites and Applications." Additional information about Masimo and its products may be found at www.masimo.com.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations about future events affecting us and are subject to uncertainties and factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, including: risks related to our assumption that inclusion in the new 2008 NFPA 1584 as a national standard will serve to substantially increase sales or revenues for the company and risks related to our assumption that the Masimo Rad-57 Pulse CO-Oximeter will deliver a sufficient level of clinical improvement over alternative CO monitoring devices to allow for rapid adoption of the technology at hospitals, fire and rescue, EMT and EMS units, as well as other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 29, 2007, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 1, 2007. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we do not know whether our expectations will prove correct. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We do not undertake any obligation to update, amend or clarify these forward-looking statements or the risk factors contained in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 29, 2007, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under the federal securities laws.

PRESUMPTIVE LAWS

A presumptive disability law is a law that links a particular occupation with a disease or condition that has been shown to be a hazard associated with that occupation.  As a result of this linkage, if an individual employed in the occupation covered by the presumption contracts a disease or condition that is specified in the presumptive law, then that disease or condition is presumed to have come from that occupation.  In this case, the burden of proof shifts from the employee to the employer to demonstrate that the condition was not in fact associated with the occupation but with another cause.  

In the case of fire fighters and emergency medical responders, scientific evidence has demonstrated an increased risk for heart disease, lung disease, cancer, and infectious diseases.  At this time, most of the U.S. States and Canadian Provinces have some form of presumptive law that applies to fire fighters and emergency response personnel.  These laws vary greatly between different states and provinces.

The IAFF Division of Occupational Health, Safety & Medicine has accumulated a database of the current presumptive disability provisions in the US and Canada.  To view the presumptive disability provision in your state or province, click on the link below then click on your particular state or province. 

US and Canadian Presumptive Laws

Notice of Rule Proposal - N.J.A.C. 1:4A

The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) eliminated the conference hearing process when it readopted the Uniform Administrative Procedure Rules in 2007. 

Based upon comments received at that time, the OAL determined to propose rules limiting discovery in Civil Service suspension, resignation not in good standing and probationary test period cases. 

A copy of that proposal can be found on the Office of Administrative Law website at http://www.state.nj.us/oal/ or in the February 19, 2008 issue of the New Jersey Register.  

Comments must be submitted to the following by April 19, 2008:

                                             Patricia Prunty, Assistant Director
                                             Judicial Standards and Procedures
                                             State of New Jersey
                                             Office of Administrative Law
                                             9 Quakerbridge Plaza
                                             PO Box 49
                                             Trenton, New Jersey 08625

Click here for information on the 2008 New Jersey Government Officers Scholarship Fund. 
Providing grants for children of deceased or disabled persons who have worked in government (Federal, State, County, Municipal, Authorities, Utilities, School employees including teachers and administrative staff).

BUSH BUDGET DESTROYS 9/11 HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS

February 7, 2008 - A steep 77 percent cut in funding for 9/11 health care programs contained in President Bush’s proposed 2009 budget would totally destroy the programs and cut off treatment and monitoring services to thousands of people,” according to Dr. James Melius, chair of the Steering Committee for the World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program.

The budget plan would cut the current $108 million appropriation for 9/11 health programs to $25 million for Fiscal Year 2009. The programs are administered by the Mt. Sinai Medical Center, the New York City Fire Department and the City of New York. Current 2008 funding for the programs includes an additional $50 million provided through an emergency spending bill passed late last year.

“It’s shocking that the president would use his final budget to take an axe to 9/11 health care programs,” says Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY). “Just a few weeks ago, the administration cancelled a program for 9/11 responders from around the country because it said it lacked funding, and now the president releases a budget that doesn’t even ask for the money needed. The administration has failed in every single one of its budget proposals to deliver adequate help to the heroes of 9/11.”

“This administration’s slashing of key federal funding for 9/11 health programs amounts to nothing less than an absolute betrayal,” adds Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY).

Melius says he expects New York’s congressional delegation to wage a strong fight to demand the additional funding needed, and that the fight “may stretch into the term of the next president.”

If the 2009 funding is not restored, thousands of 9/11 workers in treatment would face severe hardship. “They would be forced to rely on whatever medical care providers they could find to help them, but as we know, many of them are without health insurance at the present time.” Melius notes.

“Even if they have health insurance, many of the health insurance companies will not pay for work-related health problems, so they would be in a very difficult situation and have to pay for treatment out of their own pocket. This isn’t tenable,” he says.

Remembering our Brothers called to Active Duty Service

Sam Smart, Local 6 Trenton

Willie Smith, Local 6 Trenton

Omar Munoz Local 9 Elizabeth

Jim Connors Local 42 Teaneck

If you have any members that you would like to be added to this list, please email Bulletin@njfmba.org or webteam@njfmba.org. 

Lists can also be faxed at (201) 288-0803.

Please remember not only our brothers and sisters from the fire service, but also neighbors and family members who may be deployed at this time.