Thursday, December 29, 2011

Company Spotlight: Shocknife


Shocknife Inc. is a privately owned North American company whose sole objective is to revolutionize the edged weapon training industry with the only training knife that induces the necessary stress required for realistic edged weapon training. Shocknife is designed to improve tactical knife defense training in law enforcement, military, and corrections markets around the world.  Shocknife's mission is to be the world leader in non-projectile, realistic training products that are capable of inducing acute stress during survival training.

Law enforcement, military, and corrections departments all do different forms of knife training and sparring.  The tools generally used for this include wooden or rubber knives with some sort of marking item (such as chalk or lipstick along the blade) to show where the trainees had been struck by the knife.  However, other then the markings there really is no penalty for getting "cut".  Therefore both sparring trainees have no issues getting up close to "cut" their opponent since they will suffer no real consequences.  This is where the Shocknife is different.

The Shocknife SK-2 is revolutionizing the edged weapon training industry. The blade of the Shocknife delivers a powerful shock that causes pain but no injury or incapacitation. When trainees are attacked with the Shocknife SK-2, there is pain stimulus like a real attack. This causes the same mental and physical state the trainee would be in during a real attack.  The introduction of less lethal training ammunition in conjunction with mass education of the need for stress exposure training has pushed police training to its highest level in recorded history.  Today it is hard to find a legitimate police academy that does not deliver reality based scenario training as part of their curriculum.  Until now, their was no way to deliver realistic edged weapon scenarios as the use of rubber, wood or plastic knives did not create the acute stress needed to replicate a real world knife attack. This has changed with the introduction of the Shocknife SK-2.



The Shocknife SK-2 also comes equipped with a Shock Adjustment Screw. This allows the shock to be adjusted for the level of training being conducted:


Low Range - Biofeedback Tool

  • Shock delivered feels like a small paper cut
  • No stress reaction but allows the trainee to know when their technique was incorrect 
  • Instant feedback without constant coaching from a third party
  • Helps to correct improper technique
Medium Range - Stimulus Response Training
  • Enough shock to create arousal in training
  • Keeps trainees focused and helps them acquire skills faster
High Range - Dynamic Scenario Training
  • Shock is powerful enough to penetrate the trainees uniform
  • Sparks can be used to create more stress

Extreme Range - Stress Exposure Training
  • Delivers a full 7,500 volts
  • Ensure most realistic edged weapon training ever


The following video shows how training with a Shocknife makes a difference for your officers and/or department.  Prior to use with the Shocknife the sparring partners had no issues with getting close or trading blows.  However, after using the Shocknife, they were significantly more hesitant to trade blows or get close (even after going back to regular training knives).

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Event Spotlight: Pittsburgh Fire Rescue & EMS Expo

January 14th and 15th, 2012 will be the 25th Annual Pittsburgh Fire Rescue & EMS Expo.  The expo is going to be held at the Monroeville Convention Center.  The Pittsburgh Fire Rescue & EMS Expo is one of the nation’s largest and best attended trade shows for firefighters, paramedics, EMTs and other emergency services personnel.  The expo brings over 200 of the nation’s finest companies together to showcase thousands of products and services.


It seems that most expos and conventions for emergency services personnel tend to be geared primarily towards those in law enforcement.  The Pittsburgh Fire Rescue & EMS Expo, however, is geared primarily towards fire and EMS personnel.  With that said, there are still ample opportunities for those in law enforcement to learn about new services and products as well.

This expo gives departments the opportunity to:

  • Visit hundreds of exhibits with thousands of products and services
  • Meet representatives from some of the nation's finest companies, particularly those that focus primarily on emergency services personnel
  • See the latest technological advances for fire, EMS, haz-mat, rescue, and more
  • Save money with show only discounts and specials

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Company Spotlight: The CAD Zone


The CAD Zone, Inc. located in Beaverton, Oregon, was founded in 1990 with a goal of providing CAD training and program customization to all industries. The CAD Zone quickly earned a reputation as being one of the best application development companies in the CAD industry, working extensively with Autodesk and other CAD companies to help customize their software for specific types of users.  In 1992 The CAD Zone was approached by the Portland Fire Bureau to create a custom CAD application for creating pre-fire plans for the fire service. When other fire departments found out what Portland was doing, they all wanted a copy of it for themselves. And that was when The Fire Zone™ Version 1.0 was born.  It quickly became a huge success. Since then The CAD Zone has introduced other CAD applications such as The Insurance Zone, The Crime Zone, and The Crash Zone.

The Crime Zone drawing program was first released in 1995 for creating crime and accident scene diagrams. This program was the result of more than 12 months of working with law enforcement officers, and prosecuting attorneys. The Crash Zone was added later as the program of choice specifically for crash reconstructionists.  The CAD Zone now has many thousands of users around the world, and is the only software publisher to offer industry-standard drawing programs for the fire service, law enforcement, crash reconstruction, and loss control industries.

Isn't CAD complicated?
CAD programs are very powerful, and most "off-the-shelf" programs are too difficult for non-technical computer users to learn and use. As a law enforcement officer, fire fighter, or fire protection engineer, you probably don’t have the time or desire to make computer drafting your full time job.  The CAD Zone's answer to this problem is to simplify CAD by turning it into a tool that anyone can use, beginner or expert. They want you to have all the benefits of using a CAD program, with none of the effort. They give each application a completely customized interface, pre-drawn symbols, special commands, menus, and other tools that are specific to each industry. This means you can create neat, consistent drawings with ease, 3-4 times faster than by hand. You really won’t even know that you are using a CAD program, but rest assured you will have all the accuracy, flexibility, and compatibility that CAD has to offer.  Unlike other programs like AutoSketch®, Visio®, or DynaCAD® that are excellent general-purpose drawing programs, they are not designed with any particular user in mind. The Cad Zone's programs on the other hand, are created just for users in a specific industry. In addition to symbols, each program contains a variety of other features to help automate your drawing tasks - whether you are in loss control, the fire service, law enforcement, or crash reconstruction.

Why would you want to use CAD?
Why would a police officer, fire fighter, or fire protection engineer want to use a CAD (computer-aided drawing) program? There are three main reasons:
  1. Accuracy - Only CAD programs offer drawing accuracy of more than 8 places to the right of the decimal point. Even if you don’t need that much accuracy, you can be sure that whatever you draw is represented exactly by the program. This is especially important if you need to defend your crime or crash scene diagrams in a courtroom, or if, in the case of pre-fire plans, fire fighter’s lives are at stake.
  2. Flexibility - Because CAD programs are extremely flexible, you can use them to draw anything and to print your diagrams at any scale. Unfortunately, being flexible often means a program is hard to use because there are so many commands and choices to make. This is why The CAD Zone creates a specific application for each type of user, making the program easy to learn and use for creating your type of diagrams.
  3. Compatibility - CAD programs also offer excellent compatibility with other drawing programs and with word processors and reporting programs. Often building floor plans and county street maps are available in an electronic format which can be easily imported into a CAD program.
What exactly does it do?
The two following videos show The CAD Zone's programs in use.  They are simple to navigate and easily map the conditions and recreations that would be needed by fire fighter or law enforcement officers.
  1. The Fire Zone Demo
  2. The Crash Zone
  3. The Crime Zone

What are the computer requirements?
All software from The CAD Zone has relatively low system requirements (especially when you consider that most CAD software requires a great deal of high-end system requirements).  The Crash Zone, The Fire Zone, and The Crime Zone all function with the following specifications:
  • Pentium 4 or better computer
  • Windows XP or newer
  • 512 meg of RAM (1 Gig or better preferred)
  • 800x600 screen resolution
  • 1 Gig hard drive space
These hardware and software configurations can be found in the majority of MDT's or Panasonic Toughbook's that most departments currently have installed in their vehicles.  This gives officers the ability to use the software on-scene when necessary.




    Thursday, December 22, 2011

    Company Spotlight: Commonweath Rescue Systems


    Commonwealth Rescue Systems is a full service Fire, Rescue and Law Enforcement equipment supplier.  They are partners with multiple vendors making them a one-stop shopping location to get all of the equipment that you need for your department!

    Commonwealth Rescue Systems provides full service Sales, Service, Training, Installation and Repair.  CRS sells everything from extrication equipment, SCBA, personal protective equipment (PPE), on-site rescue equipment, and much more.  CRS services are very diverse.  They include:

    • Air bag testing
    • SCBA testing and repair
    • Equipment mounting for apparatus
    • Emergency lights, sirens and communication equipment installation
    • Full services upfitting for marked, unmarked, undercover, and various response vehicles
    • Scene lighting
    • MDT computer mounts and docking stations
    • 24/7 emergency service

    Commonweath Rescue Systems is highly focused on customer service and satisfaction.  They have a low-price guarantee.  It is their commitment to provide you with the best value at the best price.  They want to help you save money without sacrificing on service and quality of equipment!


    Wednesday, December 21, 2011

    Company Spotlight: Happy Feet Massaging Insoles

    Today's company spotlight is a little different then most as it's not technology or emergency services related.  Happy Feet Massaging Insoles are fluid filled insoles for your shoes that basically massage your feet with every step that you take.  However, they are ultra-thin and you barely even notice that you have them in your shoes.


    It happens to almost everyone. You get home at the end of the day and your feet are burning, sore, swollen and just plain tired. We all know the problem but what’s the solution? Lots of us try to find some kind-hearted soul willing to give a soothing, relaxing foot massage to get circulation back to normal in feet and lower legs.
    How would you feel at the end of the day if you could enjoy the benefit of an all-day foot massage?

    Most of us wear shoes to protect our feet from long hours on hard, unyielding and smooth floors. But that comes at a big cost: no more natural sharing of the burden of our weight over the entire foot. It makes sense that the parts doing more work than they were designed to handle become fatigued while the other parts suffer from under-use.  Happy Feet set feet to doing their thing with all parts sharing the load. When you put your feet on a bed of pharmaceutical-grade glycerin that instantaneously reacts to pressure in just the same way soft dirt takes on the proper shapes for maximum comfort, you are taking a step in the right direction – a big step to avoiding “worker’s feet”. You won’t necessarily want to go dancing after a hard day on the job wearing Happy Feet but, on the other hand, you won’t be begging for relief from the pain and swelling you used to endure.  If you stand and walk for long hours at work, Happy Feet just might be the solution to those “end of the day” miseries. With a money back guarantee, you have nothing to lose but your pain.


    The staff of Bob Johnson's Computer Stuff are all users of these fluid-filled massaging insoles.  We learned about them at a convention and we all subsequently got a pair (which might have had something to do with Bob listening to some of us complain about how much our 4" heels were killing our feet).  They make a huge difference on the comfort of your feet, legs, and back...in high heels, boots, flats, and sneakers.  They can easily be worn in a wide variety of shoes.  We highly recommend them for anyone who spends the majority of their day on their feet!


    Tuesday, December 20, 2011

    Company Spotlight: Readi Mask


    Global Safety First, LLC (GSF) is a US company founded for the purpose of marketing unique safety products to protect or assist people in emergency situations whether caused by accident, terrorism or natural disaster. The company’s first product is the Readi Mask. The Readi Mask is the only mask specifically designed to provide protection to individuals who might find themselves in an emergency situation where airborne contaminants could be harmful if not fatal.

    Unique characteristics of the Readi Mask include:
    • Compact and easy to carry in a pocket
    • Leading edge thin fiber filtration material which independent testing has shown to substantially exceed NIOSH standards
    • The mask seals to the face with a medical grade adhesive to prevent inward-leakage which can reduce a typical mask’s effectiveness by 50% or more
    • Independent testing proved that the mask filters 99.9% of all biological contaminants for more than 3 hours, and particles for more than 30 minutes

    Each mask comes in a sealed package that can easily be carried in a pocket.  The mask is simply applied in four very easy steps:

    While the mask is primarily being manufactured and marketed to the emergency services fields, there are currently three models of the mask available:
    • Adult
    • Child mask with eye-shield
    • Adult half-mask (without eye-shield)
    Along with being effective against airborne biological contaminates, the mask is also effective for use during crowd or riot control measures that involve the use of products such as pepper spray.  To see the effectiveness of the mask for that type of situation, check out the following video.

    Monday, December 19, 2011

    Panasonic Toughbook CF-74 Review

    When most people think of Panasonic Toughbooks, they think of fully-ruggedized machines such as the CF-30 or the CF-29.  However, Panasonic also makes an entire line of semi-ruggedized machines such as the CF-74.  These machines are not quite built to withstand the same abuse as the fully-ruggedized machines, such as the constant vibration of being mounted in a vehicle.  However, they are built to withstand significantly more abuse than a standard business laptop.  The Panasonic Toughbook CF-74 is designed for professionals on-the-go.

    The Panasonic Toughbook CF-74 has some of the ruggedized features that most people consider standard in a Toughbook.

    • Shock Mounted Hard Drive - Keep your data safe while your laptop case is being tossed around during travel
    • Spill-Resistant Keyboard - No need to worry about accidental late night coffee spills, the protective plate will keep any liquid from reaching your system board and causing disastrous damage to your machine
    • Daylight Readable Screen - Although outdoor viewing isn't too important for boardroom professionals, it is a must for professionals whose jobs keep them in the outdoors
    • Magnesium Alloy Case & Handle - This Toughbook is built with a material that is twenty times stronger than a standard business laptop

    The Panasonic Toughbook CF-74 has also taken some major technological leaps from the fully-rugged machines that most Toughbook users are accustomed to.

    •  Intel Core 2 Duo Processor - Faster processing speeds than most fully and semi-rugged Toughbooks currently on the market
    • Expanded RAM - Based on the operating system installed, the CF-74 can support up to 4 Gig of RAM
    • Windows 7 Ready - One of a few refurbished models currently able to fully utilize the benefits of Windows 7
    • Light-weight - Weighing in at only 5.9 pounds, this laptop is easy to transport to various meetings
    Like choosing any laptop, you have to weigh the options of what you need the most and where you plan to use it.  The Panasonic Toughbook CF-74 Ideal for mobile executives or any business person who is constantly on-the-go.

    Friday, December 16, 2011

    Company Spotlight: HiViz LED Lighting


    Many accidents happen late at night on quiet and dark roads.  Responding to these accidents is both difficult and dangerous for the first responders.  They are in dark with the exception of the headlights on their vehicle.  HiViz LED Lighting has a solution to that problem.

    HiViz LED Lighting is working hard to bring the highest quality lighting solutions to the markets that need them most.  They specialize in lighting for government and emergency services.  Their lights come in convenient tripods or even in convenient carrying cases, making it easy to transport them to the scene of an accident.  This light provides plenty of area light for those tough-to-reach collisions or deep woods recovery calls. Its not too heavy, and can be transported to the scene for use while extracting a victim.


    The Incident Response case is a self contained, rapidly deployable scene light tower. It provides silent operation and up to 8 hours of light output for on-the-job use.  The unit can be plugged in to the shore-power on your apparatus for continuous charging, and when ready for deployment, simply disconnect and set on the ground. The unit can be fully deployed and broadcasting light in 30 seconds without the use of tools. Because of the built in power cell, you can promote workplace safety by eliminating the trip hazards associated with power-cords on traditional tripod lights.

    Check out the Incident Response case in use.  It's compact and easy to transport, rapidly deployable, and easy to set up!


    Thursday, December 15, 2011

    Company Spotlight: Apollo Video Technology

    Apollo Video Technology is the manufacturer of RoadRunner Digital Video Recording.  The RoadRunner technology has applications for government, transportation, and especially in law enforcement.

    The RoadRunner™ Digital Video Recorder delivers the highest quality video and audio recording and is backed by an industry-leading 3-year warranty. Designed and manufactured specifically for use in mobile applications, the RoadRunner™ system will deliver years of high quality video recording at the lowest cost of ownership. Featuring user-friendly, license-free software the system is intuitive, rugged, easy to use and designed to provide the video that you need, when you need it.

    iSM™ (Interactive Speed and Mapping) Interface: Utilizing the optional GPS feature, video searching is easy. Simply select a point on the map or a selected speed for instant video access from that location or speed. The iSM™ interface provides street names and geographical data for route and stop information:
    • Collect comprehensive visual evidence with speed and location data
    • Graphically display location, street and intersection names for assistance locating fleeing suspects and discarded evidence
    • Provides video, location and speed evidence to supplement report writing
    • Illustrates road topography and landmarks related to traffic stops and police activity

    The following video clip is in the proprietary Clip-Copy format, which features watermarking, encyrption and optional password-protected viewing access. RIGHT CLICK on the link below and select "Save target as..." or "Save link as..." to transfer the file to a folder on your computer for playback. There is no software required for viewing Clip-Copy format video clips.

    More information regarding the RoadRunner can be viewed in their online brochure.

    Wednesday, December 14, 2011

    Company Spotlight: Crime Scene Clean-Up

    It is a service that most people hope to never use, however, unforeseeable circumstances do happen and sometimes services are required.  Crime Scene Clean-Up is an elite group that is dedicated to helping people when tragedy strikes. Their objective is to compassionately, safely and discreetly restore a scene to a safe state. This relieves others, giving peace of mind knowing they will not be responsible for the traumatic task and potentially dangerous chore of "cleaning up" after a homicide, suicide, decomposition and/or accidental death. We are specialists in this field.

    Since professionalism is very important to them, they always adhere to O.S.H.A ., EPA and State Health Department guidelines and procedures. Their technicians are highly trained in how to properly remove, package and dispose of biohazardous waste. They have also been trained in how to approach and preserve a crime scene should additional evidence be discovered.

    Their service is equipped and ready to respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Once summoned to a scene, whether commercial, industrial, residential or auto, the technicians will evaluate the extent of the damage and prepare a written proposal. When the proposal is accepted, they immediately begin the restoration procedures. They clean, disinfect and deodorize all affected areas along with proper disposal. All biohazardous waste is disposed of through a federally licensed waste company.

    When structural damage is involved, their services are not limited to cleaning, disinfecting, deodorizing and removal. They offer complete restoration, structural, drywall, painting, etc. At the conclusion of the abatement/restoration process they offer assistance with insurance procedures for possibly obtaining reimbursement. Crime Scene Clean-Up handles all aspects of the job from start to finish.  After all, this is not a job that families should be responsible for.

    Tuesday, December 13, 2011

    Company Spotlight: Amerilert Communications


    In 2004, a few technologies existed to offer notification services.  However, these services did not address the needs of a mobile society.  Previous systems were difficult to install and operate.  They were also fairly expensive.  Those early systems required additional hardware and software purchases to make the notifications work.  Those systems also required the assistance of IT staff within the organization to “integrate” it into existing systems.  Having so many parts and processes also made these services difficult to use.  Many potential customers were intimidated by all of these obstacles to success.

    Today’s society is highly mobile and people spend most of their day in transit. How will your community read an email in time of emergencies? Email is not enough. How will people get a phone call in their house when they are out and about? Phone dialers are not enough.  It is currently estimated that nearly 91% of American's are cell phone carriers, this makes text messaging a very successful means of communication during an emergency.


    The Amerilert service is specifically designed for large group communication. It is a 100% web-based system that enables administrators to instantly send messages to their subscribers for a fraction of the cost and complexity of existing notification services. There is no software to install and no hardware to buy. An organization can setup a secure notification system in minutes to send routine, urgent or emergency alerts to their entire community.

    Amerilert can be used as an emergency notification system.  Keep your citizens informed and out of harm’s way. Whether you need to communicate weather warnings, road closures, Amber Alerts, or other emergencies.  Notifications can be sent out in a wide array of formats, to include text messages, desktop pop-ups, and email.


    Amerilert First Responder is the leading text messaging-based dispatch and paging system for Fire Departments, Rescue Squads, and EMS.  This highly reliable service enables you and your crew to receive computer aided dispatches on a standard cell phone.  You can configure Amerilert First Responder to automatically dispatch pages from the 911 center or dispatch center to standard cell phones and pagers of first responders.  Fire station or rescue squad can dispatch their own messages from the Amerilert interface to the desired groups.  The system can be configured to dispatch alerts to everyone or to specific groups on an alert-by-alert basis.

    Amerilert does live demonstrations to show the ease of use and cost-effectiveness of their alert programs.  You can request a free demonstration via their website.

    Monday, December 12, 2011

    Company Spotlight: OnSpot Automatic Tire Chains

    With snowy winter days quickly approaching, OnSpot Automatic Tire Chains really caught my interest.


    What Are OnSpot Automatic Tire Chains?
    Unlike traditional tire chains that are wrapped around the tires when snowy weather is coming (or after it has arrived), OnSpot Automatic Tire Chains are always ready to go.  They are permanently mounted on the vehicle (making you always prepared for inclement weather).  OnSpot chains last longer as they are only used when needed, and there is no likelihood of wheel-well damage from broken chains.  OnSpot chains are also D.O.T. approved in all fifty states (included chain controlled mountainous areas in Colorado and California).

    How Do OnSpot Automatic Tire Chains work?
    The OnSpot Automatic Tire chain offers the traction of a single set of conventional snow chains at the flip of a switch, without having to stop the vehicle.  An electric switch mounted in the cab provides 12 volts to an air solenoid mounted on the vehicle's frame rail. Compressed air to the solenoid is supplied from either the vehicle's on-board air system or a 12-volt compressed air kit.  When the dashboard switch is activated, the solenoid opens allowing compressed air to enter the air chamber and lower the chain wheel so it contacts the inside of the tire. The friction between the tire and the rubber-covered chain wheel causes the chainwheel to rotate, creating enough centrifugal force to flail the chains out in front of the tire. Six lengths of chain spaced at 60-degree intervals on the chain wheel ensure that there are always two chains between the tire and road surface whether you are accelerating, braking or are in a wheel lockup condition. The traction from the chain wheel is obtained in forward or reverse.  When the dashboard switch is turned off, the solenoid exhausts the air provided to the chain units and return springs in the air chambers bring the chain wheels back to their resting position.


    What Are The Applications For OnSpot Automatic Tire Chains?
    Applications are virtually limitless.  They can be mounted on delivery, construction, or emergency services vehicles.  They would be particularly beneficial to emergency services vehicles, as emergency responders don't have the option to wait for inclement weather to pass before they are required to travel on the road.  Having adequate traction on icy roads could actually be the determining factor in a life or death situation.

    Friday, December 9, 2011

    Company Spotlight: Fat Ivan

    Firefighters can’t have doors close putting them in life-threatening situations or get their hose lines pinched under doors. They are tired of carrying wedges that rarely work or having bulky pieces of welded angle iron hanging out of their pockets.  They want a door chock that will work on any door hinge and also fold up and ‘disappear’ in their pocket when not in use. They need and want a door chock that will work now on any standard door hinge; then, when finished with their job, remove and fold it up for easy storage, with no fire gear damage.  Introducing the new FatIvan®, the evolution of the door chock. FatIvan® was created out of necessity.  It does it all.
    FatIvan® is the World's Only Fold Up Door Chock! The easy one-handed operation opens quickly for insertion and never slips off hinge, guaranteed.  All FatIvan® chocks are durable and corrosion resistant; they are tough and will stand up to substantial abuse.  They are the perfect tool for Emergency Services personnel.  All FatIvan® chocks are priced under $20.00!

    FatIvan® proves it’s merit in many fields including Emergency Services, Commercial, Residential, Industrial, Hotel/Motel, and all Deliveries.

    Thursday, December 8, 2011

    Company Spotlight: Adirondack Fire Equipment

    Being a long time reseller of refurbished Panasonic Toughbooks, we have come to learn that not all towns, cities, or municipalities have the adequate funding to purchase the supplies that they need.  If this is true for relatively low-cost purchases such as computers, we can only imagine how difficult it is to get funding for something that is excessively high-cost....such as emergency response vehicles.  Departments with limited budgets, or those that want a reserve or second-out unit, often purchase used apparatus to meet their needs. Departments should evaluate potential purchases carefully to get the best value for their money.
    A great place to look for low-cost, used fire apparatus is Adirondack Fire Equipment, as they specialize in the sale of pre-owned emergency rescue apparatus.  They carry pumpers, aerials, rescues, ambulances, and tankers.  One of the advantages of used apparatus is the opportunity to get low-mileage units for a fraction of the original purchase price. Many of these units have custom cabs, large engines and other premium features that smaller departments couldn't afford when purchasing new trucks. Most have received regular maintenance and have many years of useful service ahead.
    When departments decide to buy used apparatus, they need to buy smart. Unlike new apparatus that are sold in excellent condition with specs that match each customer's individual needs, used apparatus are sold in a variety of conditions and with a variety of specifications. Although some departments make price a top priority, a bargain isn't a bargain if it doesn't work properly or it's not what the department needs. There are plenty of good values among used apparatus if buyers know what to look for and take their time to find it.  Currently, Adirondack Fire Equipment has pre-owned pumpers and aerials that can be purchased for under $250,000.00, which is nearly 70% less than the cost of purchasing a new one.  All vehicles sold by Adirondack Fire Equipment are listed with detailed information in regards to mileage, engine hours, customization, and condition of the vehicle.

    Adirondack Fire Equipment also offers financing at competitive rates.  Check out their available trucks and give them a call for more information and financing options.


    Wednesday, December 7, 2011

    Company Spotlight: Weddle Tool Company

    The Weddle Tool Company (WTC) was founded in 2008 by Dave Weddle, Daniel Corder, Charles Brown, Joe Habib, and Jack Harding; together with over 100 years of combined career and volunteer fire and rescue experience. Based out of Bunker Hill, West Virginia, WTC had a simple beginning with a simple purpose; to provide public safety personnel, firefighters, rescue workers and police officers with light weight, practical tools. Their tools have been developed by public safety professionals for public safety professionals.

    The W-Tool is a one person manually operated self-contained hydraulic tool designed for multiple types of public safety operations. The W-Tool can be used as a 25lb. battering ram when rapid intervention is required, or quickly converted into a non-destructive forcible entry tool.
    The design incorporates three basic components; A manually operated 6,000 pound hydraulic power head attached to a telescopic main body constructed of an outer 2”x2” square steel tube, 3/16 wall thickness; An inner 1.5”x1.5” square steel tube, 3/16 wall thickness, 27” long designed to adjust in length telescopically to 39”, attached to a top and bottom plates constructed of ½”plate steel 3”x 5”. The top and bottom plates are designed to receive multiple accessory attachments allowing the tool to perform multiple rescue tasks. All W-Tools are equipped with an adjustable shoulder carry strap and an integrated LED light that allows for hands free night-illumination.
    The W-Tool is also very simple to use.  It is placed horizontally in the door jam slightly above the upper most lock and adjusted to fit in the jam.  Hydraulic pressure is applied in small increments until the jam is spread to the point that the strike and/or deadbolt no longer hold the door locked.  This allows for quick entry and causes minimal to no damage to the door.  It also does more then just open doors.  It can also be used for vehicle stabilization during extrication, freeing occupants from dash displacements, and even for structural support for building structures.

    The W-Tool is also priced significantly cheaper than many similar products on the market.  The starting price of the W-Tool is a little under $1400, which also includes the costs of shipping!  This is definitely a must have item for all emergency services departments!

    Tuesday, December 6, 2011

    Company Spotlight: First Line Technology (PhaseCore)

    Generally we only stop to think about dealing with excessive heat in the summer, when it is hot and we are suffering through the brutal heat.  The weather is getting cooler/colder so it is probably far from your mind, but take a minute to check out this amazing product to help product yourself (and your department) when summer comes back around in a few months.

    The normal human body's skin temperature is approximately 91.4 degrees Fahrenheit, with the comfort zone being between 82.4 and 100.0 degrees.  When the skin temperature rises above 100.0 degree Fahrenheit, the body becomes susceptible to heat-related illnesses.  This rise in temperature can happen when working in hot environments, during physical activity, and when wearing protective clothing.  First Line Technology has released a line of products called PhaseCore, which are aimed at helping the body to cool and maintain its normal temperature in hot environments by absorbing the body heat.  By absorbing the heat in your skin, PhaseCore offers a cooling effect which is very different from alternative cooling methods.  Alternative methods such as ice, gel, and other frozen liquids can over cool or shock the body, which can constrict blood flow causing physical discomfort and mobile restriction.

    Tests completed in a hot environment have proven that PhaseCore technology is effective in helping to combat the rise in a person’s body surface temperature when in a hot environment. PhaseCore Cooling Vests are effective for three to four hours, actual time varies based on physical activity, body type, and the environmental conditions.  PhaseCore Cooling Vests can be recharged by storing the PhaseCore elements in an environment less than the activation point, such as room temperature. PhaseCore elements can be recharged more quickly in colder environments. Refrigeration is not required, but will make the recharge period shorter. PhaseCore elements are completely recharged when they return to a solid state. PhaseCore is simple, safe, and reusable.

    PhaseCore cooling vests are recommended for first responders, fire fighters, law enforcement officers, military personnel, and industrial works.  There are multiple styles of vests available, including a flame retardant CarbonX vest that is safe for use by structural fire fighters.


    Monday, December 5, 2011

    Company Spotlight: ECM2 (Emergency Call Manager)

    We recently met a pretty amazing technology company, ECM2.  They specialize in smart phone apps for emergency responders.  ECM2 was founded in March of 2010. ECM2's top priority and mission, is to bring cutting-edge communication products to the marketplace assisting emergency responders in becoming increasingly expeditious and efficient in their work. ECM2's product line continues to shine above the competition. Each product that is delivered to the marketplace is incredibly user friendly and fully functional with features the other companies just don't have. They're not only committed to being the best, but also in becoming a leader in cutting-edge emergency responding communications as well as integrating this technology to work with the latest craze of Smart Phone users as apps on their devices.

    One of our goals as a company is that our products become the "industry standard" in emergency communications. The products are easy-to-use and highly efficient. Where time is of the essence, especially responders in an emergency situation... let’s face it, every second counts!  Product software includes:

    • Cellphones and Email: Get your alert calls in seconds and have the ability to respond
    • Data Integrator: Import your incident data, edit data and upload incidents to your incident tracking software
    • Mobile Map: Display an incident location, locate fire hydrants, SARA facilities and other relevant locations on a map, turn by turn directions, and have the ability to edit Pre-Plan Data to insure firefighter safety
    • StationManager:Display CURRENT incident and ALL incidents, track Equipment and Apparatus, Personnel Acountablity, On-Scene management, Incident Time management, Incident Mapping, Locations of interest such as Schools, Nursing Homes, EMS stations and other important places, and many more features
    • Incident Print: Retrieve incident data and print it in Real-Time
    There are currently several products available.  They include Data Integrator, 911 Emergency Call Manager, Station Manager, Mobile Map, and Incident Print.  Apps can be downloaded free of charge to any registered user of the software.  For more information on the company and products, please contact ECM2 directly.



    Tuesday, November 22, 2011

    Researchers Are Working On Safer Rescue Equipment

    A company called GlowZone, Inc. has been working with photoluminescent (PL) products for years.  For those that aren't well-versed in chemistry, photoluminescent (PL) products glow in the dark.  The most common product on the market is probably the glow stick, which are throughout the emergency services industry.  However, until recently, these products were only available in the glow-stick form (which only lasted for a few hours) and in a flat tape (which really was more reflective than glow in the dark).  With some pretty impressive scientific breakthroughs, GlowZone, Inc. has managed to change that.  They have managed to make a PL product that can be used on multiple surfaces and maintains its brightness over time, as it recharges within seconds of being in sunlight.
    Fire officer in a partially lit and completely dark stairwell with turnouts outfitted with GlowZone technology.
    Although they have multiple applications for their technologies, one of the most beneficial has to be that of adding it to fire safety gear.  GlowZone makes your fire safety products photoluminescent, helping emergency crews locate and activate critical equipment; and preventing injuries from obstacles like fire extinguisher cabinets and hose racks, even when the building, hospital, hotel or mine is in total darkness.  They have most recently begun testing this same technology onto turnout coat and pants, making not only the tools more visible in the dark but the firefighters as well.

    This technology was recently tested at a training center in Anaheim, California.  With the photoluminescent gear, the firefighters were able to reduce the time it took to find a down firefighter by 45 seconds, or approximately 30 percent. Those few seconds are huge in a life or death situation.  The below video shows the technology in action.

    This new technology is currently only in the testing and research, it proving to be useful and effective.  Hopefully it will be available on the market soon.

    Friday, November 18, 2011

    Product Spotlight: StarChase Pursuit Management System

    High-peed police pursuits and the inherent risk of injury and death that can result constitute an important law enforcement and public safety issue. Police pursuits are dangerous. Available data indicate that the number of pursuits continues to increase, as well as the number of pursuit-related injuries and deaths. Federal statistics show that more than half of all police chases are triggered by such incidents  and that 40% of these chases result in crashes.  Officers face the basic dilemma associated with high-speed pursuits of fleeing suspects: Do the benefits of potential apprehension outweigh the risks of endangering the public and the police?

    Unfortunately, high speed pursuits do happen.  StarChase has created a technology that virtually eliminates the need to put the local community at risk.  StarChase launches a sticky GPS tracker onto a fleeing vehicle. Police officers can then monitor this GPS signal through the dispatch office or through the computers in their vehicles.  As well as reducing the dangers and risks involved in police pursuits, the StarChase Pursuit Management System saves time, money and – most importantly – lives.


    How Does It Work?

    1. A compressed-air launcher, mounted behind the grille of a police cruiser, uses a laser to target the fleeing vehicle. It discharges a projectile/tag containing the GPS module.
    2. The projectile adheres to the suspect vehicle and transmits coordinates back to dispatch.
    3. The dispatcher then views the location and movements of the tagged vehicle in near real-time on a digital roadmap via a secure Internet connection. 
    See It In Action

    Wednesday, November 16, 2011

    eDarley Sweepstakes

    W.S. Darley is a 100 year old family owned and operated company that specializes in products for fire and emergency services.  W. S. Darley & Co.'s involvement in the Fire Industry spans over a century and four generations of Darleys. They not only have a rock solid reputation for building quality products, but also for building strong relationships with Fire Fighting Organizations around the world.  Nowhere else will you find a company as dedicated to the Fire Industry. All this experience comes from a company that cares - W. S. Darley & Co. is customer driven.  The entire company is committed to customer satisfaction.  They pride themselves on the fact that even after 100 years in business you can still call and talk to them on the phone.


    They offer thousands of products through their various catalogs and eDarley.com.  Darley builds Fire Trucks, manufactures Champion Fire Pumps and sells Fire Fighting and Emergency Equipment.  They offer everything from pumps, apparatus, pump systems, AutoCAFS, Odin Foam, and Ohler Pumps to on-site response equipment such as first aid gear, flashlights, hazmat, and other rescue tools.

    They are currently running a sweepstakes on their eDarley Facebook page.  The contest is running through December 13, 2011.  By signing up on their Facebook page you can enter win a $250.00 gift card to be used towards the purchase of equipment from their company.
    Click To View Fire Catalog

    Monday, November 14, 2011

    Automated License Plate Recognition

    Automated License Plate Recognition, also known as ALPR, is one of the newest technologies to come available for police departments throughout the United States.  ALPR is a surveillance method that uses optical character recognition to read the license plates of vehicles (either parked in a parking lot or driving on an interstate).  In the United States ALPR is primarily used in the assistance of locating stolen vehicles, finding drivers with no insurance or suspended licenses, locating wanted persons, and even assisting with Amber Alerts.

    How It Works

    Recent changes in technology have made it possible to make ALPR mobile.  A mobile system is generally mounted on a patrol vehicle.  The cameras consist of infrared (IR) light emitting diode (LED) illumination, an infrared camera, and a color camera. Infrared illumination is used as almost all license plates are highly reflective to infrared which provides effective license plate image capture during day or night, and also eliminates the variability of plate backgrounds and colors by providing a clear monochrome image of the license plate.  The software algorithm identifies individual video frames containing a license plate image. The system will capture multiple images (one every 10-20 ms) of the plate as it passes through the field of view, with varying image capture settings with each picture to compensate for changing ambient conditions, plate-to-plate variability, and other variables. The cameras are very high speed, allowing for this process and effective image capture to take place at speeds of up to 160 mph.  The system automatically processes all pictures and cross matches it with a pre-loaded database of vehicle license plates.  If any suspicious vehicles are located, the officer is notified immediately on the Panasonic Toughbook or mobile data terminal mounted in their vehicle.  From there, the officer can follow appropriate protocol for their jurisdiction as the manner in which to proceed.

    The Benefits

    • Efficiency - The average officer may check 50-100 plates during the course of their shift.  The ALPR can easily scan tens of thousands of plates in that same time frame.
    • Stolen Vehicle Recovery - Departments with ALPR statistically have significantly higher stolen vehicle recovery rates.
    • Officer Safety - Officers are aware of their surroundings and possible suspicious individuals prior to ever stepping out of their vehicle.  ALPR can be lifesaving during a traffic-stop.  
    • Elimination of Profiling Claims - Because the ALPR uses nothing but the license plate to alert the officer, it completely eliminates the suspects' claims that they were being profiled.
    • Increased Revenue - ALPR is instrumental in locating vehicles with outstanding parking violations and expired registrations, which leads to increased revenue.


    ALPR In Action



    Where To Get It
    There are multiple companies throughout the world that specialize in the sales of ALPR.  One such company is NDI Recognition Systems.  NDI's US headquarters is located in Florida, however, they also have satellite offices in North Carolina and New Jersey. They are a primary dealer of ALPR software and peripherals in the United States.  NDI Recognition Systems sells the software that is being illustrated in the video.  They are the manufacturers of Veriplate, VISCE, and TALON.

    How To Get It
    With prices ranging upwards of $15,000-$20,000 per vehicle, most departments run into significant funding issues when they do decide to start adding ALPR systems to their fleet.  For many departments their only option is to request grant funding.  There are multiple federal grants that allow funds to be utilized for ALPR. They include: Edward Byrne Memorial (JAG) Program Grant, Byrne (JAG) Direct Grant, Project Safe Neighborhood Grant, and Comprehensive Approaches to Sex Offender Management Grant.

    Friday, November 11, 2011

    Company Spotlight: RAM Mount


    Most departments spend a great deal of time looking for the perfect mobile data unit for their vehicles.  Most of them make their final decision a Panasonic Toughbook, based on the reliability and ruggedness of the units.  What often gets neglected when looking to set up mobile data units is what to mount them on.  RAM Mounts makes a high quality mount that supports a wide variety of mobile computers and comes with a lifetime warranty.

    RAM stands for Round-A-Mount and got its start in 1995. Most of the product line is based on a patented design revolving around a rubber ball and socket system.  The RAM Vehicle Laptop Mount is designed for most any car, truck, van, big rig and fleet vehicle on the road. These heavy-duty steel laptop bases are custom formed to fit specific vehicle models. This provides a laptop mounting platform for any RAM Vehicle Mounting System. Using the front bench or passenger side seat rail bolts as attachment points, existing hardware in the vehicle is all that is required to secure these laptop bases. This eliminates the need to drill any holes into your vehicles for mounting.  Because of their unique ability to absorb damaging shock and vibration, RAM laptop desks are the perfect choice for securing computers and electronics of any type.

    RAM offers a full-line of vehicle mounting equipment that is created for the needs of law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical services, and even commercial businesses (such as construction or transportation).  Depending on the type of vehicle being outfitted, RAM Mounts can be acquired at a relatively low cost.  For example, the mount for a Ford Crown Victoria (the most common police vehicle) can be purchased as low as $199.99 from RAM Authorized Resellers.  Mounting options are also available for various other commercial vehicles, firetrucks, and ambulances.  For those that require more than just a laptop mount, console mounts (like the one pictured above) are an alternative option.  Console mounts give the option of a housing for in-car communications, radio racks, and even the electronic switches for the sirens of the vehicle.

    The durable construction, lifetime warranty, and a price that is well below their competitors, makes RAM the ideal choice for departments that are looking to install mobile data units into their fleet.

    Thursday, November 10, 2011

    Company Spotlight: EMS Consultants


    EMS Consultants was established in 1989 in LaGrange, Georgia.  Since then, they have become a leading consultant to EMS companies in several states.  Although their business began as simply a software and consultant service, they have expanded in recent years.  Their services now also include medical billing.

    EMS Consultants are the innovators of Prestige EMS Software Solutions.  One of their most popular Prestige products is the ePCR Software.  ePCR was developed by EMS Consultants to the specifications of the state run report for ambulance service. This software was developed to eliminate “paper work” by entering your trip report information and billing information into portable lap-top or notebook “remote” computers. This can then be downloaded into a main or “host” computer for transfer to your EMS Consultants billing program and to your state EMS office.  In recent years, it has become touchscreen compatible, making the Panasonic Toughbook the unit of choice for their software.

    The Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 tends to be the unit of choice for EMS companies and EMS Consultants (it is actually featured in the print and video marketing of EMS Consultants).  What makes the CF-19 the best choice for EMS companies?
    • It's rugged.  The Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 is built to take a beating.  It can handle getting thrown around in the ambulance and getting dirty in the field.
    • It's lightweight.  Unlike other Toughbooks that weigh in at 7 pounds or more, the CF-19 is only 2 pounds.  This makes it easier to carry on-scene with other equipment.
    • It's touchscreen and a tablet!  The touchscreen makes entering data easier.  The tablet and stylus make capturing signatures onto forms paperless.

    EMS Consultants has been referred to as one of the most trusted EMS consulting firms on the east coast.  Their customers have nothing but wonderful things to say about their customer service skills, particularly raving about the fact that they always speak to a representative.  For more information, EMS Consultants can be reached at 800-342-5460.

    Tuesday, November 8, 2011

    Panasonic Toughbook CF-30 Review

    Panasonic Toughbook is synonymous with rugged laptop.  It has become the industry standard for police departments, fire departments, and EMS companies throughout the world.  Why is the the most used and most trusted?  Because it's tough!  Toughbooks are designed to withstand vibration, drops, spills, extreme temperatures, and rough handling.   The Panasonic Toughbook CF-30 is no exception!

    What makes the CF-30 so great?
    • It's a Toughbook!  That means it is built to a higher standard than any other laptop on the market.  The failure rates on Toughbooks is nearly ten times less than all other laptop models.
    • It's built for what you do!  The CF-30 is specifically built to withstand vibration.  This means it is at home mounted in your vehicle bouncing down bumpy roads.  This vibration would destroy the hinges and hard drive on a standard laptop.  However, with their sturdy industrial hinges and shock-mounted hard drive a Panasonic Toughbook can easily withstand years of this type of abuse! 
    • You can drop it!  Although no one has the intentions of dropping their laptop on purpose, it happens.  Some first responders pull their units from their vehicles in an emergency. They are then used on-site or possibly on the hood or roof of the vehicle, leaving it prone to an accident.  With the CF-30, this isn't a concern, because it is built to withstand a six foot drop (approximately the roof height of your average SUV).
    • The CF-30 is both spill and water resistant.  Although it is not built to be used in excessively wet environments, it can withstand a bit of moisture.  This makes it a great laptop option for those that need to use it in the field in less friendly weather conditions.  The spill resistance is also a great feature for in the vehicle, where many officers are drinking and storing coffee near the machine. 
    • Like all other ruggedized Toughbooks, the CF-30 is built to withstand extreme temperatures.  This means it will function no differently in the scalding summer heat or excessively cold winters.    
    • The Panasonic Toughbook CF-30 has one of the brightest daylight readable screens of all of the ruggedized Toughbooks.  This means the screen is easily readable both in the direct sunlight and when being used at night.
    • Like all fully-ruggedized Toughbooks, the CF-30 is available in both a touchscreen and a non-touchscreen unit.  The touchscreen is non-digital, meaning it does not require a stylus for use.  
    The Panasonic Toughbook is a great laptop choice for any emergency services personnel.  It is built to take the abuse of being used in a vehicle and in the field.  As if that weren't enough, it if a fast and functional unit that most departments find easily adapts to their individual needs.