Globe and DuPont Protection Solutions (DuPont), in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), awarded 13 fire departments with a total of 52 sets of life-saving turnout gear in 2017 through the Globe Gear Giveaway. The program is designed to help fire departments with limited budgets who struggle to maintain adequate protection for their personnel.
“Our volunteer firefighters selflessly donate their time and energy to protect our communities, but they are often forced to make do with gear that is decades old, ill-fitting, overly worn, and that does not meet current safety standards,” said NVFC Chair Kevin D. Quinn. “We are grateful to Globe and DuPont for supporting our boots on the ground firefighters through the Globe Gear Giveaway to ensure our volunteers are safely outfitted to answer the call.”
“Now that Globe is part of the MSA family, we are pleased to continue to support the NVFC with the Globe Gear Giveaway Program in collaboration with our partner DuPont,” said Globe Integration Director and Business Lead Tom Vetras. “The mission of MSA and Globe is to help men and women work in safety so that they, their families, and their communities may live in health throughout the world. Our volunteer firefighters deserve nothing less than the very best personal protective equipment.”According to the National Fire Protection Association’s Fourth Needs Assessment, 13 percent of fire departments reported that they didn’t have enough gear to equip each of their firefighters with their own personal protective clothing (PPC), and 72 percent of departments reported that their PPC was at least 10 years old, which is noncompliant with recommended safety standards. The annual Globe Gear Giveaway provides struggling departments with much-needed turnout gear to help improve the safety and protection of their firefighters. Since the program launched in 2012, Globe and DuPont have donated 403 sets of turnouts to 82 departments.
“With our commitment to help those protectors who protect us, DuPont is honoured to continue working with Globe in support of the NVFC on this much-needed gear donation program,” said John Richard, Global Business Director, DuPont Protection Solutions. “It is important to ensure that these brave volunteer firefighters have gear they can count on so they can focus on their job and communities while having confidence that their gear will perform and help protect them.”
To be eligible for the 2017 program, departments had to be over 50 percent volunteer, serve a population of 25,000 or less, be located in the U.S. or Canada, be a member of the NVFC, and demonstrate a significant need for new gear that could not be met through other funding sources. To help departments with the membership requirement, Globe also sponsored NVFC memberships for the first 500 applicants.
The 2017 Globe Gear Giveaway recipients include:
- Buffalo Fire Department (KY)
- Cherokee Volunteer Fire Department (AL)
- Graniteville Volunteer Fire/Rescue (CA)
- Gustavus Volunteer Fire Department (AK)
- Island Heights Volunteer Fire Company (NJ)
- Latir Volunteer Fire Department (NM)
- Lewis Township Volunteer Fire Company (IN)
- Louise Fire Department (MB, Canada)
- Lowell Volunteer Fire Department (VT)
- Princeville Volunteer Fire Department (NC)
- Pulaski Township Volunteer Fire Department (PA)
- Tanglewood Volunteer Fire Department (TX)
- Tuscumbia Fire Protection District (MO)
Over 870 departments applied for the gear in 2017, demonstrating the immense need for this type of program. The 2018 Globe Gear Giveaway application period will open in February. Stay tuned to the NVFC web site at www.nvfc.org for details.
Visit the Globe website at www.globeturnoutgear.com
Visit Du Pont at www.dupont.com
Image shows members of the Island Heights Volunteer Fire Company who were among the recipients of the 2017 Globe Gear Giveaway. Photograph supplied by the National Volunteer Fire Council
