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AFG New for Fiscal Year 2009 Part II
Continuing on with what is new with the AFG program for the fiscal year 2009. This information is the first to be released and is in the form of a presentation. There was no narrative to go along with the facts and numbers.
For regional applications, the stress was on the communication plan that must be in compliance with the statewide communication inter-operability plan that requires pre-approval from the Department of Homeland Security.
In the Wellness and Fitness category, there are new stipulations. These usually occur when money was not spent as expected and a loophole was found. This will close that loophole. Salaries or consulting fees are NOT eligible for funding under the AFG program for nutritionists or fitness trainers. In addition, incentives to get the people of your department to participate and stay in shape in these programs will also be unfunded. Priorities for this category are also clearly defined. The highest are entry-level physicals for new recruits. This is followed by physical assessments for active fire and EMS personnel, and thirdly, immunization of fire and EMS personnel. The next level of priorities is fire and EMS personnel physical agility assessments, and physical fitness equipment.
New for the EMS rescue squads focus this year is the level of response in their services. The focus this year is to elevate the level from Basic Life Support (BLS) to Advanced Life Support (ALS).
Eligible modifications to existing facilities are also better defined this year. Stations or firehouses with 24-hour occupancy that include sleeping accommodations are the highest priority. Higher priority than last year is the exhaust extraction systems of firehouses to help keep the occupants free of unnecessary contamination and exposure to hazardous gases. It is also clearly stated that structures built after 2003 are not eligible for any funding for any modification.
The vehicle acquisition program has restated requirements for compliance from fire and EMS personnel. These are common sense but there must be a reason for their emphasis to state them. All recipients of an AFG award for vehicle acquisition must comply with chapter 6 of the NFPA 1500 Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program. The standard operating procedure (SOP) also requires all personnel in a vehicle to wear seatbelts and the drivers to obey all traffic laws including traffic lights and signs.
Note: consider a Ward Diesel NO SMOKE or NO SMOKE 2 Diesel Exhaust Extraction System.
To be continued…
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