Globe Manufacturing Company has received an award from the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) in appreciation of the Globe's support of IFSI's research in 2011. Globe, the world's leading manufacturer of turnout gear and boots for firefighters and other emergency personnel, manufactures all its products in the U.S.
Mark Mordecai, Director of Business Development for Globe, accepted the award at IFI, where the Savoy (IL) Fire Department was holding a training exercise using Globe Wearable Advanced Sensor Platform (WASP), an integrated physiological monitoring and location/tracking system, now in development. In accepting the award, Mordecai said, “Research is so critical to the development of new techniques and new gear that will provide a higher level of safety for firefighters and other emergency personnel. We appreciate IFSI's help in testing the WASP; and we are pleased to be able to provide support for their research.”
Led by Globe, the WASP project is funded by the Department of Army, National Protection Center. The project aims to integrate physiological data acquired from a bioharness (developed by Zephyr Technology) and location monitoring device (developed by TRX System) into a lightweight system that can track a firefighter 's location and vital signs. The overall goal of the project is to provide a system that improves firefighter safety during emergency operations.
Also on hand were Skidmore College professors Denise Smith, Director of First Responder Health and Safety Laboratory at Skidmore and a Research Associate at IFSI, and Pat Fehling, Chair of Health and Exercise Science at Skidmore. Smith and Fehling were overseeing the field trials of WASP. Smith and Fehling are conducting research into the accuracy of the physiological sensing system and the efficacy of field deployment of the unit.
“Skidmore is a long-time partner in the development and testing of firefighter gear, including the WASP,” continued Mordecai. “Their research has been key to our product development. This type of collaboration—between Skidmore's research, our R&D and IFSI's research and field testing—is enabling us to provide the next generation firefighter gear in 2012.”
Above (Left to right) Pat Fehling (Chair, Health and Exercise Science at Skidmore), Gavin Horn (Director of Research, University of Illinois Fire Service), Mark Mordecai (Director of Business Development, Globe Manufacturing), Denise Smith (Director, First Responder Health and Safety Laboratory at Skidmore).
