One might wonder how a fire chief keeps track of their 30-40 firefighters when battling a major blaze. Brockport Chief Chris McCullough's job just got a lot easier thanks to an equipment donation from the Eastman Kodak Company. Kodak acquired an Employee Monitoring System from Grace Industries, Inc. that combines small clip-on radio transmitters with a sophisticated base unit that was intended to allow for a safer work environment in a variety of their buildings. When they decided it was no longer needed, or serving its intended purpose for them, they decided to find a community organization that would benefit from it. Joe Galletta, maintenance supervisor at Kodak, coordinated the donation, valued at over $20,000, to the department. Joe was accompanied by Eleanor Collinsworth, unit director and Allan Hoy, process engineering supervisor, when they presented the base unit and a number of transmitters to the three chiefs. Chief McCullough was very pleased to accept the donation on behalf of the Brockport Volunteer Fire Department. "This will definitely help us in a variety of ways," he said. The system, designed as an accountability device, allows the command officer to have communications with all personnel actively involved in the firefighting operation. All firefighters entering the building will wear one of the clip-on radio transmitters and this unit will serve as a means for the officer to transmit messages to those inside as well as for those inside to send messages back to the officer. Similar to a two-way radio in function, this PASS (Personal Alert Safety System) will also provide a "man down" alarm that can be heard by others working in the immediate area and by design will inform the base unit of which firefighter is down by an ID signal that is integrated into the system. It is smaller, lighter and more versatile than most two way radios and should a firefighter be knocked unconscious by falling debris, this unit will provide notification to other rescuers that someone is in danger. "We are indebted to the Eastman Kodak Company for their generosity and vision in improving community services through their gift to our department," Deputy Chief Larry Vaughan said. October 30, 2005 |
